Acts 28:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →When Paul does not die, the islanders swing from calling him a murderer to calling him a god.
What Does Acts 28:6 Mean?
The crowd waits for Paul to swell up or drop dead. When a long while passes and nothing happens, they reverse their judgment entirely and declare he must be a god.
Human opinion is fickle, lurching from condemnation to worship in a single afternoon. Earlier they named Paul a criminal; now they would make him divine. Paul accepts neither verdict, for he is a man and a servant, and all glory belongs to the Lord who preserved him. The episode warns us not to build our identity on the changing applause of others. What matters is not whether the crowd reviles or reveres us, but whether we remain faithful witnesses pointing beyond ourselves to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 28:6
What does Acts 28:6 mean?
When Paul does not die, the islanders swing from calling him a murderer to calling him a god.