Acts 28:6

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.

Howbeit {G1161} they looked {G4328} when he {G846} should {G3195} have swollen {G4092}, or {G2228} fallen down {G2667} dead {G3498} suddenly {G869}: but {G1161} after they {G846} had looked {G4328} a great while {G1909}{G4183}, and {G2532} saw {G2334} no {G3367} harm {G824} come {G1096} to {G1519} him {G846}, they changed their minds {G3328}, and said {G3004} that he {G846} was {G1511} a god {G2316}.

They waited, expecting him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing that nothing amiss was happening to him, they reversed their opinion and said he was a god.

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.

But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation and beheld nothing amiss come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

Commentary

Context

This verse immediately follows the dramatic account of Paul and his companions being shipwrecked on the island of Malta (Acts 28:1-3). After safely reaching shore, the native islanders showed them unusual kindness. As Paul gathered wood for a fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. The islanders initially believed Paul was a murderer whom 'justice' (personified as a goddess or divine retribution) would not allow to live, even after escaping the sea (Acts 28:4). Their expectation in Acts 28:6 is a direct consequence of this belief, as they waited for the venom's effects.

Key Themes

  • Divine Protection: The most prominent theme is God's miraculous preservation of Paul. Despite a potentially fatal viper bite, Paul suffered no ill effects, demonstrating God's power over natural dangers and fulfilling His purpose for Paul's life. This echoes promises of divine safeguarding found elsewhere in Scripture.
  • Changing Perceptions: The islanders' rapid shift in judgment from condemning Paul as a murderer to exalting him as a god highlights human superstition and the tendency to interpret unusual events through a supernatural lens. Their initial belief in "justice" punishing him quickly gave way to awe at his apparent immunity. This is not the only instance where Paul was mistaken for a deity, as seen when he and Barnabas were identified as gods in Lystra (Acts 14:11).
  • Superstition vs. True Power: The Maltese people, unfamiliar with the God of Israel, attributed Paul's survival to their own pagan deities or a generalized divine power. This contrasts sharply with the true source of Paul's protection: the sovereign God who had a specific plan for him to reach Rome (Acts 23:11).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly" vividly captures the islanders' expectation of immediate and severe consequences from the viper's venom. The Greek word for "swollen" (pimprΔ“mi) implies inflammation or a bloated appearance, typical of a serious snakebite. Their prolonged observation, "a great while," underscores their astonishment when no such outcome occurred, leading them to their dramatic conclusion that he was a god, perhaps equating him with Hercules or another divine healer in their mythology.

Practical Application

Acts 28:6 reminds us that God's purposes for His servants will prevail, even in the face of extreme danger. Just as Paul was supernaturally protected to continue his mission of spreading the Gospel, believers can trust in God's providence in their lives. However, it also serves as a cautionary tale about the human tendency to misinterpret divine acts, often attributing them to false sources or swinging from one extreme judgment to another without true understanding. Our focus should always be on the one true God who delivers and sustains, giving Him the glory for His mighty works.

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Cross-References

  • Acts 12:22

    And the people gave a shout, [saying, It is] the voice of a god, and not of a man.

  • Acts 14:11

    And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

  • Acts 14:13

    Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

  • Matthew 21:9

    And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

  • Matthew 27:22

    Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? [They] all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
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