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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Acts 28:3–7

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and 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 hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
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.
In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

All 47 ranked passages are available for comparison.

From verse 3

  1. Matthew 23:33Rank 1 from verse 3
    Open

    33Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

  2. Matthew 12:34Rank 2 from verse 3
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    34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

  3. 2 Corinthians 11:23Rank 3 from verse 3
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    23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

  4. Acts 28:4Rank 4 from verse 3
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    4And 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 hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

  5. 2 Corinthians 6:9Rank 5 from verse 3
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    9As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

  6. Isaiah 30:6Rank 6 from verse 3
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    6The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

  7. Isaiah 41:24Rank 7 from verse 3
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    24Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

  8. Isaiah 59:5Rank 8 from verse 3
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    5They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.

  9. Job 20:16Rank 9 from verse 3
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    16He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

  10. Matthew 3:7Rank 10 from verse 3
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    7¶ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

  11. Amos 5:19Rank 11 from verse 3
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    19As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

From verse 4

  1. Luke 13:2Rank 1 from verse 4
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    2And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilæans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they suffered such things?

  2. Luke 13:4Rank 2 from verse 4
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    4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

  3. Acts 28:2Rank 3 from verse 4
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    2And 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.

  4. Acts 28:5Rank 4 from verse 4
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    5And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

  5. John 7:24Rank 5 from verse 4
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    24Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

  6. Isaiah 43:20Rank 6 from verse 4
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    20The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

  7. John 9:1–2Rank 7 from verse 4
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    1AND as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

    2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

  8. Matthew 23:35Rank 8 from verse 4
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    35That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

  9. Genesis 3:1Rank 9 from verse 4
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    1NOW the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

  10. Genesis 4:8–11Rank 10 from verse 4
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    8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

    9¶ And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?

    10And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.

    11And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;

  11. Genesis 42:21–22Rank 11 from verse 4
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    21¶ And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.

    22And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

  12. Genesis 9:5–6Rank 12 from verse 4
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    5And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.

    6Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

  13. Isaiah 26:21Rank 13 from verse 4
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    21For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

  14. Matthew 27:25Rank 14 from verse 4
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    25Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

  15. Numbers 35:31–34Rank 15 from verse 4
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    31Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

    32And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.

    33So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

    34Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.

  16. Proverbs 28:17Rank 16 from verse 4
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    17A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

  17. Revelation 21:8Rank 17 from verse 4
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    8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

  18. Zephaniah 2:15Rank 18 from verse 4
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    15This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

  19. Isaiah 13:21–22Rank 19 from verse 4
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    21But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.

    22And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

From verse 5

  1. Luke 10:19Rank 1 from verse 5
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    19Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

  2. Mark 16:18Rank 2 from verse 5
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    18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

  3. Psalms 91:13Rank 3 from verse 5
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    13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

  4. Numbers 21:6–9Rank 4 from verse 5
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    6And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

    7¶ Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

    8And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

    9And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

  5. Revelation 9:3–4Rank 5 from verse 5
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    3And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

    4And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

  6. John 3:14–15Rank 6 from verse 5
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    14¶ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

    15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

  7. Romans 16:20Rank 7 from verse 5
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    20And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

From verse 6

  1. Acts 12:22Rank 1 from verse 6
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    22And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

  2. Acts 14:11–13Rank 2 from verse 6
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    11And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

    12And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

    13Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

  3. Matthew 21:9Rank 3 from verse 6
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    9And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

  4. Matthew 27:22Rank 4 from verse 6
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    22Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

From verse 7

  1. Matthew 10:40–41Rank 1 from verse 7
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    40¶ He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

    41He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

  2. Acts 13:7Rank 2 from verse 7
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    7Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

  3. Acts 18:12Rank 3 from verse 7
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    12¶ And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

  4. Acts 23:24Rank 4 from verse 7
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    24And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

  5. Acts 28:2Rank 5 from verse 7
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    2And 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.

  6. Luke 19:6–9Rank 6 from verse 7
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    6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

    7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

    8And Zacchæus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

    9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 28:3

COMBINED MEANING

gathered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of gather, meaning to collect, bring together, or assemble.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

sticks

↗

Plural noun or third-person singular present form of stick. Sense 1: As a noun, a cut branch, rod, or slender piece of wood. Sense 2: As a verb, to adhere, remain fast, project, or be fixed in or upon something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

laid

↗

Sense 1: Placed, set, put down, deposited, arranged, established, founded, imposed, applied, stored, buried, or overlaid. Sense 2: Reclined or brought to rest.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

on

↗

1. At, upon, or in contact with the named place, object, side, or time. 2. Toward, against, concerning, depending upon, or directed to the named person or thing. 3. Forward or continuing; in joined expressions such as go on, put on, and lay hold on, the other words supply the particular action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fire

↗

Burning flame and heat that gives light, consumes, purifies, or destroys.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heat

↗

Sense 1: Warmth or high temperature. Sense 2: To make or become hot.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

fastened

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of fasten, meaning to make firm, fixed, secure, closed, or attached; to seize and hold.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hand

↗

Sense 1: The part of the body at the end of the arm. Sense 2: Figuratively, power, possession, aid, or agency.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 28:4

