Acts 28
1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.
2 And the natives people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened 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 And 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 suffers not to live.
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 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
6 Nevertheless they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that 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 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a dysentery: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and 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 was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.
10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.
11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
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 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.
13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day 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 brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so 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 from thence, 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.
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 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief 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.
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, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
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 constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
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 cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel 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 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning you, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spoke any harm of 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 of you what you think: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”
23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
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 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, (rhema) Well spoke the Holy Spirit (pneuma) by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers,
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 unto this people, and say, Hearing all of you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing all of you shall see, and not perceive:
‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 For 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.
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 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
