Article May 28, 1927 Issue

Shaking off the Beast

ALFRED HANNAH SMITH

After Paul's notable shipwreck while on his journey to Rome, the natives of the island of Melita received him kindly, kindling a fire because of the rain and the cold. When Paul had gathered a bundle of fuel to throw on the fire, a viper came "out of the heat, and fastened on his hand." He shook off "the venomous beast" into the fire, and betrayed no concern for his own safety. Those standing around him had expected that "he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly;" but after they had waited a long time and seen no evil result, they changed their opinion and thought Paul must be a god!

Paul handled the error by shaking off the beast. This meant more than a merely physical act. Statements and narratives in the Bible often bear a metaphysical interpretation beyond the literal fact. It makes no difference that the error was named "viper"; it might just as well have been called "hate" or "murder." Paul, the practical Christian, had put on what he called the "whole armour of God;" and he met the error with the efficient use of spiritual weapons.

It is notable that the viper struck at Paul while he was doing good and useful work. He had just come safely through a terrifying experience of cold and exposure, of hunger and shipwreck, an experience that had filled with despair his companions, who were not animated by the faith that sustained the apostle. When all about him were fallen into distress, this man of action had stepped forward, handling the situation on lines of practical good sense. In this moment of success error struck at him. It appears that men in Paul's time were very much like those of our own day; for they looked to see him fall down. When he did not succumb, but showed power over the error by shaking off the beast without harm, they acclaimed him "a god," "after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him."

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