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God Protects Paul from Vipers

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[Acts 28:4]

When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."

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The high priest and the Jews falsely accused Paul, and he became a prisoner. The Jews did everything they could to kill Paul. Paul, a Roman citizen, said he would go to Rome to be tried by the emperor.

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Paul was put on a boat for trial in Rome with other prisoners. In charge of Paul's ship was a centurion named Julius. The boat left Caesarea and went to Sidon. With the centurion's care, Paul was able to prepare the things he needed from there until he arrived in Rome.

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The voyage from Sidon was not easy. After meeting the headwind, they changed their course and continued their sailing until they arrived at a beautiful port close to the city of Lasea.

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As they were about to leave a beautiful port, Paul stopped them and said to the centurion and the captain. “I think that if we continue sailing now, we will face great difficulties. It could put our burdens and even our lives in jeopardy.” However, the centurion trusted the words of the experienced captain rather than Paul and decided to sail.

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As the ship departed, a tail wind blew from the south. The people thought they were right, so they put up anchor and set sail happily. But it wasn't long before he encountered a great storm called Euroclydon(the Northeaster). The boat was caught up in the storm and was unable to move forward and drifted to and fro with the wind.

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In order to lighten the ship, on the second day, the sailors threw all their belongings into the sea. On the third day, even the necessary equipment for sailing was thrown into the sea. But the wind did not stop. Everyone on board was giving up thinking there was no more hope.

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Paul, the man of God, stood among them and said, “Everyone, don't worry too much. No one will lose life. Last night, an angel of God whom I serve appeared to me and said that I would definitely stand before Caesar, the Roman emperor, and that he would also protect the lives of all of you here. We will surely reach some island.” Paul told them what God had said to him through an angel.

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Paul's words came true. On the 14th day, Paul's boat arrived safely on the island of Melita (Malta). The islanders there were very friendly. They made a fire and welcomed them warmly.

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Paul put firewood on top of a pile of fire to make a fire. At that moment, a viper in the firewood was startled by the hot fire and jumped out and bit Paul's hand. Seeing the scene, the islanders began to talk loudly to each other. “This man must be a murderer. He may have risen from the sea, but the god of justice will not keep him alive.”

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Paul dropped the viper that was biting his hand back into the fire. People were watching, thinking that the poison would spread all over his body and Paul would suddenly fall to the ground and die. But as time passed, nothing happened to Paul.

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When nothing happened to Paul, they began to call him a god. Publius, the chieftain of the island, invited them to his house and treated them kindly for three days.

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 Paul saw the father of Chief Publius lying in bed with a fever and dysentery. Paul laid his hands on the sick chief's father and prayed to God that his illness would be healed. God heard Paul's prayer and healed him of his fever and dysentery.

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After the chief's father was healed through Paul's prayers, other sick people on the island also came to Paul. Paul prayed to God for their sickness. Those who received Paul's prayer were healed.

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Because of Paul, the islanders treated all who were with Paul very hospitable. Those who recovered there set out to sail back to Rome. The islanders even prepared items necessary for sailing and loaded them onto the boat. Paul made his way to Rome safely as God had promised.

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God was always with Paul, who believed in Jesus and became a child of God. He was with Paul in the Euroclydon storm and saved his life. Also, Paul was bitten by a viper, but God saved his life so that he could be recognized by people. God is always with us who believe in Jesus and become children of God. If we keep our faith and practice it, God will protect us in any difficult situation and allow us to be recognized by others.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)