And when the foreigners saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said unto one another, 'Certainly this man is a murderer, whom, having been saved out of the sea, the justice did not suffer to live;'Acts 28:4 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the BibleThe venomous beast - Το θηριον, The venomous animal; for θηρια is a general name among the Greek writers for serpents, vipers, scorpions, wasps, and such like creatures. Though the viper fastened on Paul's hand, it does not appear that it really bit him; but the Maltese supposed that it had, because they saw it fasten on his hand.
Vengeance suffereth not to live - These heathens had a general knowledge of retributive justice; and they thought that the stinging of the serpent was a proof that Paul was a murderer. There is a passage in Bamidbar Rabba, fol. 239, that casts some light on this place. "Although the Sanhedrin is ceased, yet are not the four deaths ceased. For he that deserves stoning either falls from his house, or a wild beast tears and devours him. He that deserves burning either falls into the fire, or a serpent bites him. He that deserves cutting of with the sword is either betrayed into the power of a heathen kingdom, or the robbers break in upon him. He that deserves strangling is either suffocated in the water, or dies of a quinsy." See Lightfoot.
As these people were heathens, it is not likely that they had any correct notion of the justice of the true God; and therefore it is most probable that they used the word δικη, not to express the quality or attribute of any being, but the goddess Dik, or vindictive Justice, herself, who is represented as punishing the iniquities of men.
Hesiod makes a goddess of what the Maltese called Δικη, or Justice: -
Η δε τε παρθενος εϚι ΔΙΚΗ, Διος εκγεγαυια,
Κυδνη τ' αιδοιη τε θεοις, οἱ Ολυμπον εχουσιν·
Και ρ' ὁποτ' αν τις μιν βλαπτῃ σκολιως ονοταζων.
Αυτικα παρ Διΐ πατρι καθεζομενη Κρονιωνι
Γηρυετ' ανθρωπων αδικον νοον·
Hesiod. Opera, ver. 254.
Justice, unspotted maid, derived from Jove,
Renown'd and reverenced by the gods above:
When mortals violate her sacred laws,
When judges hear the bribe and not the cause,
continued...
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
barbarians.
Acts 28:2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain...
beast.
Acts 28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Yes, has God said...
Isaiah 13:21,22 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there...
Isaiah 43:20 The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert...
Zephaniah 2:15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelled carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me...
No doubt.
Luke 13:2,4 And Jesus answering said to them, Suppose you that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans...
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
John 9:1,2 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth...
a murderer.
Genesis 4:8-11 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother...
Genesis 9:5,6 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man...
Genesis 42:21,22 And they said one to another, We are truly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he sought us...
Numbers 35:31-34 Moreover you shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death...
Proverbs 28:17 A man that does violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
Isaiah 26:21 For, behold, the LORD comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity...
Matthew 23:35 That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth...
Matthew 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters...
Acts 28:4 Parallel Commentaries
Allowed Barbarians Beast Creature Doubt Escaped Hand Hang Hanging Islanders Justice Live Murderer Natives Permit Saved Sea Snake Someone Suffereth Themselves Undoubtedly Vengeance VenomousAllowed Barbarians Beast Creature Doubt Escaped Hand Hang Hanging Islanders Justice Live Murderer Natives Permit Saved Sea Snake Someone Suffereth Themselves Undoubtedly Vengeance VenomousTHE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.Acts 28:4 Mobile Bible
Acts 28:4 Bible Suite
Acts 28:4 Biblia Paralela
Acts 28:4 Chinese Bible
Bible Apps
Bible Hub
