"...3 As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. 4 The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand ..." perhaps I misunderstood which passage. is this the one you speak of?
what makes you believe it's phony? There's some pretty incredulous stories throughout the bible, so would/do you consider others phony as well? Just curious.
"..If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:37)..."
he was very controversial. A jew who wanted gentiles to know Jesus/God. He wasn't well liked by the Disciples. Pheresis (spl?) hated him. he was arrogant. He got his marching orders from God, and had no use for "man" to tell him he was wrong... The list goes on.