"When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta.  The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all.  But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.  When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, 'Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.'  However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.  But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead.  But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god."

We see the fickle crowd.  Their first thought, after seeing Paul get bit by a snake, is that he is being punished by God.  Next, the snake falls off of Paul's hand - so Paul is assumed to be lucky, but he will still die.  Next, Paul does not die - so the islanders assume he is a god.

People have the tendency to look at us and assume we will be defined by what happens to us.  Paul will not be defined by his circumstances.

Paul is on an island waiting for a trial in front of Caesar.  He is ship-wrecked.  He is bitten by a snake...

Most of us would stop worrying about introducing people to God at this point, but this seems to be Paul's only desire.

No matter where he is, he tells people that Christ is king.  The way he does that here is by letting God be God of his circumstances.  Paul's message is:  There is a God, and I am not Him...

What is your message?