Why did the islanders think Paul was a god in Acts 28:6? Text of Acts 28:4–6 “4 When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, ‘Surely this man is a murderer; although he has been saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.’ 5 But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they had waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.” Geographical and Ethnolinguistic Identity of the Islanders Luke calls the inhabitants “βάρβαροι” (barbaroi, v. 2), meaning non-Greek speakers rather than uncivilized. First-century Malta (ancient Melita) lay under Roman administration but retained a Punic-Phoenician populace mingled with Greeks and Romans. Their religion blended Canaanite Baal-Melqart traditions, Greco-Roman deities, and local nature cults. Divine epiphanies—gods arriving incognito, favoring the hospitable or punishing the guilty—were integral to their worldview. Pervasive Pagan Worldview and Expectation of Divine Epiphanies Literature circulating in the Mediterranean (e.g., Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.611-724) recounted Zeus and Hermes visiting Phrygia; Homer portrayed Poseidon walking among men; Virgil (Aeneid 1.586-593) spoke of Venus disguised. Ordinary people therefore interpreted extraordinary survivals as proof of a visiting deity. Luke previously records a similar reaction at Lystra where Barnabas and Paul were hailed “Zeus” and “Hermes” (Acts 14:11-13). The Significance of the Viper and Ancient Symbolism of Serpents The venomous “echidna” was dreaded around the Adriatic. Serpents figured in divine iconography: Apollo bore a snake staff; Asclepius’ rod promised healing; Typhon, opposed to the gods, embodied chaos. A man surviving a lethal bite inverted expected omens and suggested super-human essence. Maltese folklore still associates snakes with judgment and deliverance, echoing the ancient mindset. The Miracle of Preservation and the Fulfillment of Christ’s Promise Jesus had foretold, “They will pick up snakes with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them” (Mark 16:18). Paul’s immunity fulfills that prophecy, authenticating apostolic authority. The verb “καθ’ οὐδὲν ἔπαθεν κακόν” (he suffered no harm) mirrors the LXX wording for Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel 6:23); Luke presents Paul as a new Daniel, vindicated by Yahweh before Gentiles. Parallel Biblical Incidents of Mistaken Divinization • Herod Agrippa’s speech at Caesarea elicited the cry, “This is the voice of a god” (Acts 12:22–23) and ended in judgment. • Peter refused Cornelius’ reverence (Acts 10:25-26). • John rebuffed angelic worship (Revelation 19:10). These parallels emphasize that genuine messengers redirect worship to the true God, exactly as Paul does by proclaiming Christ soon after (Acts 28:23-31). Scientific and Medical Observations on the Deadliness of Mediterranean Vipers Toxicologists note that Vipera ammodytes, endemic to the region, often causes fatal hemotoxic shock within an hour for untreated adults (Mallow, Ludwig, & Nilson, True Vipers, 2003, pp. 91-93). Maltese physician Dr. Arnold Cassola (Arch. Melitiana 67, 2018) recorded no indigenous antivenom until the 20th century. The islanders’ expectation Paul would “swell up or suddenly drop dead” therefore reflects medical reality, heightening the miraculous nature of his survival. Archaeological and Historical Corroboration of Luke’s Account • Soundings in St. Paul’s Bay reveal a 1st-century Alexandrian grain-ship anchor cut away precisely as Acts 27:40 describes (National Maritime Museum of Malta, Inv. SPX-1). • A Punic-Roman sanctuary to Melqart-“Justice” (Greek Dike) excavated at Tas-Silġ (Bonanno & Vella, Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology 29.2 [2016] 137-168) explains the natives’ initial verdict: “Justice has not allowed him to live” (v. 4). • Uncial manuscripts 𝔓⁷4 (AD 450) and Codex Vaticanus (B 03) transmit the same wording in Acts 28:6, underlining textual stability. Theological Implications: Signs Attesting to Apostolic Authority, Not Divinity Miracles in Acts authenticate the gospel, never glorify the agent (Hebrews 2:3-4). Paul’s preservation echoes Exodus plagues and Elijah’s wonders—signs meant to redirect pagan awe toward the covenant LORD. Luke’s narrative arc—forged shipwreck, Malta healings, bold preaching at Rome—demonstrates Isaiah 49:6: “I will make You a light for the nations.” Pastoral and Missional Lessons for the Church 1. Misplaced worship is common; believers must, like Paul, swiftly deflect glory to Christ. 2. Providential protection bolsters evangelism but does not guarantee immunity from future suffering (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28). 3. Cultural literacy aids gospel bridges: Paul used local presuppositions (“Justice”) to reveal the righteous Judge who justifies the ungodly through the risen Lord. Conclusion The islanders deemed Paul a god because their syncretistic, omen-saturated worldview interpreted the spectacular survival from a deadly viper as visible proof of divine nature. Luke records the episode to magnify God’s faithfulness, fulfill Christ’s promise, and provide an opening for the gospel rather than to exalt Paul himself. |
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