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Monday, 3 June 2024
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. Acts 28:3
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The Greek more closely reads, “And Paul, having bundled a multitude of kindling, and having laid upon the pyre, a viper – having come from the heat – seized his hand” (CG).
In the previous verse, the people on the island made a fire for the shipwrecked people because of the rain and cold. Now, Luke begins a short description of an unusual event concerning Paul. He begins with, “And Paul, having bundled a multitude of kindling.”
A couple of rare words are used here. The first is sustrephó, to gather or roll. It was seen in Matthew 17:22. This is the second and last use. Also, the word translated as kindling is found only here, phruganon. It signifies a dry stick for burning. Thus, a word like kindling, tinder, touchwood, etc. will suffice.
Those who argue for the other location being the spot of the shipwreck, as reviewed in the previous verse, note that there is no wood that grows on Malta. However, the word doesn’t specifically imply wood from a tree.
Rather, in the area of the shipwreck, there are shrubs which are used for this very purpose. There is no reason at all to assume that Paul wasn’t out gathering exactly this type of material or even driftwood that shows up on beaches all over the world.
Paul was making a bundle out of dried sticks he had found, gathering them together to bring for the fire. With that complete, Luke next says, “and having laid upon the pyre.”
It is the same word found in the previous verse, pura. It signifies a pile of burning fuel. This is its second and last use in the New Testament. Paul has bundled up a pile of sticks and brought them back, laying them on this bonfire. With that, Luke next records that “a viper – having come from the heat – seized his hand.”
This is the fifth and last use of echidna, or viper, in the New Testament. The other four verses were all quotes of John the Baptist or Jesus calling those who had come near them a “brood of vipers.” The word signifies a venomous snake of some sort. This viper is said to have seized Paul’s hand.
It is another unique word, kathaptó. It signifies to lay hold of, fasten onto, seize, etc. The snake probably felt the heat of the fire and darted to get away from it. As it did, it seized Paul’s hand and would have immediately started pumping its venom into him.
These words bring in another complication. There are no indigenous vipers on Malta. Therefore, the claim is that this is not the true spot of the shipwreck. However, Malta was sparsely populated then. It is heavily populated now.
On the barrier island of Siesta Key, Florida, until the 1970s, there were poisonous snakes everywhere. However, as the population grew, they were eradicated. It is now very rare to see them on the island. Where there were once rattlers in abundance, none remain. Where water moccasins once hung from mangroves in almost every location, they are rarely seen anymore.
As far as the words noting that the viper seized his hand, it never says he was bitten by the viper, but it is implied, especially by the words of the next verse.
Life application: There are snake handling churches throughout the southern US. Deadly rattlers are brought out and passed around the congregation. At times, someone will get bit. Sometimes a person will die from the bite.
This practice is based on the words of Mark 16:17, 18 –
“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
This is not sound practice. To actively drink poison or handle poisonous snakes is to test God in a way that is unnecessary. This account in Acts is the only time a snake is referred to in this manner in the Bible. There is never a time that it is recorded that someone drinks poison.
Until the Lord comes for His people, every person who has lived since His first coming has died or will die. There are innumerable ways to die. To assume that God is going to protect a person every time he picks up a poisonous snake or drinks something poisonous is, therefore, ridiculous. There is no need to test God in such ways. Instead, live your life safely, carefully, and with clear thinking. This will generally increase your lifespan. Snake handling… not so much.
Lord God, help us to think clearly about how we conduct our lives in Your presence. There are things that we can do that may not be so smart. Rather, just because we can drive a car really fast, it doesn’t mean that we should do so. Instead, may we live our lives circumspectly, doing things that are reasonable and prudent all our days. Amen.