Acts 28
28
On Shore at Malta
1When we were safe on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The people of the island were unusually kind. It was raining and cold. So they built a fire and welcomed all of us. 3Paul gathered some sticks and put them on the fire. A poisonous snake was driven out by the heat. It fastened itself on Paul’s hand. 4The people of the island saw the snake hanging from his hand. They said to one another, “This man must be a murderer. He escaped from the sea. But the female god Justice won’t let him live.” 5Paul shook the snake off into the fire. He was not harmed. 6The people expected him to swell up. They thought he would suddenly fall dead. They waited for a long time. But they didn’t see anything unusual happen to him. So they changed their minds. They said he was a god.
7Publius owned property nearby. He was the chief official on the island. He welcomed us to his home. For three days he took care of us. He treated us with kindness. 8His father was sick in bed. The man suffered from fever and dysentery. So Paul went in to see him. Paul prayed for him. He placed his hands on him and healed him. 9Then the rest of the sick people on the island came. They too were healed. 10The people of the island honored us in many ways. When we were ready to sail, they gave us the supplies we needed.
Paul Arrives in Rome
11After three months we headed out to sea. We sailed in a ship from Alexandria that had stayed at the island during the winter. On the front of the ship the figures of twin gods were carved. Their names were Castor and Pollux. 12We landed at Syracuse and stayed there for three days. 13From there we sailed to Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up. The day after that, we reached Puteoli. 14There we found some believers. They invited us to spend a week with them. At last we came to Rome. 15The believers there had heard we were coming. They traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw these people, he thanked God for them and was encouraged by them. 16When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself. But a soldier guarded him.
Paul Preaches in Rome
17Three days later Paul called a meeting of the local Jewish leaders. When they came, Paul spoke to them. He said, “My brothers, I have done nothing against our people. I have also done nothing against what our people of long ago practiced. But I was arrested in Jerusalem. I was handed over to the Romans. 18They questioned me. And they wanted to let me go. They saw I wasn’t guilty of any crime worthy of death. 19But the Jews objected, so I had to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not mean to bring any charge against my own people. 20I share Israel’s hope. That is why I am held with this chain. So I have asked to see you and talk with you.”
21They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea about you. None of our people here from Judea has reported or said anything bad about you. 22But we want to hear what your ideas are. We know that people everywhere are talking against those who believe as you do.”
23They decided to meet Paul on a certain day. At that time even more people came to the place where he was staying. From morning until evening, he told them about God’s kingdom. Using the Law of Moses and the Prophets, he tried to get them to believe in Jesus. 24Some believed what he said, and others did not. 25They didn’t agree with one another. They began to leave after Paul had made a final statement. He said, “The Holy Spirit was right when he spoke to your people long ago. Through Isaiah the prophet the Spirit said,
26“ ‘Go to your people. Say to them,
“You will hear but never understand.
You will see but never know what you are seeing.”
27These people’s hearts have become stubborn.
They can barely hear with their ears.
They have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes.
They might hear with their ears.
They might understand with their hearts.
They might turn, and then I would heal them.’ (Isaiah 6:9,10)
28-29“Here is what I want you to know. God has sent his salvation to the Gentiles. And they will listen!”
30For two whole years Paul stayed there in a house he rented. He welcomed all who came to see him. 31He preached boldly about God’s kingdom. He taught people about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one could keep him from teaching and preaching about these things.
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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Acts 28
28
Paul in Malta
1#Ac 27:26; 27:39When they had escaped, they learned that the island was called Malta. 2#Ac 28:4; Ro 1:14The natives showed extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because of the rain and the cold. 3When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper driven out by the heat fastened on his hand. 4#Lk 13:2; 13:4When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, justice does not allow him to live.” 5#Mk 16:18; Lk 10:19But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6They expected him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But while they waited and saw no harm befall him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7In that area was an estate of the chief man of the island, named Publius, who had welcomed us and courteously housed us for three days. 8#Ac 9:40; Mt 9:18It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, placing his hands on him, prayed and healed him. 9When this happened, the rest on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10They honored us in many ways. And when we sailed, they provided us with necessary supplies.
Paul Arrives in Rome
11#Ac 27:6After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. 12Landing at Syracuse, we waited there for three days. 13From there we circled around and sailed to Rhegium. After one day the south wind blew, and the next day we arrived at Puteoli. 14There we found brothers, and were invited to remain with them for seven days. And so we went to Rome. 15From there, when the brothers heard of us, they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius#A town on the Appian Way about 55 miles from Rome. and the Three Taverns#Or Three Inns, also on the Appian Way and about 10 miles closer to Rome. to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16#Ac 27:3; 24:23When we arrived at Rome, the centurion handed the prisoners over to the captain of the guard. But Paul was allowed to remain by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
Paul Preaches in Rome
17#Ac 25:8; 6:14After three days Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, having done nothing contrary to our people or the customs of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18#Ac 26:31–32When they had examined me, they were determined to release me, because there was no charge against me deserving death. 19#Ac 26:32; 25:21But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any charge to bring against my nation. 20#Ac 21:33; 23:6For this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, because I am bound with this chain for the hope of Israel.”
21#Ac 22:5They said to him, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers that have come have reported or spoken any evil of you. 22#Ac 24:14; 1Pe 2:12But we think it is proper to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”
23#Ac 19:8; 8:35When they had arranged a day to be with him, many came to him at his residence. From morning until evening he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God to them, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. 24#Ac 14:4; 17:4–5Some believed what was said, but some did not believe. 25#Mt 15:7Being in disagreement with one another, they were dismissed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit accurately spoke to our fathers through Isaiah the prophet,
26#Eze 12:2; Isa 6:9–10 ‘Go to this people and say:
You shall certainly hear, but never understand;
and you shall certainly see, but never perceive;
27for the heart of this people has grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have closed their eyes,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
28#Lk 3:6; Ro 11:11“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They will hear it!”
29When he had said these words, the Jews departed and disputed greatly among themselves. 30Paul remained two whole years in his own rented house. He welcomed all who came to him, 31#Ac 28:23; Mt 4:23boldly and freely preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.
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