ACT 28:1-10

Ashore on Malta

1After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. [28:2] The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it was raining and cold. [28:3] Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened onto his hand. [28:4] When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." [28:5] He, however, shook the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. [28:6] They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. [28:7] In the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. [28:8] It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, after praying, laid his hands on him and healed him. [28:9] After this took place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases came and were healed. [28:10] They also honored us with many gifts, and when we set sail they put on board whatever we needed.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st century, Malta was a Roman-controlled island inhabited by Phoenician descendants, referred to as '' (barbarians) by Greek speakers, not as a derogatory term but to denote non-Greek speakers. The islanders' '' (philanthropia) toward Paul and his companions reflects a cultural expectation of hospitality, especially toward shipwrecked strangers, which was a moral and social obligation in Mediterranean societies. The viper incident would have been interpreted through the lens of divine justice (''), as the islanders likely saw the snakebite as retribution for Paul’s supposed wrongdoing. Their assumption that he was a murderer reflects a common belief that misfortune was a sign of divine punishment. When Paul survived, their perception shifted to viewing him as a divine figure, a reaction typical in a culture where miraculous survival was often attributed to supernatural favor. The healing of Publius’ father further reinforced this perception, aligning with the widespread belief in the power of divine or miraculous healers in the ancient world.

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How other translations render this

ACT 28:1

KJV: And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
BSB: Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.
Koinōnos: After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta.

ACT 28:2

KJV: And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
BSB: The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.
Koinōnos: The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it was raining and cold.

ACT 28:3

KJV: And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
BSB: Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand.
Koinōnos: Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened onto his hand.

ACT 28:4

KJV: And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
BSB: When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
Koinōnos: When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.

ACT 28:5

KJV: And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
BSB: But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
Koinōnos: He, however, shook the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.

ACT 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.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

ACT 28:7

KJV: In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
BSB: Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
Koinōnos: In the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

ACT 28:8

KJV: And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
BSB: The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man.
Koinōnos: It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, after praying, laid his hands on him and healed him.

ACT 28:9

KJV: So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
BSB: After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.
Koinōnos: After this took place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases came and were healed.

ACT 28:10

KJV: Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
BSB: The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.
Koinōnos: They also honored us with many gifts, and when we set sail they put on board whatever we needed.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 28:2

the natives:The word translated 'natives' here literally meant 'barbarians' to a Greek speaker, referring to anyone who did not speak Greek, rather than implying savagery or lack of civilization.
kindness:The term used here for 'kindness' specifically denotes a benevolent, humane feeling or action towards others, often implying a general good will towards humanity.

ACT 28:4

Justice:The word translated 'Justice' here refers to a divine personification of justice or retribution, often seen as a goddess who punishes wrongdoing.

ACT 28:6

to become inflamed:The word translated 'to become inflamed' specifically means to swell up or become bloated, often in a way that suggests a severe, perhaps even fatal, reaction to a poison.