Acts 28
1 And having escaped, we learned that the island was called Melita.
When we were safe ashore, we discovered that we were on the island of Malta.
2 And the barbarians showed us no little kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the rain which had come on, and because of the cold.
The people there were very kind—they started a fire and called all of us over so we could warm up from the rain and the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid it on the fire, there came forth a viper by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
Paul collected a bundle of firewood and threw it on the fire. But a poisonous snake was driven out of the bundle because of the heat and bit him, fastening itself on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the animal hanging from his hand, they said to one another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom though he hath escaped the sea, Justice hath not permitted to live.
When the people there saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer. Even though he escaped death from the sea, Justice won't let him live.”
5 He, however, shaking off the animal into the fire suffered no harm.
However, Paul shook the snake off into the fire, and suffered no ill-effects.
6 But they were looking for his becoming swollen, or suddenly falling down dead. But after looking a great while, and seeing no harm come to him they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
They were expecting him to swell up, or suddenly fall down dead. But after waiting a long time, they saw that nothing bad had happened to him so they changed their minds and decided he must be a god.
7 And in the neighborhood of that place were lands be longing to the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who welcomed us, and entertained us kindly three days.
Nearby were lands that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and looked after us for three days very hospitably.
8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying sick with a fever and dysentery; to whom Paul went in, and, when he had prayed, laid his hands on him, and healed him.
Now Publius' father was sick, lying in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and prayed for him, placed his hands on him, and healed him.
9 And when this was done, the others also who had diseases in the island came, and were healed;
After this happened, everyone else who was sick on the island came and was healed.
10 who also honored us with many honors, and when we put to sea, loaded us with such things as were necessary.
They presented us with many gifts, and when we had to sail they provided everything we needed for the voyage.
11 And after three months we put to sea in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the island, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
After a three month stay we set sail aboard a ship from Alexandria having a figurehead of the Heavenly Twins that had spent the winter at the island.
12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed there three days;
We stopped at Syracuse, and spent three days there.
13 and from thence we made a circuit, and came to Rhegium; and after one day a south wind arose, and we came on the second day to Puteoli,
From there we sailed on to Rhegium. The following day a south wind blew, and on the second day we arrived at the port of Puteoli,
14 where we found brethren, and were entreated to remain with them seven days; and so we went toward Rome.
where we discovered some believers. They asked us to stay with them for a week. So we came to Rome.
15 And from thence, the brethren having heard of us came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and the Three Taverns; at the sight of whom Paul thanked God and took courage.
When some of the believers from Rome heard we had arrived they came to meet us at the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was thankful to God and much encouraged.
16 And when we had come to Rome, Paul was permitted to dwell by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.
When we entered Rome, Paul was permitted to stay under house arrest with a soldier to guard him.
17 And it came to pass that after three days he called together the chief men of the Jews, and when they had met he said to them, Brethren, I, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, was delivered up a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans;
Three days later Paul invited the Jewish leaders there to come to see him. When they were all together he told them, “Brothers, even though I had not done anything wrong against the people or the customs of our forefathers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman authorities.
18 who, when they had examined me, wished to release me, because I had done nothing deserving death.
After they had interrogated me they wanted to release me because I had done nothing that warranted execution.
19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar; not that I had any charge to bring against my nation.
But the Jewish leaders opposed this, so I was forced to appeal to Caesar—not that I had any accusations against my own people.
20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak to you; for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.
That's why I asked to see you, and talk to you, because it is on account of the hope of Israel that I am chained up like this.”
21 And they said to him, We neither received letters from Judea concerning thee, nor did any one of the brethren that came report or speak any evil of thee.
“We have not received any letters from Judea about you, and none of our people have come here with reports against you or to speak badly of you,” they told him.
22 But we think it proper to hear from thee what thou thinkest; for with regard to this sect, we know that it is everywhere spoken against.
“But we do want to hear from you what you believe—especially regarding this sect, which we know is condemned everywhere.”
23 And when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging; to whom he expounded, and earnestly testified, the kingdom of God, endeavoring to persuade them concerning Jesus both from the Law of Moses, and from the Prophets, from morning till evening.
They made an appointment to meet with him. On that day many people came to where he was staying. From morning till night Paul was explaining to them, telling them about the kingdom of God. He tried to convince them about Jesus using the writings of the law of Moses and the prophets.
24 And some believed the things spoken, and some believed not.
Some accepted what Paul said, but some refused to believe.
25 So, disagreeing with one another, they took their departure, after Paul had spoken one word: Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,
They couldn't agree among themselves, and they left after Paul told them this: “The Holy Spirit said it well through Isaiah the prophet to your forefathers,
26 saying, “Go to this people, and say, 'Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see and not perceive.
‘Go to these people and tell them: Even though you hear, you won't ever understand, and even though you see, you won't ever comprehend.
27 For the heart of this people hath become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn from their ways, and I should heal them.'”
For the minds of these people have become calloused and hard, their ears cannot hear, their eyes are shut, in case they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their minds, and might come back to me and I would heal them.’
28 Be it therefore known to you, that to the gentiles this salvation of God hath been sent; they, moreover, will hear.
Consequently you should know that this salvation that comes from God has been sent to the foreigners and they will listen.”
30 And he abode two whole years in his own hired house and gladly received all that came in to him,
For two full years Paul stayed there in the house he rented, welcoming everyone who came to see him.
31 proclaiming the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, without hindrance from any one.
He spoke of the kingdom of God, and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ very boldly. No one prevented him.
