Acts 28 · Verse 2

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.
Acts 28:2, King James Version

Acts 28:2 in other translations

BSBThe islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.
WEBThe natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire and received us all, because of the present rain and because of the cold.
ASVAnd the barbarians showed us no common kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
YLTand the foreigners were shewing us no ordinary kindness, for having kindled a fire, they received us all, because of the pressing rain, and because of the cold;
DARBYBut the barbarians shewed us no common kindness; for, having kindled a fire, they took us all in because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.
BBEAnd the simple people living there were uncommonly kind to us, for they made a fire for us, and took us in, because it was raining and cold.
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Acts 28:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. the barbarous people--so called merely as speaking neither the Greek nor the Latin language. They were originally Phoenician colonists. showed us no little--"no ordinary" kindness, for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain--"the rain that was on us"--not now first falling, but then falling heavily. and because of the cold--welcomed us all, drenched and shivering, to these most seasonable marks of friendship. In this these "barbarians" contrast favorably with many since bearing the Christian name. The lifelike style of the narrative here and in the following verses gives it a great charm.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. And the barbarous people. Rom 1:14. The Greeks regarded all as barbarians who did not speak their language; and applied the name to all other nations but their own. It does not denote, as it does sometimes with us, people of savage, uncultivated, and cruel habits, but simply those whose speech was unintelligible. See 1Cor 14:11. The island is supposed to have been peopled at first by the Phoecians, afterwards by the Phoenicians, and afterwards by a colony from Carthage. The language of the Maltese was that of Africa, and hence it was called by the Greeks the language of barbarians. It was a language which was unintelligible to the Greeks and Latins.

The rain. The continuance of the storm.

And of the cold. The exposure to the water in getting to the shore, and probably to the coldness of the weather. It was now in the month of October.

(c) "barbarous people" Rom 1:14, Col 3:11 (d) "received us every one" Mt 10:42, Heb 13:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 The barbarous people - We have already seen that this island was peopled by the Phoenicians, or Carthaginians, as Bochart has proved, Phaleg. chap. xxvi.; and their ancient language was no doubt in use among them at that time, though mingled with some Greek and Latin terms; and this language must have been unintelligible to the Romans and the Greeks. With these, as well as with other nations, it was customary to call those βαρβαροι, barbarians, whose language they did not understand. St. Paul himself speaks after this manner in 1Cor 14:11 : If I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a Barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a Barbarian unto me. Thus Herodotus also, lib. ii. 158, says, βαρβαρους παντας Αιγυπτιοι καλεουσι τους μη σφι ὁμογλωσσους· The Egyptians call all those Barbarians who have not the same language with themselves. And Ovid, when among the Getes, says, in Trist. ver. 10: - Barbarus hic ego sum, quia non Intelligor ulli. "Here I am a barbarian, for no person understands me." Various etymologies have been given of this word. I think that of Bp. Pearce the best. The Greeks who traded with the Phoenicians, formed this word from their observing that the Phoenicians were generally called by the name of their parent, with the word בר bar, prefixed to that name; as we find in the New Testament men called Bar-Jesus, Bar-Tholomeus, Bar-Jonas, Bar-Timeus, etc. Hence the Greeks called them βαρ-βαροι, meaning the men who are called Bar Bar, or have no other names than what begin with Bar. And because the Greeks did not understand the language of the Phoenicians, their first, and the Romans in imitation of them, gave the name of Barbarians to all such as talked in a language to which they were strangers." No other etymology need be attempted; this is its own proof; and the Bar-melec in the preceding epitaph is, at least, collateral evidence. The word barbarian is therefore no term of reproach in itself; and was not so used by ancient authors, however fashionable it may be to use it so now. Because of the present rain and - of the cold - This must have been sometime in October; and, when we consider the time of the year, the tempestuousness of the weather, and their escaping to shore on planks, spars, etc., wet of course to the skin, they must have been very cold, and have needed all the kindness that these well disposed people showed them. In some parts of Christianized Europe, the inhabitants would have attended on the beach, and knocked the survivors on the head, that they might convert the wreck to their own use! This barbarous people did not act in this way: they joined hands with God to make these sufferers live.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 28:1-10

God can make strangers to be friends; friends in distress. Those who are despised for homely manners, are often more friendly than the more polished; and the conduct of heathens, or persons called barbarians, condemns many in civilized nations, professing to be Christians. The people thought that Paul was a murderer, and that the viper was sent by Divine justice, to be the avenger of blood. They knew that there is a…

Read the full comment on Acts 28:1-10 →

Acts 28:2 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οἵoi<the>G3588
τεteAndG5037
βάρβαροιbarbaroithe nativesG915
παρεῖχονpareichonwere showingG3930
οὐounot [just]G3756
τὴνtēntheG3588
τυχοῦσανtuchousanordinaryG5177
φιλανθρωπίανphilanthrōpiankindnessG5363
ἡμῖν·hēminto us;G3165
ἅψαντεςhapsantesHaving kindledG681
γὰρgarforG1063
πυρὰνpurana fireG4443
προσελάβοντοproselabontothey receivedG4355
πάνταςpantasallG3956
ἡμᾶςhēmasof usG3165
διὰdiabecause ofG1223
τὸνtontheG3588
ὑετὸνhu'etonrainG5205
τὸνtonwhichG3588
ἐφεστῶταephestōtaalready coming onG2186
καὶkaiandG2532
διὰdiabecauseG1223
τὸtoof theG3588
ψῦχος.psuchoscold.G5592

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 28:2

  • Colossians 3:11

    Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

  • Romans 1:14

    I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

  • Hebrews 13:2

    Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

  • Acts 28:4

    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.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:27

    In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:11

    Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

  • Matthew 10:42

    And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

  • Proverbs 24:11-12

    If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

  • Acts 27:3

    And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

  • Leviticus 19:34

    But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

  • Ezra 10:9

    Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.

  • Luke 10:30-37

    And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
barbarous.
4; Ro 1:14; 1Co 14:11; Col 3:11
shewed.
27:3; Le 19:18,34; Pr 24:11,12; Mt 10:42; Lu 10:30-37
Ro 2:14,15,27; Heb 13:2
because.
Ezr 10:9; Joh 18:18; 2Co 11:27

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 28:1

    And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

  • 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.

  • Acts 28:3

    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.

Read all of Acts 28

Acts 28:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y los bárbaros nos mostraron no poca humanidad; porque, encendido un fuego, nos recibieron á todos, á causa de la lluvia que venía, y del frío.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les barbares usèrent d’une humanité peu ordinaire envers nous, car ayant allumé un feu, ils nous reçurent tous, à cause de la pluie qui tombait et à cause du froid.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Eingeborenen aber erzeigten uns eine nicht gewöhnliche Freundlichkeit, denn sie zündeten ein Feuer an und nahmen uns alle zu sich wegen des eingetretenen Regens und wegen der Kälte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Accensa enim pyra, reficiebant nos omnes propter imbrem qui imminebat, et frigus.