John Calvin Commentary Acts 28:1

"And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita." — Acts 28:1 (ASV)

That sorrowful spectacle is described at the beginning of the chapter, where so many men, wet, completely covered with the foam and filth of the sea, and stiff from the cold, crawled with great difficulty to the shore. For it was as if they had been cast up by the sea only to die some other death.

After that, Luke declares that they were courteously received by the islanders. These islanders kindled a fire so the men could dry their clothes and refresh their joints, stiff from the cold; and eventually, they were sheltered from the rain. Therefore, in commending these actions, Paul shows his gratitude. Such great generosity toward strangers is rightly praised, and there are rare examples of it in the world.

And though common human nature may draw some compassion from these non-Jewish islanders in such great need, it was undoubtedly God who caused the people of Melita to treat these men so courteously. This ensured His promise would be sure and certain, as it would have seemed unfulfilled if the shipwreck had resulted in the loss of anyone's life.

A viper coming out of the heat. The event itself proved that Paul was a true and undoubted prophet of God. Now, so that God might make him renowned by land as well as by sea, He sealed the former miracles with a new one, and so He ratified Paul's apostleship among the people of Melita.

And though not many profited from this, the majesty of the gospel still shone even among the unbelievers. This event also greatly confirmed the divine messages to the sailors, messages they had not sufficiently respected.

Neither did the viper come out of the sticks by chance; instead, the Lord directed it by His secret plan to bite Paul, because He saw it would contribute to the glory of His gospel.