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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_28:1-6
1When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. 3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, "Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live." 5However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.
Act_28:1 "they had been brought safely through" This is the term sôzô (cf. Act_27:31) with dia prefixed. It was used regularly for someone reaching safety (cf. Act_23:24; Act_27:44; Act_28:1; Act_28:4). Luke even uses it for physical healing in Luk_7:3.
The aorist passive participle shows that Luke attributed the safety as being provided by God (passive voice) according to His word (cf. Act_27:21-26).
▣ "Malta" The Phoenician sailors also called this island Melita, which was a Canaanite term that meant "refuge." This was originally a Phoenician colony. It is located between Sicily and North Africa. It is only eighteen miles long and eight miles wide, but its location afforded great maritime commercial value. It has several good harbors.
Act_28:2 "natives" This is literally "barbarians." This is not a derogatory title, but simply refers to anyone who did not speak Greek or Latin.
NASB "extraordinary kindness"
NKJV, NRSV,
NJB "unusual kindness"
TEV "were very friendly"
This intensified phrase has the term philanthrôpos, which is literally "lover of men" as in Act_27:3. The specific care and provision given by the natives was because they saw Paul's miraculous encounter with a serpent on the beach. This, and other miraculous acts (cf. Act_28:7-10), opened the door for evangelism! Paul always had a mind toward gospel proclamation (cf. 1Co_9:19-23).
Act_28:3 "Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks" This really shows Paul's humility. He worked along with all the others. No elitism since the road to Damascus!
▣ "a viper. . .fastened itself on his hand" This term's basic meaning is "to attach." It can mean "a bite" or "coiled around."
Act_28:4 "the creature" This term for "creature" became the medical term for poisonous snakes (cf. Act_10:12).
▣ "justice has not allowed him to live" "Justice" or "Fate" was the name of one of their gods. They were expressing the irony of the situation, similar to Amo_5:19. Act_28:6 shows that the native islanders were superstitious polytheists.
Act_28:6 These islanders had personal experience with the snakes on the island. Their radical change of attitude is similar to the pagan reactions to the miraculous in Act_14:11-13.
▣ "to swell up" This is one of many medical terms used by Luke (cf. Act_28:8). It is found only here in the NT.