Acts 28
28
Paul in Malta
1When they had escaped, they learned that the island was called Malta. # Ac 27:26, 39 2The natives # Ac 28:4; Ro 1:14 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. 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, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” # Lk 13:2, 4 5But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. # Mk 16:18; Lk 10:19 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. 8It 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. # Mt 9:18; Ac 9:40 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
11After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship # Ac 27:6 whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, Castor and Pollux, 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 # 28:15 A town on the Appian Way about 55 miles from Rome. and the Three Taverns # 28:15 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. 16When 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. # Ac 24:23; 27:3
Paul Preaches in Rome
17After 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, # Ac 6:14; 25:8 I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18When they had examined me, they were determined to release me, because there was no charge against me deserving death. # Ac 26:31–32 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, # Ac 25:21 not that I had any charge to bring against my nation. 20For this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, because I am bound with this chain for the hope of Israel.” # Ac 21:33; 23:6
21They 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. # Ac 22:5 22But we think it is proper to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.” # Ac 24:14; 1Pe 2:12
23When 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. # Ac 8:35; 19:8 24Some believed what was said, but some did not believe. # Ac 14:4; 17:4–5 25Being 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, # Mt 15:7
26‘Go to this people and say:
You shall certainly hear, but never understand;
and you shall certainly see, but never perceive; # Isa 6:9–10; Eze 12:2
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.’ # 28:26–27 Isa 6:9–10.
28“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. # Lk 3:6; Ac 13:46; Ro 11:11 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, 31boldly and freely preaching the kingdom of God # Mt 4:23; Ac 28:23 and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version
Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.
Acts of the Apostles 28
28
Paul on the Island of Malta
1Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. 2The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us.
3As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. 4The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” 5But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. 6The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.
7Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. 8As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. 9Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. 10As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.
Paul Arrives at Rome
11It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods#28:11 The twin gods were the Roman gods Castor and Pollux. as its figurehead. 12Our first stop was Syracuse,#28:12 Syracuse was on the island of Sicily. where we stayed three days. 13From there we sailed across to Rhegium.#28:13 Rhegium was on the southern tip of Italy. A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli. 14There we found some believers,#28:14 Greek brothers. who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
15The brothers and sisters#28:15a Greek brothers. in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum#28:15b The Forum was about 43 miles (70 kilometers) from Rome. on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns.#28:15c The Three Taverns was about 35 miles (57 kilometers) from Rome. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.
16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.
Paul Preaches at Rome under Guard
17Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. 18The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. 19But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. 20I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.”
21They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. 22But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”
23So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. 24Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. 25And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,
26‘Go and say to this people:
When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
27For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’#28:26-27 Isa 6:9-10 (Greek version).
28So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”#28:28 Some manuscripts add verse 29, And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, greatly disagreeing with each other.
30For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense.#28:30 Or in his own rented quarters. He welcomed all who visited him, 31boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.
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