{The beast} (	o th(8872)ion). Diminutive of 	h(8872) and so
little beast. See on 烘r 1:13|. Aristotle and the medical writers
apply the word to venomous serpents, the viper in particular
(Knowling), as Luke does here. Vincent calls attention to the
curious history of our word "_treacle_" for molasses (Latin
_theriaca_) from 	h(8872)iak(885c), an antidote made from the flesh of
vipers. Coverdale translates  Jer 8:22 : "There is no more
treacle in Gilead." Jeremy Taylor: "We kill the viper and make
treacle of him." {Hanging from his hand} (kremamenon ek t(8873)
cheiros autou). Vivid picture of the snake dangling from Paul's
hand. Present middle participle of kremamai, late form for
kremannumi, to hang up, to suspend (cf.  Ga 3:13 ). {No doubt}
(pant(9373)). Literally, By all means, old adverb. Cf.  21:22  Lu
4:23  1Co 9:22 . Only by Luke and Paul in the N.T. "They _knew_
that he was a prisoner being taken to Rome on some grave charge,
and _inferred_ that the charge was murder" (Page). {Though he
hath escaped} (dias(9374)henta). First aorist passive participle of
dias(937a)(935c) (same verb used in  24:43,44  28:1 ), so-called
concessive use of the participle (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1129).
{Yet Justice} (dik(885c)). An abstraction personified like the Latin
_Justitia_ (Page). The natives speak of Dik(885c) as a goddess, but
we know nothing of such actual worship in Malta, though the
Greeks worshipped abstractions as in Athens. {Hath not suffered}
(ouk eiasen). Did not suffer. They look on Paul as a doomed man
as good as dead. These people thought that calamity was proof of
guilt, poor philosophy and worse theology.