Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 28
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Acts 28
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Acts 28
"And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita." — Acts 28:1 (ASV)
Malta is an island about 18 miles long and 8 miles wide, lying 58 miles south of Sicily and 180 miles north and east of the African coast. It had been colonized about 1000 B. C. by Phoenicians, but was captured by Rome in 218 B. C. (though it was given much local autonomy). Augustus established a Roman governor on the island and settled a number of army veterans and their families there. In Paul’s day the island was known for its prosperity and residential architecture, and its native population spoke a Phoenician dialect, though many probably knew some Latin and Greek.
"And the barbarians showed us no common kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold." — Acts 28:2 (ASV)
The islanders showed kindness to “us all” (i.e., the 276 survivors) by building a fire, which was just what was needed in the cold and rain. When Paul was bitten by a viper, the islanders concluded he was a murderer whom Justice had at last caught up with since he had not died at sea. The Greek goddess Dike (i.e., “Justice”; GK 1472), or her Phoenician counterpart, was apparently venerated by the Maltese.
"But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand." — Acts 28:3 (ASV)
The islanders showed kindness to “us all” (i.e., the 276 survivors) by building a fire, which was just what was needed in the cold and rain. When Paul was bitten by a viper, the islanders concluded he was a murderer whom Justice had at last caught up with since he had not died at sea. The Greek goddess Dike (i.e., “Justice”; GK 1472), or her Phoenician counterpart, was apparently venerated by the Maltese.
"And when the barbarians saw the [venomous] creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live." — Acts 28:4 (ASV)
The islanders showed kindness to “us all” (i.e., the 276 survivors) by building a fire, which was just what was needed in the cold and rain. When Paul was bitten by a viper, the islanders concluded he was a murderer whom Justice had at last caught up with since he had not died at sea. The Greek goddess Dike (i.e., “Justice”; GK 1472), or her Phoenician counterpart, was apparently venerated by the Maltese.
"Howbeit he shook off the creature into the fire, and took no harm." — Acts 28:5 (ASV)
Seeing that Paul was unaffected by the snakebite, the islanders decided that he must be a god—or, perhaps, a favorite of the gods. Nothing is said about Paul’s rebuking the islanders as he had rebuked the people at Lystra (cf. 14:15– 18), for evidently they made no attempt to worship Paul. Luke gives us such a vividly detailed account of the incident because he wants his readers to appreciate that Paul was not only a heaven-directed man with a God-given message but also a heaven-protected man. The powerful account of the storm and shipwreck has shown this, and now this vignette stresses it once more.
Jump to: