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.
Acts 28:3 in other translations
| BSB | Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. |
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| WEB | But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. |
| ASV | But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand. |
| YLT | but Paul having gathered together a quantity of sticks, and having laid them upon the fire, a viper--out of the heat having come--did fasten on his hand. |
| DARBY | And Paul having gathered a certain quantity of sticks together in a bundle and laid it on the fire, a viper coming out from the heat seized his hand. |
| BBE | But when Paul had got some sticks together and put them on the fire, a snake came out, because of the heat, and gave him a bite on the hand. |
| Webster | 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. |
What does Acts 28:3 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
There came a viper. A poisonous serpent. Mt 3:7.
The viper was, doubtless, in the bundle of sticks or limbs of trees which Paul had gathered, but was concealed, and was torpid. But when the bundle was laid on the fire, the viper became warmed by the heat, and ran out, and fastened on the hand of Paul.
And fastened on his hand. καθηψε. This word properly means, to join one's self to; to touch; to adhere to. It might have been by coiling around his hand and arm; or by fastening its fangs in his hand. It is not expressly affirmed that Paul was bitten by the viper, yet it is evidently implied; and it is wholly incredible that a viper, unless miraculously prevented, should fasten himself to the hand without biting.
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
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…
Acts 28:3 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Acts 28:3
- Matthew 23:33
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
- Matthew 12:34
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
- 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 11:23
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
- Matthew 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
- Isaiah 41:24
Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.
- Isaiah 30:6
The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
- Job 20:16
He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.
- 2 Corinthians 6:9
As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
- Isaiah 59:5
They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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.
- 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.
- 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.
Acts 28:3 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Entonces habiendo Pablo recogido algunos sarmientos, y puéstolos en el fuego, una víbora, huyendo del calor, le acometió á la mano. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et Paul ayant ramassé une quantité de branches sèches et les ayant mises sur le feu, une vipère sortit de la chaleur et s’attacha à sa main. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Als aber Paulus eine gewisse Menge Reiser zusammenraffte und auf das Feuer legte, kam infolge der Hitze eine Natter heraus und hängte sich an seine Hand. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Cum congregasset autem Paulus sarmentorum aliquantam multitudinem, et imposuisset super ignem, vipera a calore cum processisset, invasit manum ejus. |