COMBINED MEANING

venomous

↗

Containing, producing, or capable of inflicting poison, as a harmful biting creature.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

hang

↗

Sense 1: To suspend or be suspended from above, or to attach or hold by a support. Sense 2: To put to death by suspension upon a tree or gallows. Sense 3: To droop or be lowered. Sense 4: By figure, to depend upon.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

on

↗

1. At, upon, or in contact with the named place, object, side, or time. 2. Toward, against, concerning, depending upon, or directed to the named person or thing. 3. Forward or continuing; in joined expressions such as go on, put on, and lay hold on, the other words supply the particular action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hand

↗

Sense 1: The part of the body at the end of the arm. Sense 2: Figuratively, power, possession, aid, or agency.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

doubt

↗

Sense 1: Uncertainty, perplexity, or wavering of mind; hesitation to believe or be settled in opinion. Sense 2: To be uncertain, question, or waver in judgment.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

whom

↗

The objective form of who, referring to the person or persons acted upon or related to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

escaped

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of escape, meaning to flee from and avoid; to get out of the way; to shun; to obtain security from; to pass without harm.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sea

↗

1. A great body or expanse of gathered waters, including a named sea or lake, in which ships and creatures move. 2. The large brazen or molten basin made for the temple and called a sea. 3. Something represented or compared as a sea.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

yet

↗

1. Up to or at the present or stated time; still. 2. At some future time. 3. Nevertheless; however. 4. In addition; further.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

suffereth

↗

Third-person singular present form of suffer. Sense 1: To suffer: to bear, undergo, or endure. Sense 2: To allow or permit.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

live

↗

Sense 1: As a verb, to have or continue in life; to remain alive, be restored to life, or not die. Sense 2: To dwell, abide, or continue in a place, state, relation, or manner of life. Sense 3: To subsist or be sustained by or upon what is named. Sense 4: As an adjective, alive rather than dead; or containing fire and not extinguished.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 28:5

COMBINED MEANING

shook

↗

Moved suddenly or repeatedly to and fro; caused to tremble, disturbed, or cast off by shaking.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

fire

↗

Burning flame and heat that gives light, consumes, purifies, or destroys.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

harm

↗

Hurt, injury, damage, loss, or an adverse charge or report, according to the object and phrase.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 28:6

COMBINED MEANING

howbeit

↗

Nevertheless; yet; however; introducing a contrast, exception, or qualification.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

looked

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of look, meaning to direct the eyes or attention; to behold, observe, expect, or take heed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

should

↗

A verb expressing duty, propriety, expectation, intention, purpose, condition, appointed outcome, or a future event viewed from another time or statement.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

fallen

↗

1. Come or gone down from a higher or upright position; dropped or collapsed. 2. Slain, defeated, overthrown, ruined, or declined from a former position or state. 3. Come upon, into, under, or away from a person, thing, place, condition, influence, or relation. 4. Assigned or allotted. 5. In “fallen out,” happened or resulted. 6. In “fallen to,” gone over or surrendered to another side.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

dead

↗

Sense 1: Without life; deprived of life. Sense 2: Lifeless, inactive, insensible, or separated from a former state by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

after

↗

1. Later than or following in time or order. 2. Behind. 3. In pursuit of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

harm

↗

Hurt, injury, damage, loss, or an adverse charge or report, according to the object and phrase.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

changed

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of change, meaning to make or become different; to alter, exchange, replace, or pass from one state to another.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

minds

↗

Sense 1: The faculty or state of thought, understanding, intention, disposition, memory, or will. Sense 2: As a verb, to regard or set one's thought upon.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

god

↗

1. A deity or object worshipped as a god. 2. A ruler, judge, or spiritual power bearing the title god.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 28:7

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

quarters

↗

Sense 1: Fourth parts. Sense 2: Districts, regions, sides, directions, or appointed places.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

chief

↗

1. First, principal, highest, leading, greatest, most excellent, most important, or most responsible in rank, order, degree, value, or guilt. 2. A leader, head, principal ruler, officer, or principal member of a group.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

island

↗

A body of land surrounded by water; in older usage, sometimes a coastland.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

name

↗

Sense 1: A word, appellation, or designation by which a person or thing is called or known. Sense 2: The person or persons named or represented. Sense 3: Reputation, character, renown, or remembrance. Sense 4: The authority, behalf, or standing represented by a name. Sense 5: As a verb, to call, designate, or mention by name.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

received

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of receive (to take, accept, admit, welcome, or obtain).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

us

↗

The first-person plural object pronoun, referring to the speaker together with one or more others as recipients or objects of an action or relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

lodged

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of lodge. Sense 1: To stay, dwell, or pass the night in a place. Sense 2: To settle or remain, including creatures or thoughts.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

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READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Acts 28:1–10

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

28:1AND when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

28:2And 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.

28:3And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

Selected passage

28:4And 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 hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

Selected passage

28:5And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

Selected passage

28:6Howbeit 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.

Selected passage

28:7In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

Selected passage

28:8And 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.

28:9So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

28:10Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

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