Paul had gathered an armful of brushwood and was putting it on the fire when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened on his hand.
In context
1Once we were safe we learned that the island was called Malta. 2The local people showed us extraordinary kindness: they lit a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and it was cold. 3Paul had gathered an armful of brushwood and was putting it on the fire when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened on his hand. 4When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand they said to one another, “This man must be a murderer. He escaped the sea, but Justice would not let him live.” 5He simply shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.
