Acts 28

Safe at Malta

1When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called #28:1 Or MelitaMalta. 2The #28:2 Gr barbaroi, referring to people who did not speak Greeknatives showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and took us all in because of the rain that had started and because of the cold. 3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out #28:3 Or from the heatbecause of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4When the #28:4 See note v 2natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, #28:4 Or Justice; i.e., the personification of a goddessjustice has not allowed him to live.” 5However, #28:5 Lit hePaul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6Now they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

7Now in the neighboring parts of that place were lands belonging to the #28:7 Prob. the Roman governor of the islandleading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us warmly for three days. 8And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with a recurring fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after he prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being cured. 10They also showed us many honors, and when we were about to set sail, they #28:10 Or put on boardsupplied us with #28:10 Lit the things pertaining to the needseverything we needed.

Paul Arrives in Rome

11After three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had #28:11 Gr Dioscuri; i.e., Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeusthe Twin Brothers for its figurehead. 12After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind came up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14#28:14 Lit WhereThere we found some brothers and sisters, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and that is how we came to Rome. 15And from there the brothers and sisters, when they heard about us, came as far as the #28:15 Lat Appii Forum, a station about 43 miles or 69.2 km from RomeMarket of Appius and the #28:15 Lat Tres Tabernae, a station about 33 miles or 53.1 km from RomeThree Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

16When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

17After three days #28:17 Lit hePaul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our #28:17 Or forefathersfathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. 18And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there were no grounds #28:18 Lit of death in mefor putting me to death. 19But when the Jews #28:19 Lit spoke againstobjected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. 20For this reason, therefore, I #28:20 Or invited you to see me and speak with merequested to see you and to speak with you, since I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.” 21They said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor has any of the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. 22But we desire to hear from you what #28:22 Lit you thinkyour views are; for regarding this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”

23When they had set a day for #28:23 Lit himPaul, people came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. 24Some were being persuaded by the things said by Paul, but others would not believe. 25And when they disagreed with one another, they began leaving after Paul said one parting statement: “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26saying,

‘Go to this people and say,

“#28:26 Lit with a hearing you will hearYou will keep on hearing, and will not understand;

And #28:26 Lit seeing you will seeyou will keep on seeing, and will not perceive;

27For the hearts of this people have become #28:27 Lit dullinsensitive,

And with their ears they #28:27 Or are hard of hearinghardly hear,

And they have closed their eyes;

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

And hear with their ears,

And understand with their heart and return,

And I would heal them.” ’

28Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.”#28:28 Late mss add as v 29: When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.

30Now Paul stayed two full years #28:30 Or at his own expensein his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, 31#28:31 Or proclaimingpreaching the kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

Currently Selected:

Acts 28: NASB2020

Highlight

Copy

Compare

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE® NASB®

A Corporation Not for Profit

La Habra, CA

www.lockman.org

Learn More About New American Standard Bible - NASB

Acts of the Apostles 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.

For more information about the NLT:

Learn More About New Living Translation