“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.”
The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. - The Maltese inhabitants show 'unusual kindness' (philanthropia, philanthropia-'humanity, kindness'). 'They built a fire' (anaptō pyr, anaptō pyr-'kindle fire') for the shipwrecked survivors, 'welcomed us all' (prolambanō hēmas pantas, prolambanō hēmas pantas-'received all of us'). 'Because it was raining and cold' (hyetos, hyetos; and 'cold,' psychos, psychos) frames their generosity as response to human need. Luke shows that strangers become allies through simple compassion. The Maltese's 'unusual kindness' contrasts with the soldiers' earlier intent to execute the prisoners.
Church Fathers on Acts 28:2
Showed, he says, no little kindness to us — barbarians (as they were )— having kindled a fire: else it were of no use that their lives be saved, if the wintry weather must destroy them. Then Paul having taken brushwood, laid it on the fire. See how active he is; observe how we nowhere find him doing miracles for the sake of doing them, but only upon emergency. Both during the storm when there was a cause he prophesied, not for the sake of prophesying, and here again in the…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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