Acts 28

And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and 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 hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.

And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:

Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appiiforum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

What does Acts 28:5 mean?

Explanation

Acts 28:5 describes an event in the life of Paul the Apostle.

According to the preceding verses, after being shipwrecked on the island of Malta, Paul gathers a bundle of sticks to put on a fire.

A viper, driven out by the heat, fastens on his hand.

Those who witness this prepare themselves for Paul's imminent death, as they expect the venom to take effect.

However, Paul 'shook off the beast into the fire' and continues unharmed.

The literal meaning of this verse is that Paul was bitten by a venomous snake but suffered no ill effects, which would have been considered a miraculous occurrence.

The deeper significance often inferred is that Paul was protected by divine providence, and this event served as a sign to the people of Malta of God's power and favor towards Paul.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The event in Acts 28:5 occurred during Paul's journey to Rome, where he was to stand trial before Caesar.

The shipwreck and subsequent events, including the viper bite, took place on the island of Malta, around AD 60.

Malta was then inhabited by a culture that was a mix of Punic and Roman influences.

The reaction of the Maltese people indicates that they were superstitious and interpreted natural events, like a snakebite, as omens or divine judgment.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, Acts 28:5 has been seen as exemplifying God's protection over His servants, just as Jesus promised that His followers would "take up serpents" without harm (Mark 16:18).

Furthermore, some theologians might view this event as a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 43:2, which speaks of God's protection in dangerous circumstances. Paul's immunity to the snakebite also draws a parallel to Christ's overcoming death, suggesting the idea of triumphing over evil.

Practical Applications

In applying Acts 28:5 to everyday life, one might emphasize the themes of divine protection and resilience in the face of unexpected trials. Believers might be encouraged to have faith in God's care even when facing life-threatening situations, drawing encouragement from Paul's experience.

This verse can also be related to the importance of not jumping to conclusions based on first appearances, as the Maltese people initially misjudged Paul.

Cross-References

Mark 16:18: "They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
Isaiah 43:2: "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."
Luke 10:19: "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

Language Study

The Greek word for "shook off" is "apotinasso," which means to forcefully shake or fling away. This reflects Paul's deliberate action in removing the viper.

The term "beast" translates from the Greek "therion," which can mean a wild animal or venomous creature. The original language conveys the danger of the situation and the decisiveness of Paul's reaction.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, serpents symbolize different concepts ranging from evil and danger to healing and protection.

For instance, in Greek mythology, Asclepius, the god of medicine, is often depicted with a rod entwined by a snake.

In biblical tradition, snakes often represent evil or sin, such as in the Garden of Eden narrative.

Paul being unharmed by the snake would contrast with these cultural views by depicting a divine power that transcends common myths and beliefs.

Scientific Perspectives

Today, medical science understands that not all snakebites result in immediate or severe harm.

Some viper bites can be 'dry,' meaning no venom is injected.

Additionally, the reaction to venom can depend on a variety of factors including the amount of venom, the depth of the bite, and the victim's physiological response.

While the verse implies a miracle, a scientific perspective might suggest that the lack of harm could potentially be explained through natural phenomena as well.

Commentaries

Commentators have provided various interpretations of Acts 28:5.

Some, like Matthew Henry, see this event as providential and indicative of Paul's divinely appointed mission, as well as a sign for the islanders.

Others, such as John Calvin, suggest that the event served to increase Paul's credibility among the people and spread the gospel in Malta.

William Barclay comments on the Maltese people's superstition and their drastic shift from thinking of Paul as a murderer to a god, underscoring the unpredictable nature of popular opinion.

In modern commentaries, there is often an attempt to balance the miraculous with the plausible, recognizing the hand of God in events that might also have a natural explanation.

Acts 28

Acts 28

What does Acts 28:5 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 28:5 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?