Robertson Word Pictures - Acts 28:8 - 28:8

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Robertson Word Pictures - Acts 28:8 - 28:8


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Lay (katakeisthai). Common verb for the sick (Mar 1:30; Joh 5:6).

Sick (sunechomenon). “Held together.” Common verb again for the sick as in Luk 4:38.

Of fever (puretois). Instrumental case, and plural “fevers,” medical term for intermittent attacks of fever (Demosthenes, Lucian, medical writers).

Dysentery (dusenteriōi). Instrumental case also. Late form of the older ndusenterian and only here in N.T. Our very word dysentery. Another medical term of which Luke uses so many. Hippocrates often mentions these two diseases together.

Laying his hands on him healed him (epitheis tas cheiras autōi iasato auton). Either like the laying on of hands in Jam 5:14, the gift of healing (1Co 12:9.), or the tender interest of Jesus when he took hold of the hand of Peter’s mother-in-law (Mar 1:31). Ramsay argues that iaomai is employed here of the miraculous healing by Paul while therapeuō is used of the cures by Luke the physician (Act 28:9). This is a general distinction and it is probably observed here, but in Luk 6:18 (which see) both verbs are employed of the healings by Jesus.

Came and were healed (prose4rchonto kai etherapeuonto). Imperfect middle and imperfect passive. A regular stream of patients came during these months. Luke had his share in the honours, “us” (hēmēs), and no doubt his share in the cures.

With many honours (pollais timais). Instrumental case. The word was often applied to payment for professional services as we today speak of an honorarium.

They put on board (epethento). Second aorist middle indicative of epitithēmi, to put on. The idea of “on board” is merely suggested by anagomenois (when we sailed) “the things for our needs” (ta pros tas chreias).