027:039 When daylight came, they tried in vain to recognise the coast. But an inlet with a sandy beach attracted their attention, and now their object was, if possible, to run the ship aground in this inlet. 027:040 So they cut away the anchors and left them in the sea, unloosing at the same time the bands which secured the paddle-rudders. Then, hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. 027:041 But coming to a place where two seas met, they stranded the ship, and her bow sticking fast remained immovable, while the stern began to go to pieces under the heavy hammering of the sea. 027:042 Now the soldiers recommended that the prisoners should be killed, for fear some one of them might swim ashore and effect his escape. 027:043 But their Captain, bent on securing Paul's safety, kept them from their purpose and gave orders that those who could swim should first jump overboard and get to land; 027:044 and that the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. In this way they all got safely to land. 028:001 Our lives having been thus preserved, we discovered that the island was called Malta. 028:002 The strange-speaking natives showed us remarkable kindness, for they lighted a fire and made us all welcome because of the pelting rain and the cold. 028:003 Now, when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and had thrown them on the fire, a viper, driven by the heat, came out and fastened itself on his hand. 028:004 When the natives saw the creature hanging to his hand, they said to one another, "Beyond doubt this man is a murderer, for, though saved from the sea, unerring Justice does not permit him to live." 028:005 He, however, shook the reptile off into the fire and was unhurt. 028:006 They expected him soon to swell with inflammation or suddenly fall down dead; but, after waiting a long time and seeing no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. 028:007 Now in the same part of the island there were estates belonging to the Governor, whose name was Publius. He welcomed us to his house, and for three days generously made us his guests. 028:008 It happened, however, that his father was lying ill of dysentery aggravated by attacks of fever; so Paul went to see him, and, after praying, laid his hands on him and cured him. 028:009 After this, all the other sick people in the island came and were cured. 028:010 They also loaded us with honours, and when at last we sailed they put supplies on board for us. 028:011 Three months passed before we set sail in an Alexandrian vessel, called the `Twin Brothers,' which had wintered at the island. 028:012 At Syracuse we put in and stayed for two days.