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 28:6 mean?

Explanation

Acts 28:6 recounts the reaction of the native people of Malta after the Apostle Paul survived a viper's bite without any apparent harm.

The verse captures the changing attitudes of the islanders who first expected Paul to die or become ill and later, upon observing no such consequence, concluded that he must be a divine being.

This shift from expecting Paul's demise to deifying him reflects a common ancient pattern of interpreting extraordinary events in a religious or superstitious context.

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Historical Context

The account in Acts 28:6 is part of a larger narrative describing Paul’s journey to Rome after his arrest in Jerusalem.

Shipwrecked on the island of Malta, Paul is involved in an incident where he is bitten by a snake, yet suffers no ill effects.

At the time, snakebites were commonly believed to be fatal or to cause serious injury.

Furthermore, there was a prevalent belief in the ancient world that divine justice would be meted out immediately, and sudden death or illness could be seen as punishment for wrongdoing.

The reaction of the Maltese reflects the understanding of such events through the lens of divine or supernatural intervention.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this event illustrates God's protection and the power associated with His apostles. The lack of harm coming to Paul is often seen as a miraculous sign confirming his divine mission.

Additionally, the event in Malta can be compared to the promises Jesus made to His disciples in Mark 16:17-18, which mentions that believers will "take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them."

Practical Applications

The episode of Paul on Malta encourages believers to trust in God's protection, especially when facing dangers while carrying out their mission. Paul's calmness throughout the event can serve as an example for dealing with adversity with faith rather than fear.

Furthermore, the episode demonstrates the importance of not jumping to conclusions based on limited understanding, cautioning against superstitious beliefs and the deification of humans.

Cross-References

Mark 16:17-18: "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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."
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

In the original Greek text, the word translated as "swollen" is "πίμπρημι" (pimprēmi), meaning "to inflame" or "to swell," and reflects the expectation of a physical reaction to the venom.

"Fallen down dead suddenly" comes from the Greek "καταπίπτω" (katapiptō) and "ἀφνω" (aphnō), indicating an immediate collapse or demise.

"Changed their minds" is translated from "μεταβάλλω" (metaballō), which means "to change" or "to turn." The word "god" is translated from "θεός" (theos), alluding to the islander's new perception of Paul's identity as a divine being.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The incident mirrors many ancient myths where mortals were sometimes mistaken for gods due to their extraordinary deeds or survival of deadly events.

Greek and Roman mythology are replete with stories of gods walking the earth in human form and being recognized by their supernatural powers.

The response of the Maltese also illustrates a broader human tendency to explain the unexplainable through divine or mystical narratives.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific knowledge about snake venom would explain Paul's survival as a result of either the viper's bite not injecting a significant amount of venom or the snake being non-venomous.

It's also possible that Paul had an unusually strong reaction to the venom that led to a quick recovery.

The ancient interpretation of a miraculous survival would not have considered these possibilities.

Commentaries

Bible scholars and commentators have offered various insights into this verse.

Some like Matthew Henry interpret it as a testament to God's miraculous intervention on behalf of Paul.

Others suggest that it is a narrative device Luke uses to show the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles, and how the apostle's work is met with diverse reactions.

Craig S.

Keener, in his commentary on Acts, discusses the cultural backgrounds that would contribute to the Maltese islanders' reaction, pointing out that such interpretations of unusual events were common in ancient times.

Acts 28

Acts 28

What does Acts 28:6 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 28:6 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?