Acts 28:4

Translations

Modern

When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”

Traditional

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.

Literal

And when the natives saw the beast hanging from his hand, they began to say to one another, “By all means this man is a murderer whom, having been saved from the sea, Dike did not permit to live.”

Latin

Ut vero viderunt barbari pendentem bestiam de manu ejus, ad invicem dicebant: Utique homicida est homo hic, qui cum evaserit de mari, ultio non sinit eum vivere.

Interlinear

Greek

English

When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”

Notes

Acts 28:3–6

The people of Malta believed that justice was a personal power or a god who punished criminals. When nothing bad happened to Paul, they changed their minds. They saw that he was not harmed by the snake. So they thought he had power over snakes and said that he must be a god (compare 14:11–12).

But this was not true. Paul did not have special power in himself. Instead, his survival showed that God was protecting him (compare Mark 16:17–18).

Acts 27:1–28:16

The graphic language describing sailing in the story of Paul's journey to Rome provides one of the best accounts of an ancient sea journey.
This is the last "we" section in Acts (see also 16:10–17; 20:5–15; 21:1–18). During Paul's two years of imprisonment, Luke probably researched his gospel throughout Judea and Galilee. Here, as part of Paul's sailing group, he had a personal witness of the dangers at sea.

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul)

Events

Paul's Journey to Romec. AD 56
Paul stays at Maltac. AD 57

Related verses

Luke 13:2
To this He replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this way?
Luke 13:4
Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam collapsed on them: Do you think that they were more sinful than all the others living in Jerusalem?
Acts 28:2
The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.
John 7:24
Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”
Acts 28:5
But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
Isaiah 43:20
The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.
Matthew 23:35
And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
John 9:1–2
Now as Jesus was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth,
Genesis 4:8–11
Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
Genesis 9:5–6
And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:
Matthew 27:25
All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

Glossary

Barbarian Book of the Acts of the Apostles Luke (Person) Luke, Gospel of Paul the Apostle Syracuse Travel

Topics

Barbarian: A Foreigner Christian Minister: Hospitality to The Foreigners to Paul Melita (Malta): Paul Shipwrecked on the Coast of Paul is Bitten by a Viper and Miraculously Unharmed Snakes

Acts 28:4

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