“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.”
His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. - Publius's father is 'sick in bed' (katakeimai, katakeimai-'lying down sick'), 'suffering from fever and dysentery' (pyrissō, pyrissō; and 'dysentery,' dysenteria, dysenteria-specific diseases, not vague illness). Paul's healing is three-fold: (1) he 'went in to see him' (proserxomai, proserxomai-'went to'), (2) he prayed (proseuchomai, proseuchomai), and (3) he 'placed his hands on him and healed him' (epitithēmi tas cheiras, epitithēmi tas cheiras; iaomai, iaomai-'heal'). The gesture echoes Jesus's healings and the apostolic practice (3:7; 9:12).
Church Fathers on Acts 28:8
fastened on his hand. 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 has escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffers not to live. Acts 28:4 Well also was this permitted, that they should both see the thing and utter the thought, in order that, when the result ensued, there might be no disbelieving the miracle. Observe their good feeling (towards the distressed), in saying this (not…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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