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.
Ver. 3. And fastened on his hand] Thus, many are the troubles of the righteous; but out of them all the Lord delivereth them. No country hath more venomous creatures than Egypt, none more antidotes; so godliness hath many troubles, and as many helps against trouble. The devil's design here was to have destroyed Paul, but he was deceived. So he desired to have Peter, Luke 22:31, sc. to hell, but that was more than he could do.