Hechos 28:2

2 Y los habitantes nos mostraron toda clase de atenciones, porque a causa de la lluvia que caía y del frío, encendieron una hoguera y nos acogieron a todos.

Hechos 28:2 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 28:2

And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness
The inhabitants of this island are called barbarians, not from the country of Barbary, near to which they were; nor so much on account of their manners, for, though Heathens, they were a civil and cultivated people, being, as appears from the name of the chief man of the island, under the Roman government; but because of their language, see ( 1 Corinthians 14:11 ) , it being neither Hebrew, Greek, nor Latin; for as the inhabitants were originally a colony of the Phoenicians, they spoke their language; and now though it is inhabited by such as are called Christians, they speak the Saracen or Arabic language, and little different from the old Punic or Phoenician language: however, though the inhabitants could not understand their language, they understood their case, and were very civil and humane to them, and showed them extraordinary kindness:

for they kindled a fire;
or set fire to a large pile of wood; for a large fire it must be to be of service to such a number of people, in such a condition as they were:

and received us everyone:
though their number were two hundred threescore and sixteen;

because of the present rain, and because of the cold;
for a violent rain fell on them, as is usual upon a storm, and much wetted them, so that a fire was very necessary; and it being winter or near it, it was cold weather; and especially they having been so long in a storm, and now shipwrecked; and some having thrown themselves into the sea, and swam to the island; and others having been obliged to put themselves on boards and planks, and get ashore, and were no doubt both wet and cold; so that nothing was more needful and more agreeable to them than a large fire.

Hechos 28:2 In-Context

1 Y una vez que ellos estaban a salvo, nos enteramos de que la isla se llamaba Malta.

2 Y los habitantes nos mostraron toda clase de atenciones, porque a causa de la lluvia que caía y del frío, encendieron una hoguera y nos acogieron a todos.

3 Pero cuando Pablo recogió una brazada de leña y la echó al fuego, una víbora salió huyendo del calor y se le prendió en la mano.

4 Y los habitantes, al ver el animal colgando de su mano, decían entre sí: Sin duda que este hombre es un asesino, pues aunque fue salvado del mar, Justicia no le ha concedido vivir.

5 Pablo, sin embargo, sacudiendo la mano, arrojó el animal al fuego y no sufrió ningún daño.