Keraia
Acts 28

Acts 28:6

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

Translations

Modern
The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
Traditional
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.
Literal
But they were expecting him to be about to become inflamed or suddenly to fall down dead. But on their waiting a great while and seeing nothing amiss happening to him, having changed their opinion, they began declaring him to be a god.
Latin
At illi existimabant eum in tumorem convertendum, et subito casurum et mori. Diu autem illis exspectantibus, et videntibus nihil mali in eo fieri, convertentes se, dicebant eum esse deum.

Original

Greek
English
The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

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 Malta 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 Paul is Bitten by a Viper and Miraculously Unharmed Serpent: Venom of Superstition: The People of the Island of Melita , in Assuming That Paul Was some Sort of God