“And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.”
But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. - Paul's response is simple and action-focused: he 'shook the snake off' (apotinassō to thērion, apotinassō to thērion-'shook off the creature') 'into the fire' (eis to pyr, eis to pyr) and 'suffered no ill effects' (paschō ti kakos, paschō ti kakos-'experienced no harm'). His composure and immunity suggest divine protection. Luke alludes to Jesus's promise in Luke 10:19: 'I have given you authority...over all the power of the enemy...nothing will harm you.' Paul embodies that promise.
Church Fathers on Acts 28:5
fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffers not to live. Acts 28:4 Well also was this permitted, that they should both see the thing and utter the thought, in order that, when the result ensued, there might be no disbelieving the miracle. Observe their good feeling (towards the distressed), in saying this (not…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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