Acts 28

Paul on the Island of Malta

1 When we were safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.

2 The people who lived on the island were unusually kind to us. They made a fire and welcomed all of us around it because of the rain and the cold.
3 Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire. The heat forced a poisonous snake out of the brushwood. The snake bit Paul’s hand and wouldn’t let go.

4 When the people who lived on the island saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He may have escaped from the sea, but justice won’t let him live.”
5 Paul shook the snake into the fire and wasn’t harmed.

6 The people were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they had waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7 A man named Publius, who was the governor of the island, had property around the area. He welcomed us and treated us kindly, and for three days we were his guests.

8 His father happened to be sick in bed. He was suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, prayed, placed his hands on him, and made him well.
9 After that had happened, other sick people on the island went to Paul and were made well.

10 They showed respect for us in many ways, and when we were going to set sail, they put whatever we needed on board.

Paul Sails From Malta to Rome

11 After three months we sailed on an Alexandrian ship that had spent the winter at the island. The ship had the gods Castor and Pollux carved on its front.12 We stopped at the city of Syracuse and stayed there for three days.13 We sailed from Syracuse and arrived at the city of Rhegium. The next day a south wind began to blow, and two days later we arrived at the city of Puteoli.

14 In Puteoli we discovered some believers who begged us to spend a week with them.
15 Believers in Rome heard that we were coming, so they came as far as the cities of Appius’ Market and Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and felt encouraged. So we finally arrived in the city of Rome.t

16 After our arrival, Paul was allowed to live by himself, but he had a soldier who guarded him.

Paul in Rome

17 After three days Paul invited the most influential Jews in Rome to meet with him. When they assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, I haven’t done anything against the Jewish people or violated the customs handed down by our ancestors. Yet, I’m a prisoner from Jerusalem, and I’ve been handed over to the Roman authorities.18 The Roman authorities cross-examined me and wanted to let me go because I was accused of nothing for which I deserved to die.19 But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal my case to the emperor. That doesn’t mean I have any charges to bring against my own people.

20 That’s why I asked to see you and speak with you. I’m wearing these chains because of what Israel hopes for.”
21 The Jewish leaders told Paul, “We haven’t received any letters from Judea about you, and no Jewish person who has come to Rome has reported or mentioned anything bad about you.

22 However, we would like to hear what you think. We know that everywhere people are talking against this sect.”
23 On a designated day a larger number of influential Jews than expected went to the place where Paul was staying. From morning until evening, Paul was explaining the kingdom of God to them. He was trying to convince them about Jesus from Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets.

24 Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others continued to disbelieve.
25 The Jews, unable to agree among themselves, left after Paul had quoted this particular passage to them: “How well the Holy Spirit spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah!

26 The Spirit said: ‘Go to these people and say,
“You will hear clearly but never understand.You will see clearly but never comprehend.27 These people have become close-mindedand hard of hearing.They have shut their eyesso that their eyes never see.Their ears never hear.Their minds never understand.And they never turn to me for healing.” ’28 “You need to know that God has sent his salvation to people who are not Jews. They will listen.”t30 Paul rented a place to live for two full years and welcomed everyone who came to him.

31 He spread the message about God’s kingdom and taught very boldly about the Lord Jesus Christ. No one stopped him.

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