Acts 28
28
In Malta
1When we were safely ashore, we learnt that the island was called Malta. 2The natives there were very friendly to us. It had started to rain and was cold, so they lit a fire and made us all welcome. 3Paul gathered up a bundle of sticks and was putting them on the fire when a snake came out on account of the heat and fastened itself to his hand. 4The natives saw the snake hanging on Paul's hand and said to one another, “This man must be a murderer, but Fate will not let him live, even though he escaped from the sea.” 5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire without being harmed at all. 6They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after waiting for a long time and not seeing anything unusual happening to him, they changed their minds and said, “He is a god!”
7Not far from that place were some fields that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us kindly and for three days we were his guests. 8Publius' father was in bed, sick with fever and dysentery. Paul went into his room, prayed, placed his hands on him, and healed him. 9When this happened, all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. 10They gave us many gifts, and when we sailed, they put on board what we needed for the voyage.
From Malta to Rome
11After three months we sailed away on a ship from Alexandria, called “The Twin Gods”, which had spent the winter in the island. 12We arrived in the city of Syracuse and stayed there for three days. 13From there we sailed on and arrived in the city of Rhegium. The next day a wind began to blow from the south, and in two days we came to the town of Puteoli. 14We found some believers there who asked us to stay with them a week. And so we came to Rome. 15The believers in Rome heard about us and came as far as the towns of Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was greatly encouraged.
In Rome
16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with a soldier guarding him.
17After three days Paul called the local Jewish leaders to a meeting. When they had gathered, he said to them, “My fellow-Israelites, even though I did nothing against our people or the customs that we received from our ancestors, I was made a prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18After questioning me, the Romans wanted to release me, because they found that I had done nothing for which I deserved to die. 19#Acts 25.11But when the Jews opposed this, I was forced to appeal to the Emperor, even though I had no accusation to make against my own people. 20That is why I asked to see you and talk with you. As a matter of fact, I am bound in chains like this for the sake of him for whom the people of Israel hope.”
21They said to him, “We have not received any letters from Judea about you, nor have any of our people come from there with any news or anything bad to say about you. 22But we would like to hear your ideas, because we know that everywhere people speak against this party to which you belong.”
23So they fixed a date with Paul, and a large number of them came that day to the place where Paul was staying. From morning till night he explained to them his message about the Kingdom of God, and he tried to convince them about Jesus by quoting from the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets. 24Some of them were convinced by his words, but others would not believe. 25So they left, disagreeing among themselves, after Paul had said this one thing: “How well the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors! 26#Is 6.9–10 (LXX)For he said,
‘Go and say to this people:
You will listen and listen, but not understand;
you will look and look, but not see,
27because this people's minds are dull,
and they have stopped up their ears
and closed their eyes.
Otherwise, their eyes would see,
their ears would hear,
their minds would understand,
and they would turn to me, says God,
and I would heal them.’ ”
28And Paul concluded: “You are to know, then, that God's message of salvation has been sent to the Gentiles. They will listen!”#28.28 Some manuscripts add verse 29: After Paul said this, the Jews left, arguing violently among themselves.
30For two years Paul lived in a place he rented for himself, and there he welcomed all who came to see him. 31He preached about the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking with all boldness and freedom.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Acts 28
28
Acts 28
1¶ And when they were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita. {or Malta}
2And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness; for they kindled a great fire and received all of us because of the present rain and because of the cold.
3And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out of the heat and fastened on his hand.
4And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet vengeance does not suffer him to live.
5And he shook off the beast into the fire and felt no harm.
6But they were waiting to see when he should have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly; but after they had waited a great while and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7In the same quarters were possessions of a principal man of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and lodged us three days courteously.
8And it came to pass that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of dysentery, to whom Paul entered in and prayed and laid his hands on him and healed him.
9So when this was done, others also, who had diseases in the island, came and were healed,
10who also honoured us with many gifts; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
11¶ And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose ensign was Castor and Pollux.
12And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13And having gone around, we came to Rhegium, and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli,
14where we found brethren, who asked us to tarry with them seven days, and so we went toward Rome.
15And from there, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and The Three Taverns whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage.
16And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the praetorian prefect, but Paul was allowed to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
17¶ And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the principals of the Jews together, and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,
18who, when they had examined me, would have let me go because there was no cause of death in me.
19But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar, not that I had anything to accuse my nation of.
20For this cause therefore I have called for you, to see you and to speak with you: because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
21And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spoke any harm of thee.
22But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest; for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.
23¶ And when they had appointed him a day, many came to him into his lodging, to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, procuring to persuade them of that concerning Jesus, the Christ, out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning until evening.
24And some believed the things which were spoken, and some did not believe.
25And when they did not agree among themselves, they departed, after Paul had spoken this word, Well spoke the Holy Spirit by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers,
26saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see and not perceive;
27for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest 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, unto you that this saving health of God is sent unto the Gentiles and that they will hear it.
29And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
30¶ And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house and received all that came in unto him,
31preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all liberty, without hindrance.
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The Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) by Ransom Press International