Acts 28:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →As Paul helps tend the fire, a viper driven out by the heat fastens onto his hand.
What Does Acts 28:3 Mean?
Paul does not stand apart as the honored prisoner; he gathers sticks like everyone else to keep the fire burning. As he lays them down, a snake, roused by the heat, strikes and clings to his hand.
Here is a portrait of faithful service meeting sudden danger. Paul stoops to ordinary labor for the good of all, and in that very act trouble seizes him. The life of a servant of Christ is not shielded from peril simply because it is given to good. Yet the same providence that brought him safely through the sea is still at work, and the venomous bite that seems to spell his doom will instead become an occasion for God's power to be seen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 28:3
What does Acts 28:3 mean?
As Paul helps tend the fire, a viper driven out by the heat fastens onto his hand.