Acts 28
28
Malta’s Hospitality
1Once safely ashore, we#Ac 16:10; 27:1 then learned that the island was called Malta.#Ac 27:26,39 2The local people#Rm 1:14; 1Co 14:11; Col 3:11 showed us extraordinary kindness. They lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold. 3As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4When the local people saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man, no doubt, is a murderer. Even though he has escaped the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”#Lk 13:2,4; Jn 9:2 5But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm.#Mk 16:18; Lk 10:19 6They expected that he would begin to swell up or suddenly drop dead. After they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.#Ac 8:10; 14:11
Ministry in Malta
7Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8Publius’s father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.#Ac 9:40; Jms 5:14–15 9After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10So they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed.
Rome at Last
11After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Gods#28:11 Gk Dioscuri, twin sons of Zeus, Castor and Pollux as its figurehead. 12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13From there, after making a circuit along the coast,#28:13 Other mss read From there, casting off, we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli. 14There we found brothers and sisters#Jn 21:23; Ac 1:16 and were invited to stay a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15Now the brothers and sisters from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16When we entered Rome,#28:16 Other mss add the centurion turned the prisoners over to the military commander; but Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who guarded him.#Ac 24:23; 27:3
Paul’s First Interview with Roman Jews
17After three days he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.#Ac 6:14; 25:8 18After they examined me, they wanted to release me, since there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.#Ac 22:24; 23:29; 26:31 19Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar;#Ac 25:11; 26:32 even though I had no charge to bring against my people. 20For this reason I’ve asked to see you and speak to you. In fact, it is for the hope of Israel that I’m wearing this chain.”#Ac 21:33; 26:6–7,29; Eph 6:20; 2Tm 1:16
21Then they said to him, “We haven’t received any letters about you from Judea. None of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you. 22But we want to hear what your views are, since we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”#Lk 2:34; Ac 24:5; 1Pt 2:12; 4:14
The Response to Paul’s Message
23After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and testified about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.#Ac 8:35; 17:3; 19:8; 26:22; Phm 22 24Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe.#Ac 14:4; 19:9
25Disagreeing among themselves, they began to leave after Paul made one statement:#28:25 Or after they began to leave, Paul made one statement “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your#28:25 Other mss read our ancestors through the prophet Isaiah 26when he said,
Go to these people and say:
You will always be listening,
but never understanding;
and you will always be looking,
but never perceiving.
27 For the hearts of these people
have grown callous,
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears,
understand with their heart
and turn,
and I would heal them. # 28:26–27 Is 6:9–10 #
Ps 119:70; Is 6:9–10; Mt 13:14–15; Mk 4:12; Lk 8:10; Jn 12:40; Rm 11:8
28Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” #28:28 Some mss include v. 29: After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a vigorous debate among themselves.
Paul’s Ministry Unhindered
30Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, 31proclaiming the kingdom of God#Mt 4:23; Ac 20:25; 28:23 and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness#Ac 4:29,31; 2Tm 2:9 and without hindrance.
Currently Selected:
Acts 28: CSB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
The Acts 28
28
1AND when we had escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita. But the barbarians shewed us no small courtesy.
2For kindling a fire, they refreshed us all, because of the present rain, and of the cold.
3And when Paul had gathered together a bundle of sticks, and had laid them on the fire, a viper coming out of the heat, fastened on his hand.
4And when the barbarians saw the beast hanging on his hand, they said one to another: Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, who though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance doth not suffer him to live.
5And he indeed shaking off the beast into the fire, suffered no harm.
6But they supposed that he would begin to swell up, and that he would suddenly fall down and die. But expecting long, and seeing that there came no harm to him, changing their minds, they said, that he was a god.
7Now in these places were possessions of the chief man of the island, named Publius, who receiving us, for three days entertained us courteously.
8And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever, and of a bloody flux. To whom Paul entered in; and when he had prayed, and laid his hands on him, he healed him.
9Which being done, all that had diseases in the island, came and were healed:
10Who also honoured us with many honours, and when we were to set sail, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
11And after three months, we sailed in a ship of Alexandria, that had wintered in the island, whose sign was the Castors.
12And when we were come to Syracusa, we tarried there three days.
13From thence, compassing by the shore, we came to Rhegium: and after one day, the south wind blowing, we came the second day to Puteoli;
14Where, finding brethren, we were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went to Rome.
15And from thence, when the brethren had heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and the Three Taverns: whom when Paul saw, he gave thanks to God, and took courage.
16And when we were come to Rome, Paul was suffered to dwell by himself, with a soldier that kept him.
17And after the third day, he called together the chief of the Jews. And when they were assembled, he said to them: Men, brethren, I, having done nothing against the people, or the custom of our fathers, was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans;
18Who, when they had examined me, would have released me, for that there was no cause of death in me;
19But the Jews contradicting it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had any thing to accuse my nation of.
20For this cause therefore I desired to see you, and to speak to you. Because that for the hope of Israel, I am bound with this chain.
21But they said to him: We neither received letters concerning thee from Judea, neither did any of the brethren that came hither, relate or speak any evil of thee.
22But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest; for as concerning this sect, we know that it is every where contradicted.
23And when they had appointed him a day, there came very many to him unto his lodgings; to whom he expounded, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, out of the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning until evening.
24And some believed the things that were said; but some believed not.
25And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, Paul speaking this one word: Well did the Holy Ghost speak to our fathers by Isaias the prophet,
26Saying: Go to this people, and say to them: With the ear you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive.
27For the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears have they heard heavily, and their eyes they have shut; lest perhaps they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
28Be it known therefore to you, that this salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it.
29And when he had said these things, the Jews went out from him, having much reasoning among themselves.
30And he remained two whole years in his own hired lodging; and he received all that came in to him,
31Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, without prohibition.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.