Paul is Bitten by a Snake on Malta!

Today's printable can be used as a review game or a Take-Home worksheet!  I also included a couple of the student's favorite projects that we do. Next week will complete our study of the book of Acts!

Last week Paul was sent to Rome to go before Caesar. Julius the Centurion was put in charge of getting Paul to Rome. There were 276 people going, including soldiers, other prisoners, Julius, Paul and Paul’s friend, Aristarchus, from Macedonia. With Autumn storms at sea, they had to stop and let the storms pass and then more storms came, so the seas were so rough, they didn’t go very far. They didn’t even eat.

Remember, Luke said WE didn't see the sun or moon but after 14 days, they saw land. Paul took bread, said a prayer and everyone ate so they’d have strength to swim to shore. Julius said to unchain the prisoners so everyone would be able to swim.

They hit a sandbar and huge waves rolled over the ship and the boat cracked in half! Everyone swam to shore and the ones that couldn’t swim, used the broken pieces of the ship to get to shore.

Our scripture today is Acts 28:1-6. The people on the island of Malta built a bonfire and gave them food. The island was called Melita, which is now called Malta. (Acts 28:1) It means honey in Greek. They were known for making honey.

It was October and they were cold because of the rain. They were gathering sticks to build a fire. A poisonous 'viper' snake was in the bundle of sticks. When it became warmed from the heat, it wrapped itself around Paul and bit him. (Acts 28:4) (A serpent is usually referencing a really large snake in the Bible. A Viper usually means a small snake.)

When the people saw Paul get bit by the snake, they started talking among themselves. The people were thinking that if Paul was a murderer, (they assumed this since he was a prisoner), and he didn’t die in the storms at sea, now he is bitten by a poisonous snake, how is he still alive? Paul shook off the snake.

The people were watching Paul and waiting for him to start swelling up and fall over dead from the snake bite. When he didn’t they all thought he must be a god (small g) to survive that!

On the island, the chief man, probably governor, Publius, let them stay at his house for three days. His father was sick and had a fever. Paul went into his room where he was laying and prayed and laid his hands on him and healed him. When other people heard about this, they went to see Paul. They wanted to be healed also!

(Acts 28:11) After three months on the island, in January, the people gave Paul and the travelers gifts and gave them a ship and the necessary items to travel again. They stopped a couple of places on the way to Rome and when they got there, Paul was handed over to the captain of the guard. After three days, he called the chief of the Jews together. He explained what had happened to him, why he was a prisoner and how they should have let him go but didn’t. (Acts 28:18) And now, he had appealed to Caesar. Paul explained to them about Jesus. Some of them believed and some did not. After Paul talked to them, the Jews left and had great discussions about what Paul had told them. (Acts 28:29)

For two years, Paul lived in his own house, he was allowed to hire people to live in the house with him, but he was still a prisoner. He probably had help from his Roman friends at this point. People came to his house to listen to his instruction about Jesus. (Acts 28:30-31)

Today's printable can be used as a review game or a worksheet!  You can put the event hexagons in a basket or container or just spread them on a table. You can also print more than one set and let the students work together in groups, or on their own. This is just a couple of ideas to use this review as a fun game! More directions are included in the download. Click here to print.

 

I purchased the bigger pretzels, tied five together and wound in a stretchy snake with its head peeking out! Click here for more photos and directions.

Click here to see all the updated posters for Acts.

Also, I set up the fire, with a woodpile next to it with a snake peeking out.

Click here to print the worksheet.

You can find all the Acts worksheets here.

Today's Bible Verse: Acts 28:3

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Used by permission.

Passport: Island of Malta 

Click here to download the updated visuals.

Click here to download the pictures to color.
(These are the same as the visuals but are black & white.)

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