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.
YLT: 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;'
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.
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.
| εἶδον | saw |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: εἶδον Sense: to see with the eyes. |
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| βάρβαροι | natives |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: βάρβαρος Sense: one whose speech is rude, rough and harsh. |
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| κρεμάμενον | hanging |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: κρεμάννυμι Sense: to hang up, suspend. |
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| θηρίον | beast |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: θηρίον Sense: an animal. |
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| χειρὸς | hand |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: χείρ Sense: by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one. |
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| αὐτοῦ | of him |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself. |
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| ἀλλήλους | one another |
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Parse: Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: ἀλλήλων Sense: one another, reciprocally, mutually. |
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| ἔλεγον | they began to say |
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Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: λέγω Sense: to speak, say. |
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| Πάντως | By all means |
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Parse: Adverb Root: πάντως Sense: altogether. |
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| φονεύς | a murderer |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: φονεύς Sense: a murderer, a homicide. |
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| ἄνθρωπος | man |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἄνθρωπος Sense: a human being, whether male or female. |
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| οὗτος | this |
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Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: οὗτος Sense: this. |
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| ὃν | whom |
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Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: ὅς Sense: who, which, what, that. |
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| διασωθέντα | having been saved |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: διασῴζω Sense: to preserve through danger, to bring safely through. |
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| θαλάσσης | sea |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: θάλασσα Sense: the sea. |
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| ἡ | - |
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Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| Δίκη | Justice |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: δίκη Sense: custom, usage. |
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| ζῆν | to live |
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Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active Root: ζάω Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead). |
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| εἴασεν | has permitted |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἐάω Sense: to allow, permit, let. |
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Greek Commentary for Acts 28:4
Diminutive of τηρ thēr and so little beast. See note on Mark 1:13. Aristotle and the medical writers apply the word to venomous serpents, the viper in particular (Knowling), as Luke does here. Vincent calls attention to the curious history of our word “treacle ” for molasses (Latin theriaca) from thēriakē an antidote made from the flesh of vipers. Coverdale translates Jeremiah 8:22: “There is no more treacle in Gilead.” Jeremy Taylor: “We kill the viper and make treacle of him.” [source]
Vivid picture of the snake dangling from Paul‘s hand. Present middle participle of τηριακη kremamai late form for κρεμαμενον εκ της χειρος αυτου kremannumi to hang up, to suspend (cf. Galatians 3:13). No doubt (κρεμαμαι pantōs). Literally, By all means, old adverb. Cf. Acts 21:22; Luke 4:23; 1 Corinthians 9:22. Only by Luke and Paul in the N.T. “They knew that he was a prisoner being taken to Rome on some grave charge, and inferred that the charge was murder” (Page). Though he hath escaped First aorist passive participle of παντως diasōzō (same verb used in Acts 27:43, Acts 27:44; Acts 28:1), so-called concessive use of the participle (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1129). Yet Justice An abstraction personified like the Latin διασωζω Justitia (Page). The natives speak of δικη @Dikēn as a goddess, but we know nothing of such actual worship in Malta, though the Greeks worshipped abstractions as in Athens. Hath not suffered (Δικη nouk eiasenn). Did not suffer. They look on Paul as a doomed man as good as dead. These people thought that calamity was proof of guilt, poor philosophy and worse theology. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- [source]
Literally, By all means, old adverb. Cf. Acts 21:22; Luke 4:23; 1 Corinthians 9:22. Only by Luke and Paul in the N.T. “They knew that he was a prisoner being taken to Rome on some grave charge, and inferred that the charge was murder” (Page). [source]
