Acts 28
1 Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.
And when they were come safe, then they knewe that the Yle was called Melita.
2 The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.
And the Barbarians shewed vs no litle kindnesse: for they kindled a fire, and receiued vs euery one, because of the present showre, and because of the colde.
3 Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand.
And when Paul had gathered a nomber of stickes, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heate, and leapt on his hand.
4 When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
Nowe when ye Barbarians saw the worme hang on his hand, they said among themselues, This man surely is a murtherer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet Vengeance hath not suffered to liue.
5 But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
But he shooke off the worme into the fire, and felt no harme.
6 The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
Howbeit they wayted whe he should haue swolne, or fallen downe dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and sawe no inconuenience come to him, they changed their mindes, and said, That he was a God.
7 Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
In the same quarters, the chiefe man of the Yle (whose name was Publius) had possessions: the same receiued vs, and lodged vs three dayes courteously.
8 The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man.
And so it was, that the father of Publius lay sicke of the feauer, and of a bloodie flixe: to whom Paul entred in, and when he prayed, he laide his hands on him, and healed him.
9 After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.
When this then was done, other also in the Yle, which had diseases, came to him, and were healed,
10 The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.
Which also did vs great honour: and when we departed, they laded vs with things necessarie.
11 After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead.
Nowe after three moneths we departed in a shippe of Alexandria, which had wintred in the Yle, whose badge was Castor and Pollux.
12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.
And when we arriued at Syracuse, we taried there three dayes.
13 From there we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day, a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at Puteoli.
And from thence we set a compasse, and came to Rhegium: and after one day, the South wind blewe, and we came the seconde day to Putioli:
14 There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.
Where we found brethren, and were desired to tary with them seuen dayes, and so we went toward Rome.
15 The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.
And from thence, when the brethren heard of vs, they came to meete vs at the Market of Appius, and at the Three tauernes, whom when Paul sawe, he thanked God, and waxed bolde.
16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
So when we came to Rome, the Centurion deliuered the prisoners to the generall Captaine: but Paul was suffered to dwell by him selfe with a souldier that kept him.
17 After 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 fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.
And the third day after, Paul called the chiefe of the Iewes together: and when they were come, he said vnto them, Men and brethren, though I haue committed nothing against the people, or Lawes of the fathers, yet was I deliuered prisoner from Hierusalem into the handes of the Romanes.
18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.
Who when they had examined me, would haue let me goe, because there was no cause of death in me.
19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.
But when the Iewes spake contrary, I was constrained to appeale vnto Cesar, not because I had ought to accuse my nation of.
20 So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
For this cause therefore haue I called for you, to see you, and to speake with you: for that hope of Israels sake, I am bound with this chaine.
21 The leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you.
Then they saide vnto him, We neither receiued letters out of Iudea concerning thee, neither came any of the brethren that shewed or spake any euill of thee.
22 But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”
But we will heare of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we knowe that euery where it is spoken against.
23 So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many vnto him into his lodging, to whom he expounded testifying the kingdome of God, and persuading them those things that concerne Iesus, both out of the Lawe of Moses, and out of the Prophets, from morning to night.
24 Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.
And some were persuaded with ye things which were spoken, and some beleeued not.
25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
Therefore when they agreed not among themselues, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, to wit, Well spake the holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet vnto our fathers,
26 ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
Saying, Goe vnto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall heare, and shall not vnderstand, and seeing ye shall see, and not perceiue.
27 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
For the heart of this people is waxed fatte, and their eares are dull of hearing, and with their eyes haue they winked, least they shoulde see with their eyes, and heare with their eares, and vnderstand with their heartes, and should returne that I might heale them.
28 Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
Be it knowen therefore vnto you, that this saluation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they shall heare it.
And when he had saide these things, the Iewes departed, and had great reasoning among themselues.
30 Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.
And Paul remained two yeeres full in an house hired for himselfe, and receiued all that came in vnto him,
31 Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Preaching the kingdome of God, and teaching those things which concerne the Lord Iesus Christ, with all boldnesse of speache, without let.
