Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 28:3

"But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand." — Acts 28:3 (ASV)

Had gathered a bundle of sticks. For the purpose of making a fire.

There came a viper. A poisonous serpent. (See Barnes on Matthew 3:7).

The viper was, doubtless, in the bundle of sticks or limbs of trees that Paul had gathered, but was concealed and torpid. But when the bundle was laid on the fire, the viper became warmed by the heat, ran out, and fastened on Paul’s hand.

And fastened on his hand. kayhqe. This word properly means to join oneself to, to touch, or to adhere to. It might have been by coiling around his hand and arm, or by fastening its fangs in his hand.

It is not expressly affirmed that Paul was bitten by the viper, yet it is evidently implied. Indeed, it is wholly incredible that a viper, unless miraculously prevented, should fasten itself to the hand without biting.