First aorist passive participle of παντως diasōzō (same verb used in Acts 27:43, Acts 27:44; Acts 28:1), so-called concessive use of the participle (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1129). Yet Justice An abstraction personified like the Latin διασωζω Justitia (Page). The natives speak of δικη @Dikēn as a goddess, but we know nothing of such actual worship in Malta, though the Greeks worshipped abstractions as in Athens. Hath not suffered (Δικη nouk eiasenn). Did not suffer. They look on Paul as a doomed man as good as dead. These people thought that calamity was proof of guilt, poor philosophy and worse theology. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- [source]
An abstraction personified like the Latin διασωζω Justitia (Page). The natives speak of δικη @Dikēn as a goddess, but we know nothing of such actual worship in Malta, though the Greeks worshipped abstractions as in Athens. Hath not suffered (Δικη nouk eiasenn). Did not suffer. They look on Paul as a doomed man as good as dead. These people thought that calamity was proof of guilt, poor philosophy and worse theology. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- [source]
Personified. [source]
The aorist tense: did not suffer. His death is regarded as fixed by the divine decree. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 28:4
Adverb. Literally, at any rate, certainly, assuredly. Cf. Acts 21:22; Acts 28:4. [source]
ινα Hina is the more common final or sub-final (as here) conjunction, but οπως hopōs still occurs. Διασωσηι Diasōsēi is effective aorist active subjunctive, to bring safe through as in a storm (Acts 28:1, Acts 28:4). Common word. [source]
Present active participle, masculine singular nominative, of the verb ερωταω erōtaō common for asking a question as in the old Greek (Luke 22:68). But more frequently in the N.T. the verb has the idea of making a request as here. This is not a Hebraism or an Aramaism, but is a common meaning of the verb in the papyri (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 168). It is to be noted here that Luke represents the centurion himself as “asking” through the elders of the Jews (leading citizens). In Matthew 8:6 the verb is παρακαλων parakalōn (beseeching).That he would come and save (οπως ελτων διασωσηι hopōs elthōn diasōsēi). ινα Hina is the more common final or sub-final (as here) conjunction, but οπως hopōs still occurs. Διασωσηι Diasōsēi is effective aorist active subjunctive, to bring safe through as in a storm (Acts 28:1, Acts 28:4). Common word. [source]
The A. V. is too general, and overlooks the force of the article, which shows that the word refers to a class. Rev., rightly, the assassins. The word, which occurs only here, and notably on the lips of a Roman officer, is one of those Latin words which “followed the Roman domination even into those Eastern provinces of the empire which, unlike those of the West, had refused to be Latinized, but still retained their own language” (Trench, “Synonyms”). The Sicarii were so called from the weapon which they used - the sica, or short, curved dagger. Josephus says: “There sprang up in Jerusalem another description of robbers called Sikars, who, under the broad light of day, and in the very heart of the city, assassinated men; chiefly at the festivals, however, when, mixing among the crowd, with daggers concealed under their cloaks, they stabbed those with whom they were at variance. When they fell, the murderers joined in the general expressions of indignation, and by this plausible proceeding remained undetected” (“Jewish War,” c. xiii.). The general New Testament term for murderer is φονεύς (see Matthew 22:7; Acts 3:14; Acts 28:4, etc.). [source]
Παντως Pantōs is old adverb, by all means, altogether, wholly, certainly as here and Acts 28:4; Luke 4:23; 1 Corinthians 9:10. This future middle of ακουω akouō is the usual form instead of ακουσω akousō There was no way to conceal Paul‘s arrival nor was it wise to do so. B C and several cursives omit δει πλητος συνελτειν dei plēthos sunelthein (The multitude must needs come together). [source]
For riding as here or for baggage. See note on Luke 10:34. Asses or horses, but not war-horses. Since Paul was chained to a soldier, another animal would be required for baggage. It was also seventy miles and a change of horses might be needed. The extreme precaution of Lysias is explained in some Latin MSS. as due to fear of a night attack with the result that he might be accused to Felix of bribery. Luke also probably accompanied Paul. To bring safe (hina diasōsōsin). Final clause with hina and the first aorist active subjunctive of ινα διασωσωσιν diasōzō old verb, to save through (ινα dia) to a finish. Eight times in the N.T. (Matthew 14:36; Luke 7:3; Acts 23:24; Acts 27:43, Acts 27:44; Acts 28:1, Acts 28:4; 1 Peter 3:20). Unto Felix the governor Felix was a brother of Pallas, the notorious favourite of Claudius. Both had been slaves and were now freedmen. Felix was made procurator of Judea by Claudius a.d. 52. He held the position till Festus succeeded him after complaints by the Jews to Nero. He married Drusilla the daughter of Herod Agrippa I with the hope of winning the favour of the Jews. He was one of the most depraved men of his time. Tacitus says of him that “with all cruelty and lust he exercised the power of a king with the spirit of a slave.” The term “governor” In the N.T. it is used of Pilate (Matthew 27:2), of Felix, (Acts 23:24, Acts 23:26, Acts 23:33; Acts 24:1), of Festus (Acts 26:30). [source]
Final clause with hina and the first aorist active subjunctive of ινα διασωσωσιν diasōzō old verb, to save through (ινα dia) to a finish. Eight times in the N.T. (Matthew 14:36; Luke 7:3; Acts 23:24; Acts 27:43, Acts 27:44; Acts 28:1, Acts 28:4; 1 Peter 3:20). [source]
The Greeks called all men “barbarians” who did not speak Greek (Romans 1:14), not “barbarians” in our sense of rude and uncivilized, but simply “foreign folk.” Diodorus Siculus (Acts 28:12) says that it was a colony of the Phoenicians and so their language was Punic (Page). The word originally meant an uncouth repetition In Colossians 3:11 Paul couples it with Scythian as certainly not Christian. These are (with Acts 28:4 below) the only N.T. instances. [source]
