Acts 28

1 Following the rescue, they learned that the island was called Malta.

Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.

2 Now the natives showed us unusual kindness, in that they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.

The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.

3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and placed them on the fire, because of the heat a viper came out and fastened itself on his hand.

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.

4 So when the natives saw the beast hanging from his hand, they started saying to each other, “This man must be a murderer, whom Justice has not allowed to live, even though rescued from the sea.”

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.”

5 But he just shook the beast off into the fire and suffered no harm.

But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

6 Well they were expecting him to swell up, or suddenly fall down dead; but after waiting for quite a while and seeing nothing unusual happening to him, they changed their mind and started saying he was a god.

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.

7 Now in that region there were properties belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and in a friendly manner took care of us for three days.

Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

8 Well it happened that the father of Publius was sick in bed with fever and dysentery; Paul went in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him.

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.

9 So, when this had happened, the rest of those on the island who had diseases started coming and being healed;

After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.

10 who also honored us in many ways, and when we put to sea they provided the necessary things.

The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.

11 Now after three months we put to sea in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island, whose figurehead was ‘the Twin Brothers’.

After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead.

12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days;

Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

13 from there we tacked back and forth and arrived at Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli,

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.

14 where we found brothers who urged us to stay there seven days—that was how we went toward Rome.

There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.

15 And the brothers there, when they heard about our circumstances, came out to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them he thanked God and took courage.

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.

16 Now when we entered Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the commander; but Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.

When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

17 It happened that after three days Paul called together the leaders of the Jews; and when they had assembled he said to them: “Men, brothers, though I had done nothing against ‘the people’ or the ancestral customs, still I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,

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.

18 who, when they had examined me, were intending to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.

They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.

19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar; not that I had anything about which to accuse my nation.

But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.

20 For this reason therefore I asked to see you and speak with you; it is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”

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.”

21 So they said to him: “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brothers who came reported or spoken any evil about you.

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.

22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; because as for this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”

But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”

23 So arranging a day with him, even more people came to him at his lodging, to whom he kept expounding from morning until evening: solemnly testifying about the Kingdom of God and trying to convince them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.

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.

24 Well some were persuaded by what had been said, and some kept refusing to believe.

Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.

25 So being in disagreement among themselves they started to leave, after Paul had said this one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke correctly to our fathers through Isaiah the prophet,

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:

26 saying: ‘Go to this people and say, “You will keep on hearing, but never understand; you will keep on seeing, but never perceive”;

‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

27 because the heart of this people has become sluggish, and their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; in order that they not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their heart, nor turn back, so I could heal them.’

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.’

28 Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!”

Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”

29 And when he had said these things the Jews went their way, having a great dispute among themselves.

30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to see him,

Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.

31 proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all boldness, without hindrance.

Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.