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Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About Aesculapius

Early Christian writers mostly treat Aesculapius as a pagan healing god who was not truly divine. Justin Martyr, Origen, Athenagoras, Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Arnobius, Cyprian, and Lactantius all use him as an example in arguments against pagan gods, often pointing to healing, medicine, thunderbolt stories, or the making of statues as reasons to reject worship. The evidence is broad across the 2nd and 3rd centuries, but it is mixed in tone:

some writers mention Aesculapius only as a pagan figure, while others argue more directly that he was a man, a demon, or a false god. A few Bible passages about healing, serpents, and false gods fit the topic as background or typology, but they are indirect rather than direct teaching about Aesculapius himself.

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Key Passages

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18 references

Supporting Passages

Acts 28:6 primary

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.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

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.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

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

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

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

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And 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.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

They 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.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

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

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And 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.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

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

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.