Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Acts 28:7 - 28:10

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Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Acts 28:7 - 28:10


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_28:7-10

7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. 8And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. 10They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.

Act_28:7 "the leading man" This word means some type of governmental official, literally, "the first" (cf. Act_13:50; Luk_19:47, "of people"; Act_16:12, "of a city"). It has been found in two inscriptions on this island, one Greek and one Latin. Rome had allowed this island self-rule and at some point, full Roman citizenship.

Act_28:8 "lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery" Malta was known for its fever which came from microbes in their goats' milk.

"laid his hands on him and healed him" See Special Topis: Laying on of Hands at Act_6:6.

Act_28:9 Both of these verbs are imperfect, which implies repeated or continuing action in past time (indicative mood). They kept coming. God kept healing them through Paul.

The Greek verb behind the English translation "getting cured" is therapeuô, from which we get the English "therapy." The term can be used for "service" as well as "healing." Only a specific context can determine which one is appropriate.