Acts 28

Paul on Malta

28:1 After we had safely reached shore,¹ we learned that the island was called Malta.² 28:2 The local inhabitants³ showed us extraordinary⁴ kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain⁵ and was cold. 28:3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood⁶ and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 28:4 When the local people⁷ saw the creature hanging from Paul’s⁸ hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself⁹ has not allowed him to live!”¹⁰ 28:5 However,¹¹ Paul¹² shook¹³ the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 28:6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell up¹⁴ or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited¹⁵ a long time and had seen¹⁶ nothing unusual happen¹⁷ to him, they changed their minds¹⁸ and said he was a god.¹⁹

28:7 Now in the region around that place²⁰ were fields belonging to the chief official²¹ of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. 28:8 The father²² of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him²³ and after praying, placed²⁴ his hands on him and healed²⁵ him. 28:9 After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick²⁶ also came and were healed.²⁷ 28:10 They also bestowed many honors,²⁸ and when we were preparing to sail,²⁹ they gave³⁰ us all the supplies we needed.³¹

Paul Finally Reaches Rome

28:11 After three months we put out to sea³² in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the “Heavenly Twins”³³ as its figurehead.³⁴ 28:12 We put in³⁵ at Syracuse³⁶ and stayed there three days. 28:13 From there we cast off³⁷ and arrived at Rhegium,³⁸ and after one day a south wind sprang up³⁹ and on the second day we came to Puteoli.⁴⁰ 28:14 There⁴¹ we found⁴² some brothers⁴³ and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome.⁴⁴ 28:15 The brothers from there,⁴⁵ when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius⁴⁶ and Three Taverns⁴⁷ to meet us. When he saw them,⁴⁸ Paul thanked God and took courage. 28:16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live⁴⁹ by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

Paul Addresses the Jewish Community in Rome

28:17 After three days⁵⁰ Paul⁵¹ called the local Jewish leaders⁵² together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers,⁵³ although I had done⁵⁴ nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors,⁵⁵ from Jerusalem⁵⁶ I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans.⁵⁷ 28:18 When⁵⁸ they had heard my case,⁵⁹ they wanted to release me,⁶⁰ because there was no basis for a death sentence⁶¹ against me. 28:19 But when the Jews objected,⁶² I was forced to appeal to Caesar⁶³ – not that I had some charge to bring⁶⁴ against my own people.⁶⁵ 28:20 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.”⁶⁶ 28:21 They replied,⁶⁷ “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there⁶⁸ and reported or said anything bad about you. 28:22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know⁶⁹ that people⁷⁰ everywhere speak against⁷¹ it.”

28:23 They set⁷² a day to meet with him,⁷³ and they came to him where he was staying⁷⁴ in even greater numbers.⁷⁵ From morning until evening he explained things⁷⁶ to them,⁷⁷ testifying⁷⁸ about the kingdom of God⁷⁹ and trying to convince⁸⁰ them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 28:24 Some were convinced⁸¹ by what he said,⁸² but others refused⁸³ to believe. 28:25 So they began to leave,⁸⁴ unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors⁸⁵ through the prophet Isaiah 28:26 when he said,

‘Go to this people and say,

“You will keep on hearing,⁸⁶ but will never understand,

and you will keep on looking,⁸⁷ but will never perceive.

28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull,⁸⁸

and their ears are hard of hearing,⁸⁹

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,⁹⁰ and I would heal them.”’⁹¹

28:28 “Therefore be advised⁹² that this salvation from God⁹³ has been sent to the Gentiles;⁹⁴ they⁹⁵ will listen!”⁹⁶

28:30 Paul⁹⁷ lived⁹⁸ there two whole years in his own rented quarters⁹⁹ and welcomed¹⁰⁰ all who came to him, 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ¹⁰¹ with complete boldness¹⁰² and without restriction.¹⁰³