Paul was bitten by a viper and lived to demonstrate God’s supernatural protection and to confirm his divine mission to the people around him. This miracle served as a public sign of his authority as a servant of Christ and fulfilled Jesus’ promise regarding those who believe in His name.
The event took place on the island of Malta after Paul survived a shipwreck. Acts 28:3–6 recounts the moment:
“But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, ‘No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.’ But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.”
The people of Malta initially interpreted the bite as divine judgment. They assumed that Paul’s survival at sea would be short-lived and that justice would now overtake him. This reflected a pagan view of karma or fate, not biblical justice.
However, when Paul suffered no swelling or illness, their assumptions were overturned. His calm response and the absence of injury pointed to divine intervention. This fulfilled what Jesus had foretold regarding the signs accompanying those who believe:
“They will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them.”
(Mark 16:18)
Jesus did not instruct believers to seek out danger, but He promised protection in the course of gospel ministry. Paul’s immunity to the venom validated this promise and served as a testimony to the watching islanders.
After this event, Paul healed the father of Publius, the chief man of the island, and many others who were sick (Acts 28:8–9). The viper incident opened a door for ministry and gave Paul a platform to reveal the true power of the God he served.
The miracle also symbolized triumph over evil. Throughout Scripture, serpents are often associated with Satan and destruction (Genesis 3:1; Revelation 12:9). Paul’s act of shaking the viper into the fire echoed Christ’s victory over the enemy.
Paul did not survive because of luck or natural immunity. He lived because God had more work for him to do. His preservation on Malta confirmed that the gospel was advancing under divine protection.
