Keraia
Acts 28

Acts 28:5

Ashore on Malta · Acts 28:1–10
Read Acts 28

Translations

Modern
But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
Traditional
And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Literal
Then indeed, having shaken off the creature into the fire, he suffered no harm.
Latin
Et ille quidem excutiens bestiam in ignem, nihil mali passus est.

Interlinear

Greek
English
But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

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

Glossary

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

Topics

Christian Minister: Hospitality to The Foreigners to Paul God: Preserver: Paul Melita (Malta): Paul Shipwrecked on the Coast of Miracles of the Disciples of Jesus: Shakes a Viper off his Hand and is Unharmed Miracles Wrought Through Servants of God: Paul: Viper's Bite Made Harmless Paul is Bitten by a Viper and Miraculously Unharmed Serpent: The Apostles Given Power Over Serpent: Venom of Snakes