Acts 28

1  AFTER WE were safe on the island, we knew and recognized that it was called Malta.2  And the natives showed us unusual and remarkable kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed and received us all, since it had begun to rain and was cold.3  Now Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and he was laying them on the fire when a viper crawled out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.4  When the natives saw the little animal hanging from his hand, they said to one another, Doubtless this man is a murderer, for though he has been saved from the sea, Justice [the goddess of avenging] has not permitted that he should live.5  Then [Paul simply] shook off the small creature into the fire and suffered no evil effects.6  However, they were waiting, expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead; but when they had watched him a long time and saw nothing fatal or harmful come to him, they changed their minds and kept saying over and over that he was a god.7  In the vicinity of that place there were estates belonging to the head man of the island, named Publius, who accepted and welcomed and entertained us with hearty hospitality for three days.8  And it happened that the father of Publius was sick in bed with recurring attacks of fever and dysentery; and Paul went to see him, and after praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.9  After this had occurred, the other people on the island who had diseases also kept coming and were cured.10  They showed us every respect and presented many gifts to us, honoring us with many honors; and when we sailed, they provided and put on [board our ship] everything we needed.11  It was after three months’ stay there that we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers [Castor and Pollux] as its figurehead.12  We landed at Syracuse and remained there three days,13  And from there we made a circuit [following the coast] and reached Rhegium; and one day later a south wind sprang up, and the next day we arrived at Puteoli.14  There we found some [Christian] brethren and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.15  And the [Christian] brethren there, having had news of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and received new courage.16  When we arrived at Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was permitted to live by himself with the soldier who guarded him.17  Three days after [our arrival], he called together the leading local Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, Brethren, though I have done nothing against the people or against the customs of our forefathers, yet I was turned over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.18  After they had examined me, they were ready to release me because I was innocent of any offense deserving the death penalty.19  But when the Jews protested, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, though it was not because I had any charge to make against my nation.20  This is the reason therefore why I have begged to see you and to talk with you, since it is because of the Hope of Israel (the Messiah) that I am bound with this chain.21  And they answered him, We have not received any letters about you from Judea, and none of the [Jewish] brethren coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you.22  But we think it fitting and are eager to hear from you what it is that you have in mind and believe and what your opinion is, for with regard to this sect it is known to all of us that it is everywhere denounced.23  So when they had set a day with him, they came in large numbers to his lodging. And he fully set forth and explained the matter to them from morning until night, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.24  And some were convinced and believed what he said, and others did not believe.25  And as they disagreed among themselves, they began to leave, [but not before] Paul had added one statement [more]: The Holy Spirit was right in saying through Isaiah the prophet to your forefathers:26  Go to this people and say to them, You will indeed hear and hear with your ears but will not understand, and you will indeed look and look with your eyes but will not see [not perceive, have knowledge of or become acquainted with what you look at, at all].27  For the heart (the understanding, the soul) of this people has grown dull (stupid, hardened, and calloused), and their ears are heavy and hard of hearing and they have shut tight their eyes, so that they may not perceive and have knowledge and become acquainted with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their souls and turn [to Me and be converted], that I may heal them. 28  So let it be understood by you then that [this message of] the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen [to it]! 29  And when he had said these things, the Jews went away, arguing and disputing among themselves. 30  After this Paul lived there for two entire years [at his own expense] in his own rented lodging, and he welcomed all who came to him,31  Preaching to them the kingdom of God and teaching them about the Lord Jesus Christ with boldness and quite openly, and without being molested or hindered.

Acts 28

Paul on Malta

1 After we had safely reached shore,t we learned that the island was called Malta.ss2 The local inhabitantst showed us extraordinaryt kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to raint and was cold.3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwoodt and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.4 When the local peoplet saw the creature hanging from Paul’st hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herselft has not allowed him to live!”s5 However,t Pault shookt the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.

6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell upt or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waitedt a long time and had seent nothing unusual happent to him, they changed their mindst and said he was a god.s
7 Now in the region around that placet were fields belonging to the chief officialt of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days.8 The fathert of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see himt and after praying, placedt his hands on him and healeds him.9 After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sickt also came and were healed.s

10 They also bestowed many honors,t and when we were preparing to sail,t they gavet us all the supplies we needed.s

Paul Finally Reaches Rome

11 After three months we put out to seat in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the “Heavenly Twins”ts as its figurehead.t12 We put int at Syracuses and stayed there three days.13 From there we cast offs and arrived at Rhegium,s and after one day a south wind sprang upt and on the second day we came to Puteoli.s14 Theret we foundt some brotherss and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome.s15 The brothers from there,s when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appiuss and Three Tavernss to meet us. When he saw them,t Paul thanked God and took courage.

16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to livets by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

Paul Addresses the Jewish Community in Rome

17 After three dayst Pault called the local Jewish leaderst together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers,t although I had donet nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors,ts from Jerusalems I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans.t18 Whent they had heard my case,t they wanted to release me,s because there was no basis for a death sentencet against me.19 But when the Jews objected,t I was forced to appeal to Caesart – not that I had some charge to bringt against my own people.t20 So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.”s21 They replied,t “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from theret and reported or said anything bad about you.

22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we knowt that peoplet everywhere speak againstt it.”
23 They sett a day to meet with him,t and they came to him where he was stayingt in even greater numbers.t From morning until evening he explained thingst to them,t testifyingt about the kingdom of Gods and trying to convincet them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets.24 Some were convincedt by what he said,t but others refuseds to believe.25 So they began to leave,t unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestorst through the prophet Isaiah

26 when he said,
‘Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing,tbut will never understand,
and you will keep on looking,tbut will never perceive.

27 For the heart of this people has become dull,ts
and their ears are hard of hearing,t
and they have closed their eyes,
so that they would not see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn,sand I would heal them.”’s

28 “Therefore be advisedt that this salvation from Godt has been sent to the Gentiles;s theyt will listen!”ss
30 Pault livedt there two whole years in his own rented quarterst and welcomedt all who came to him,

31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christt with complete boldnesst and without restriction.s