Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Acts 28:8 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 28:8	King James	And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
the father of Publius lay sick of a fever--"fevers." The word was often thus used in the plural number, probably to express recurring attacks. and of a bloody flux--"of dysentery." (The medical accuracy of our historian's style has been observed here.) to whom Paul entered in, and prayed--thereby precluding the supposition that any charm resided in himself. and laid his hands on him, and healed him--Thus, as our Lord rewarded Peter for the use of his boat (Luk 5:3-4, &c.), so Paul richly repays Publius for his hospitality. Observe the fulfilment here of two things predicted in Mar 16:18 --the "taking up serpents," and "recovering of the sick by laying hands on them."

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

the father of Publius lay sick of a fever--"fevers." The word was often thus used in the plural number, probably to express recurring attacks.

and of a bloody flux--"of dysentery." (The medical accuracy of our historian's style has been observed here.)

to whom Paul entered in, and prayed--thereby precluding the supposition that any charm resided in himself.

and laid his hands on him, and healed him--Thus, as our Lord rewarded Peter for the use of his boat (Luk 5:3-4, &c.), so Paul richly repays Publius for his hospitality. Observe the fulfilment here of two things predicted in Mar 16:18 --the "taking up serpents," and "recovering of the sick by laying hands on them."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
A bloody flux - Greek: dysentery. And laid his hands on him ... - In accordance with the promise of the Saviour, Mar 16:18. This miracle was a suitable return for the hospitality of Publius, and would serve to conciliate further the kindness of the people, and prepare the way for Paul's usefulness.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

A bloody flux - Greek: dysentery.

And laid his hands on him ... - In accordance with the promise of the Saviour, Mar 16:18. This miracle was a suitable return for the hospitality of Publius, and would serve to conciliate further the kindness of the people, and prepare the way for Paul's usefulness.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Sick (συνεχόμενον) Lit., taken or holden. See on taken, Luk 4:38. Fever (πυρετοῖς) Lit., fevers. This peculiarly medical use of the plural is confined to Luke in the New Testament. It denotes successive and varying attacks of fever. Bloody flux (δυσεντερίᾳ) Only here in New Testament. Our word dysentery is nearly a transcript of it. Hippocrates often speaks of the two complaints in combination. Healed (ἰάσατο) See on Luk 6:19.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Sick (συνεχόμενον)

Lit., taken or holden. See on taken, Luk 4:38.

Fever (πυρετοῖς)

Lit., fevers. This peculiarly medical use of the plural is confined to Luke in the New Testament. It denotes successive and varying attacks of fever.

Bloody flux (δυσεντερίᾳ)

Only here in New Testament. Our word dysentery is nearly a transcript of it. Hippocrates often speaks of the two complaints in combination.

Healed (ἰάσατο)

See on Luk 6:19.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The father of Publius lay sick - Πυρετοις και δυσεντεριᾳ; Of a fever and dysentery; perhaps a cholera morbus. Paul - prayed - That God would exert his power; and laid his hands on him, as the means which God ordinarily used to convey the energy of the Holy Spirit, and healed him; God having conveyed the healing power by this means. In such a disorder as that mentioned here by St. Luke, where the bowels were in a state of inflammation, and a general fever aiding the dysentery in its work of death, nothing less than a miracle could have made an instantaneous cure in the patient. Such a cure was wrought, and even the heathens saw that it was the hand of God.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

The father of Publius lay sick - Πυρετοις και δυσεντεριᾳ; Of a fever and dysentery; perhaps a cholera morbus.

Paul - prayed - That God would exert his power; and laid his hands on him, as the means which God ordinarily used to convey the energy of the Holy Spirit, and healed him; God having conveyed the healing power by this means. In such a disorder as that mentioned here by St. Luke, where the bowels were in a state of inflammation, and a general fever aiding the dysentery in its work of death, nothing less than a miracle could have made an instantaneous cure in the patient. Such a cure was wrought, and even the heathens saw that it was the hand of God.

Top