Acts 28
1 When we were all safe, we found that the island was called Malta.
And after being saved, then they learned that the island was called Malta.
2 The island’s people showed us marked kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all under shelter, because it had come on to rain and was cold.
And the foreigners presented uncommon kindness to us, for, having kindled a fire, they received us all because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 Paul had gathered a quantity of dry sticks and laid them on the fire, when a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, fastened on his hand.
And Paul having gathered a quantity of sticks, and having placed them on the fire, a viper having come out from the heat, it fastened on his hand.
4 When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, ‘Evidently this man is a murderer, for though he has been saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.’
And when the foreigners saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to each other, Certainly this man is a murderer, whom, though saved from the sea, Justice did not allow to live.
5 However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and took no harm.
Indeed therefore having shaken off the creature into the fire, he experienced nothing harmful.
6 The islanders were expecting inflammation to set in, or that he would suddenly fall dead; but, after waiting for a long time, and seeing that there was nothing amiss with him, they changed their minds and said that he was a God.
But they expected he was going to swell up, or suddenly fall down dead, but when they were long expecting, and seeing nothing amiss happening to him, thinking differently, they declared him to be a god.
7 In that region there was an estate belonging to the Governor of the island, whose name was Publius. He took us up to his house, and for three days entertained us most courteously.
Now among the things around that place were fields of the chief of the island, named Publius, who, having received us kindly, lodged us three days.
8 It happened that the father of Publius was lying ill of fever and dysentery. So Paul went to see him; and, after praying, he placed his hands on him and cured him.
And it came about for the father of Publius to be laid down, gripped by fever and dysentery, to whom Paul, having entered in, and having prayed, having laid his hands on him, healed him.
9 After this, all the people in the island who had any illness came to Paul, and were cured.
Therefore when this happened, the others also who had infirmities on the island came and were healed,
10 They also presented us with many gifts, and when we set sail they put supplies of necessaries on board.
who also honored us with many honorariums. And while putting out to sea, they furnished the things for our necessities.
11 After three months, we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island. She was an Alexandrian vessel, and had the Twin sons of Zeus for her figure-head.
And after three months we set out in a ship that wintered at the island, an Alexandrian with The Twin Brothers emblem.
12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days,
And after being brought down to Syracuse, we remained there three days,
13 and from there we worked to windward and so got to Rhegium. A day later a south wind sprang up and took us to Puteoli in two days.
from where having made a circuit, we arrived at Rhegium. And after one day, wind from the south having developed, we came a second day to Puteoli,
14 There we found some of the Lord’s followers, and were urged to stay a week with them; after which we went on to Rome.
where, having found brothers, we were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome.
15 The followers there had heard about us, and came out as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At sight of them Paul thanked God and was much cheered.
And from there the brothers, who heard these things about us, came for a meeting with us as far as Appius Forum and The Three Taverns, whom, when Paul saw, having expressed thanks to God, he took courage.
16 On our reaching Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, except for the soldier who was in charge of him.
And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the commandant, but Paul was allowed to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
17 Three days after our arrival, Paul invited the leading Jews to meet him; and, when they came, he said, ‘Brothers, although I had done nothing hostile to the interests of our nation or to our ancestral customs, yet I was sent from Jerusalem as a prisoner, and handed over to the Romans.
And it came to pass after three days, for Paul to call together those who were the principle men of the Jews. And when they came together, he said to them, Men, brothers, I, having done nothing against the people, or the paternal customs, I was delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,
18 The Romans, when they had examined me, were ready to release me, because there was nothing in my conduct deserving death.
who, after examining me, wanted to release me, because there was not one cause of death in me.
19 But, as the Jewish leaders opposed my release, I was compelled to appeal to the Emperor – not, indeed, that I had any charge to make against my own nation.
But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal Caesar, not as having anything to accuse my nation.
20 This, then, is my reason for urging you to come to see me and talk with me; because it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I am here in chains.’
Because of this reason therefore I summoned you to see and to speak with me, for because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
21 ‘We,’ was their reply, ‘have not had any letter about you from Judea, nor have any of our fellow Jews come and reported or said anything bad about you.
And they said to him, We neither received letters from Judea about thee, nor did any of the brothers who came report or speak anything bad about thee.
22 But we will be glad to hear from you what your views are, for, with regard to this sect, we are well aware that it is spoken against on all sides.’
But we think it worthy to hear from thee what thou think. For indeed about this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.
23 They then fixed a day with him, and came to the place where he was staying, in even larger numbers, when Paul proceeded to lay the subject before them. He bore his testimony to the kingdom of God, and tried to convince them about Jesus, by arguments drawn from the Law of Moses and from the prophets – speaking from morning until evening.
And having appointed a day for him, more came to him into his lodging, to whom he expounded, solemnly testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them of the things about Jesus, both from the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning until evening.
24 Some were inclined to accept what he said; others, however, rejected it.
And some were convinced by the things that were spoken, and some disbelieved.
25 So, as they disagreed among themselves, they began to disperse, Paul adding only – ‘True, indeed, was the declaration made by the Holy Spirit, through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors –
And being discord among each other, they departed after Paul spoke one thing, saying, Well spoke the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,
26 Go to this nation and say: You will hear with your ears without ever understanding, and, though you have eyes, you will see without ever perceiving.
saying, Go thou to this people, and say, Hearing ye will hear, and will, no, not understand, and seeing ye will see, and will, no, not perceive.
27 For the mind of this nation has grown dense, and their ears are dull of hearing, their eyes also have they closed; otherwise some day they might see with their eyes, and with their ears they might hear, and in their mind they might understand, and might turn – and I might heal them.
For this people's heart was made fat, and they hear heavily with the ears. And they shut their eyes, lest they may perceive with the eyes, and hear with the ears, and understand with the heart, and should turn, and I would heal them.
28 Understand, then, that this salvation of God was sent for the Gentiles; and they will listen.’
Be it known to you therefore, that the salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear.
And when he said these things, the Jews departed, having much disputing among themselves.
30 For two whole years Paul stayed in a house which he rented for himself, welcoming all who came to see him,
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired lodging. And he received all who came in to him,
31 proclaiming the kingdom of God, and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ, with perfect fearlessness, unhindered.
preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.
