Acts 28

1-2 Once everyone was accounted for and we realized we had all made it, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. The natives went out of their way to be friendly to us. The day was rainy and cold and we were already soaked to the bone, but they built a huge bonfire and gathered us around it.

3-6 Paul pitched in and helped. He had gathered up a bundle of sticks, but when he put it on the fire, a venomous snake, roused from its torpor by the heat, struck his hand and held on. Seeing the snake hanging from Paul's hand like that, the natives jumped to the conclusion that he was a murderer getting his just deserts. Paul shook the snake off into the fire, none the worse for wear. They kept expecting him to drop dead, but when it was obvious he wasn't going to, they jumped to the conclusion that he was a god!

7-9 The head man in that part of the island was Publius. He took us into his home as his guests, drying us out and putting us up in fine style for the next three days. Publius's father was sick at the time, down with a high fever and dysentery. Paul went to the old man's room, and when he laid hands on him and prayed, the man was healed. Word of the healing got around fast, and soon everyone on the island who was sick came and got healed.

Rome

10-11 We spent a wonderful three months on Malta. They treated us royally, took care of all our needs and outfitted us for the rest of the journey. When an Egyptian ship that had wintered there in the harbor prepared to leave for Italy, we got on board. The ship had a carved Gemini for its figurehead: "the Heavenly Twins."

12-14 We put in at Syracuse for three days and then went up the coast to Rhegium. Two days later, with the wind out of the south, we sailed into the Bay of Naples. We found Christian friends there and stayed with them for a week.

15-16 And then we came to Rome. Friends in Rome heard we were on the way and came out to meet us. One group got as far as Appian Court; another group met us at Three Taverns—emotion-packed meetings, as you can well imagine. Paul, brimming over with praise, led us in prayers of thanksgiving. When we actually entered Rome, they let Paul live in his own private quarters with a soldier who had been assigned to guard him.

17-20 Three days later, Paul called the Jewish leaders together for a meeting at his house. He said, "The Jews in Jerusalem arrested me on trumped-up charges, and I was taken into custody by the Romans. I assure you that I did absolutely nothing against Jewish laws or Jewish customs. After the Romans investigated the charges and found there was nothing to them, they wanted to set me free, but the Jews objected so fiercely that I was forced to appeal to Caesar. I did this not to accuse them of any wrongdoing or to get our people in trouble with Rome. We've had enough trouble through the years that way. I did it for Israel. I asked you to come and listen to me today to make it clear that I'm on Israel's side, not against her. I'm a hostage here for hope, not doom."

21-22 They said, "Nobody wrote warning us about you. And no one has shown up saying anything bad about you. But we would like very much to hear more. The only thing we know about this Christian sect is that nobody seems to have anything good to say about it."

23 They agreed on a time. When the day arrived, they came back to his home with a number of their friends. Paul talked to them all day, from morning to evening, explaining everything involved in the kingdom of God, and trying to persuade them all about Jesus by pointing out what Moses and the prophets had written about him.

24-27 Some of them were persuaded by what he said, but others refused to believe a word of it. When the unbelievers got cantankerous and started bickering with each other, Paul interrupted: "I have just one more thing to say to you. The Holy Spirit sure knew what he was talking about when he addressed our ancestors through Isaiah the prophet:
Go to this people and tell them this: "You're going to listen with your ears, but you won't hear a word; You're going to stare with your eyes, but you won't see a thing. These people are blockheads! They stick their fingers in their ears so they won't have to listen; They screw their eyes shut so they won't have to look, so they won't have to deal with me face-to-face and let me heal them."

28 "You've had your chance. The non-Jewish outsiders are next on the list. And believe me, they're going to receive it with open arms!"

30-31 Paul lived for two years in his rented house. He welcomed everyone who came to visit. He urgently presented all matters of the kingdom of God. He explained everything about Jesus Christ. His door was always open.

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