Genitive absolute again. Paul could not go to the synagogue, as his custom was, being a bound prisoner. So he invited the Jewish leaders to come to his lodging and hear his explanation of his presence in Rome as a prisoner with an appeal to Caesar. He is anxious that they may understand that this appeal was forced upon him by Festus following Felix and lot because he has come to make an attack on the Jewish people. He was sure that false reports had come to Rome. These non-Christian Jews accepted Paul‘s invitation. Nothing against (ουδεν εναντιον ouden enantion). Adjective here as in Acts 26:9, not preposition as in Acts 7:10; Acts 8:32. From εν en and αντιος antios (αντι anti), face to face. Concessive participle ποιησας poiēsas as in Acts 28:4 (διασωτεντα diasōthenta) which see. Yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans This condensed statement does not explain how he “was delivered,” for in fact the Jews were trying to kill him when Lysias rescued him from the mob (Acts 22:27 -36). The Jews were responsible for his being in the hands of the Romans, though they had hoped to kill him first. [source]
Adjective here as in Acts 26:9, not preposition as in Acts 7:10; Acts 8:32. From εν en and αντιος antios (αντι anti), face to face. Concessive participle ποιησας poiēsas as in Acts 28:4 (διασωτεντα diasōthenta) which see. [source]
The whole human race from the Greek point of view, Jews coming under βαρβαροις barbarois On this word see note on Acts 28:2, Acts 28:4; note on 1 Corinthians 14:11; and note on Colossians 3:11 (only N.T. instances). The Greeks called all others barbarians and the Jews termed all others Gentiles. Did Paul consider the Romans as Greeks? They had absorbed the Greek language and culture. [source]
Subjective genitive, “a God kind of righteousness,” one that each must have and can obtain in no other way save “from faith unto faith” Is revealed (αποκαλυπτεται apokaluptetai). It is a revelation from God, this God kind of righteousness, that man unaided could never have conceived or still less attained. In these words we have Paul‘s statement in his own way of the theme of the Epistle, the content of the gospel as Paul understands it. Every word is important: σωτηριαν sōtērian (salvation), ευαγγελιον euaggelion (gospel), αποκαλυπτεται apokaluptetai (is revealed), δικαιοσυνη τεου dikaiosunē theou (righteousness of God), πιστις pistis (faith) and πιστευοντι pisteuonti (believing). He grounds his position on Habakkuk 2:4 (quoted also in Galatians 3:11). By “righteousness” we shall see that Paul means both “justification” and “sanctification.” It is important to get a clear idea of Paul‘s use of δικαιοσυνη dikaiosunē here for it controls the thought throughout the Epistle. Jesus set up a higher standard of righteousness (δικαιοσυνη dikaiosunē) in the Sermon on the Mount than the Scribes and Pharisees taught and practised (Matthew 5:20) and proves it in various items. Here Paul claims that in the gospel, taught by Jesus and by himself there is revealed a God kind of righteousness with two ideas in it (the righteousness that God has and that he bestows). It is an old word for quality from δικαιος dikaios a righteous man, and that from δικη dikē right or justice (called a goddess in Acts 28:4), and that allied with δεικνυμι deiknumi to show, to point out. Other allied words are δικαιοω dikaioō to declare or make δικαιος dikaios (Romans 3:24, Romans 3:26), δικαιωμα dikaiōma that which is deemed δικαιος dikaios (sentence or ordinance as in Romans 1:32; Romans 2:26; Romans 8:4), δικαιωσις dikaiōsis the act of declaring δικαιος dikaios (only twice in N.T., Romans 4:25; Romans 5:18). Δικαιοσυνη Dikaiosunē and δικαιοω dikaioō are easy to render into English, though we use justice in distinction from righteousness and sanctification for the result that comes after justification (the setting one right with God). Paul is consistent and usually clear in his use of these great words. [source]
It is a revelation from God, this God kind of righteousness, that man unaided could never have conceived or still less attained. In these words we have Paul‘s statement in his own way of the theme of the Epistle, the content of the gospel as Paul understands it. Every word is important: σωτηριαν sōtērian (salvation), ευαγγελιον euaggelion (gospel), αποκαλυπτεται apokaluptetai (is revealed), δικαιοσυνη τεου dikaiosunē theou (righteousness of God), πιστις pistis (faith) and πιστευοντι pisteuonti (believing). He grounds his position on Habakkuk 2:4 (quoted also in Galatians 3:11). By “righteousness” we shall see that Paul means both “justification” and “sanctification.” It is important to get a clear idea of Paul‘s use of δικαιοσυνη dikaiosunē here for it controls the thought throughout the Epistle. Jesus set up a higher standard of righteousness It is an old word for quality from δικαιος dikaios a righteous man, and that from δικη dikē right or justice (called a goddess in Acts 28:4), and that allied with δεικνυμι deiknumi to show, to point out. Other allied words are δικαιοω dikaioō to declare or make δικαιος dikaios (Romans 3:24, Romans 3:26), δικαιωμα dikaiōma that which is deemed δικαιος dikaios (sentence or ordinance as in Romans 1:32; Romans 2:26; Romans 8:4), δικαιωσις dikaiōsis the act of declaring δικαιος dikaios (only twice in N.T., Romans 4:25; Romans 5:18). Δικαιοσυνη Dikaiosunē and δικαιοω dikaioō are easy to render into English, though we use justice in distinction from righteousness and sanctification for the result that comes after justification (the setting one right with God). Paul is consistent and usually clear in his use of these great words. [source]
Quadrupeds. Not beasts generally, nor wild beasts only. In Acts 28:4, Acts 28:5, the word is used of the viper which fastened on Paul's hand. In Peter's vision (Acts 10:19; Acts 11:6) there is a different classification from the one here; quadrupeds being denoted by a specific term, τετράποδα , four-footed creatures. There θηρία includes fishes, which in this passage are classed as ἐναλίων , things in the sea. [source]