Acts 28 6

Acts 28:6 kjv

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.

Acts 28:6 nkjv

However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

Acts 28:6 niv

The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

Acts 28:6 esv

They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

Acts 28:6 nlt

The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn't harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.

Acts 28 verses

Acts 28 6 Meaning

Acts 28:6 describes the pivotal moment when the inhabitants of Malta, having seen Paul bitten by a venomous snake with no ill effect, dramatically changed their minds about him. Initially, they interpreted the snakebite as divine judgment for some perceived crime Paul had committed. However, after prolonged observation showed no harm, they concluded he must be a god, thereby shifting their understanding of his identity from a murderer condemned by justice to a divine being worthy of worship. This event showcases God's protective power over His messenger and highlights the immediate impact of supernatural intervention on human perception and beliefs.

Acts 28 6 Context

Acts chapter 28 begins with Paul and his shipwrecked companions landing on the island of Malta, following a violent storm and shipwreck. The local inhabitants, described as "barbarians" (in the sense of not being Greek or Roman in culture/language, not uncivilized), showed them unusual kindness by lighting a fire to warm them from the cold rain. As Paul was gathering sticks for the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened onto his hand. The islanders immediately reacted, interpreting this as a sign of divine retribution – the goddess Justice (or Retribution, Greek Dike) punishing Paul for some grievous sin, specifically thinking he was a murderer who had escaped the sea only to face an inescapable earthly judgment. This context is crucial for understanding their profound change of mind when the expected consequence – Paul swelling up or dropping dead – did not occur.

Acts 28 6 Word analysis

• Howbeit (Greek: Alla, ἀλλὰ): This conjunction marks a strong contrast. It signifies a dramatic shift in perception and expectation. Despite their strong initial conviction, the unfolding reality demands a re-evaluation.

• after they had looked a great while (Greek: polu chrónon theōróntōn autōn, πολὺν χρόνον θεωρούντων αὐτῶν):

  • polu chrónon: "a long time" or "much time." It emphasizes the extended duration of their observation. This was not a quick glance, but a prolonged, eager, and perhaps morbid waiting for the predicted outcome.
  • theōróntōn autōn: "they observing" or "they gazing intently." From theōreō, to look at, gaze, observe, contemplate. It suggests a focused, sustained observation, indicating their deep engagement and expectation. Their pagan belief system ingrained the expectation of immediate divine judgment.

• and saw no harm come to him (Greek: kai mēdén atopon eis auton ginómenon, καὶ μηδὲν ἄτοπον εἰς αὐτὸν γινόμενον):

  • mēdén atopon: "nothing out of place," "nothing wrong," or "no absurdity/impropriety." Atopon literally means "out of place," implying something that shouldn't happen or a dreadful wrong/injury. It covers physical harm (swelling, dropping dead) and also the injustice of Paul escaping punishment if he truly was a murderer. The absence of anything untoward challenged their understanding.
  • eis auton ginómenon: "happening to him" or "occurring towards him." Confirms the absence of any adverse effect.

• they changed their minds (Greek: metabalómenoi, μεταβαλλόμενοι): From metaballō, to throw oneself over, to change one's mind, to turn around. It denotes a radical shift in their opinion or judgment. It was not a subtle adjustment but a complete reversal of their initial conviction about Paul's identity and moral status.

• and said that he was a god (Greek: elegen einai theon, ἔλεγον εἶναι θεόν):

  • elegen: "they were saying" (imperfect tense), suggesting continued proclamation or discussion among themselves.
  • einai theon: "to be a god." In pagan belief systems, powerful individuals or those protected from natural forces were often attributed divine status (compare Acts 14:11 where Paul and Barnabas are mistaken for gods in Lystra). This was their only framework for explaining such an extraordinary event. It reflects a primitive yet profound acknowledgment of supernatural intervention, though misguided in its precise identification.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Howbeit after they had looked a great while...": This phrase emphasizes the deliberate nature of their observation. Their initial judgment was based on a direct interpretation of natural events as divine retribution. Their subsequent reversal was not capricious but stemmed from prolonged empirical observation, forcing them to re-evaluate their worldview.
  • "...and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds...": This highlights the core dilemma the islanders faced: their belief system offered a clear expectation of what should happen, but reality contradicted it. The direct visual evidence of Paul's well-being led to an undeniable crisis in their initial conclusion. This forced them from one extreme (murderer) to another (god) because their framework had no in-between category for such divine protection.

Acts 28 6 Bonus section

The immediate cultural context for the Maltese islanders involved a strong belief in deities connected to justice and retribution. The goddess Dike was understood to execute vengeance on offenders. When the viper struck Paul, their minds immediately went to her at work, ensuring no one escaped divine judgment. The unexpected survival of Paul did not lead them to question the existence of Dike, but rather her judgment or the category of the person, elevating Paul above the reach of natural consequence, and thus, into the realm of the divine. This phenomenon illustrates the constant human search for a supernatural explanation when confronted with events beyond normal understanding. For Paul, such incidents reinforced his apostleship and demonstrated that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was the true and living God, superior to all pagan deities, confirming the words and work of Christ.

Acts 28 6 Commentary

Acts 28:6 reveals several profound truths. First, it powerfully demonstrates God's sovereign protection over His chosen instruments, ensuring His gospel advances unhindered. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, was shielded from death or debilitating harm, fulfilling prophecies of divine protection (e.g., Mk 16:18, Lk 10:19). Second, the passage exposes the limitations of pagan belief systems. The islanders, guided by their understanding of divine justice (personified by Dike), hastily condemned Paul based on a superficial assessment of a natural event. Their snap judgment illustrates a common human tendency to attribute misfortune to specific sin (a concept addressed by Jesus in Jn 9:1-3 or Lk 13:1-5, and seen in Job's comforters).

However, their openness to change their minds upon observing new evidence is noteworthy, even if their conclusion was still misguided. From seeing Paul as a despised criminal, they swung to worshipping him as a god. This hyperbolic response underlines their desperate attempt to categorize the unexplainable within their worldview. This dramatic shift provided Paul an immediate, undeniable platform for witness, setting the stage for ministry on the island and paving the way for the Gospel. The miraculous preservation validated Paul’s presence and, by extension, the God he served, creating a powerful testimony to divine intervention.