Acts 28
Once safely on shore, we found out that the island
was called Malta. 2The islanders showed us
unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all
because it was raining and cold. 3Paul gathered a pile of
brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven
out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4When the
islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they
said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for
though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed
him to live.” 5But Paul shook the snake off into
the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6The people expected
him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting
a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him,
they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius,
the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his
home and for three days entertained us hospitably. 8His
father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery.
Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his
hands on him and healed him. 9When this had happened,
the rest of the sick on the island came and were
cured. 10They honored us in many ways and when we
were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies
we needed.
Arrival at Rome
11After three months we put out to sea in a ship that
had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship
with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.
12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days.
13From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The
next day the south wind came up, and on the following
day we reached Puteoli. 14There we found some brothers
who invited us to spend a week with them. And so
we came to Rome. 15The brothers there had heard that
we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum
of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight
of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged.
16When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by
himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard
17Three days later he called together the leaders of
the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them:
“My brothers, although I have done nothing against our
people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested
in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.
18They examined me and wanted to release me, because
I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.
19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal
to Caesar—not that I had any charge to bring
against my own people. 20For this reason I have asked to
see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel
that I am bound with this chain.”
21They replied, “We have not received any letters
from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers
who have come from there has reported or said anything
bad about you. 22But we want to hear what your
views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking
against this sect.”
23They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and
came in even larger numbers to the place where he was
staying. From morning till evening he explained and
declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince
them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and
from the Prophets. 24Some were convinced by what he
said, but others would not believe. 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had
made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the
truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah
the prophet:
26 “ ‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
28“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation
has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own
rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.
31Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom
of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
