Acts 28:8

6 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.

7 Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

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.

9 After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.

10 The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.

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
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.
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.
WEB
The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him.
ASV
And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him.
DARBY
And it happened that the father of Publius lay ill of fever and dysentery; to whom Paul entered in, and having prayed and laid his hands on him cured him.
BLB
And it came to pass [that] the father of Publius was lying, oppressed with fevers and dysentery, toward whom Paul, having entered and having prayed, having laid the hands on him, healed him.
ÅB
Og det traff seg så at Publius' far lå meget syk av feber og blodgang; Paulus gikk da inn til ham og ba og la hendene på ham og helbredet ham.
OTB
Publius' far lå til sengs, plaget av feber og dysenteri. Paulus besøkte ham, og etter å ha bedt, la han hendene på ham og helbredet ham.
B1930
Og det traff sig så at Publius' far lå meget syk av feber og blodgang; Paulus gikk da inn til ham og bad og la hendene på ham og helbredet ham.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Acts 9:40

    Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

    Read in context
  • Mark 6:5

    So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 9:18

    While Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live.”

    Read in context
  • James 5:14–16

    Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 10:8

    Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

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  • Mark 16:18

    they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

    Read in context
  • Luke 13:13

    Then He placed His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and began to glorify God.

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  • Matthew 10:1

    And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness.

    Read in context