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.
And the barbarous people - so called, merely as speaking neither the Greek nor the Latin language. (Compare Romans 1:14 ; 1 Corinthians 14:11; Colossians 3:11.) They were originally Phoenician colonists (see Diod. Sic., Acts 28:12, quoted by Humphry). Their dialect was probably the Punic (or Carthaginian dialect of the Phoenician language).
Showed us no little ('no ordinary') kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain - `the rain that was (then) on us;' not now falling for the first time, but then falling heavily,
And because of the cold. They welcomed them all, drenched and shivering, to these most seasonable marks of And because of the cold. They welcomed them all, drenched and shivering, to these most seasonable marks of friendship. In this these 'barbarians' contrast favourably with many since, bearing the Christian name. The life-like style of the narrative here and in the following verses gives it a great charm.