Acts 28

Pauls Ministry on Malta

1 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta.2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand.4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.7 In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days.8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him.9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.10 They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.

Arrival at Rome

11 After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island.12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days.13 From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli,14 where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome.15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

Pauls Ministry at Rome

17 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,18 who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death.19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation.20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.21 Then they said to him, We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you.22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,26 saying, Go to this people and say: Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive;27  For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.28 Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him,31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding 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