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Acts 28:4

2 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.

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.

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.

5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

6 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.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

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.”
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.
WEB
When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live.”
ASV
And when the barbarians saw the [venomous] creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live.
DARBY
And when the barbarians saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said to one another, This man is certainly a murderer, whom, [though] saved out of the sea, Nemesis has not allowed to live.
BLB
And when the natives saw the beast hanging from his hand, they began to say to one another, “By all means this man is a murderer whom, having been saved from the sea, Dike did not permit to live.”
ÅB
Da nå de innfødte så ormen henge fra hånden hans, sa de til hverandre: Dette menneske må være en morder, som den hevnende rettferdigheten ikke gir lov til å leve, selv om han ble berget fra havet.
OTB
Da øyboerne så slangen henge fra hånden hans, sa de til hverandre: «Denne mannen må virkelig være en morder; selv om han unnslapp havet, har rettferdigheten ikke tillatt ham å leve.»
B1930
Da nu de innfødte så dyret henge ved hans hånd, sa de til hverandre: Dette menneske er visselig en morder, som den hevnende rettferdighet ikke gir lov til å leve, skjønt han er berget fra havet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Luke 13:2

    And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilæans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they suffered such things?

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  • Luke 13:4

    Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

    Read in context

  • Acts 28:2

    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.

    Read in context

  • Acts 28:5

    And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

    Read in context

  • John 7:24

    Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

    Read in context

  • John 9:1–2

    And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 23:35

    That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 43:20

    The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

    Read in context