Acts 28:4

The islanders knew that the snake was poisonous, so when they saw it hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to each other, “Probably this man has murdered someone. Although he has escaped from being drowned, the god ◄ who pays people back/who punishes people► for their [MTY] sins will cause him to die.”

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

3Paul gathered some sticks and put them on the fire. But among those sticks was a snake that had come out from the fire to escape from the heat, and it fastened itself on Paul’s hand.

5But Paul simply shook the snake off into the fire, and nothing happened to him.

Read all of Acts 28

Cross References

Genesis 3:1The snake was more cunning than all the other wild animals that Yahweh God had made. One day Satan gave to the snake the ability to talk to the woman. The snake said to her, “Did God really say to you, ‘Do not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the park/garden’?”

Genesis 9:5I insist that murderers must be executed. Animals that kill people must also be executed. The reason that everyone who murders someone else must be executed is that

Numbers 35:31“If there is a murderer who truly should be executed, do not spare his life by accepting ◄a ransom/money for him not to be killed►. He must be executed.

Isaiah 13:21Instead, animals that live in the desert will be there; jackals/wolves will live in the ruins of the houses. Owls (OR, Ostriches) will live in the ruins, and wild goats will romp/jump around there.

Isaiah 43:20The jackals/wolves and owls and other wild creatures will thank me for giving them water in the desert. I will cause streams to appear in the dry desert in order that my people, the ones whom I have chosen, will have water;

Matthew 23:35As a result, God will consider that you are guilty for killing [SYN] all the righteous people, including killing [MTY] Adam’s son Abel, who was a righteous man [SYN], and Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, whom you are guilty of killing in the holy place between the Temple and the altar, and for killing all the prophets who lived between the times that those two men lived.

Matthew Henry on Acts 28:2-11

Paul's Voyage towards Rome. 1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 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. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Acts 28:4