Acts 28
1 After we [(exc)] had arrived safely [on the shore], we learned that it was an island called Malta.
Once they had safely reached shore, they found out that the island was called Malta.
2 The people who lived there received us kindly. They lit a fire and invited us to come and warm ourselves, because it was raining and it was cold.
The native people showed us extraordinary kindness. For they welcomed us all and kindled a fire because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold.
3 Paul gathered some sticks and put them on the fire. But [among those sticks was] a snake that had come out [from the fire to escape] from the heat, and it fastened itself on Paul’s hand.
Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and when he was putting them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
4 [The islanders knew that the snake was poisonous, so] when they saw it hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to each other, “Probably this man has murdered someone. Although he has escaped from being drowned, [the god] ([who] pays [people back/who punishes people]) for their [MTY] sins will cause him to die.”
When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man is undoubtedly a murderer. Although he has been saved from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”
5 But Paul simply shook the snake off into the fire, and nothing happened to him.
But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.
6 The people were expecting that Paul’s body would soon swell up or that he would suddenly fall down and die. But after they had waited a long time, they saw [that the snake] had not harmed him [at all]. So then the people changed their minds and said [to one another], “This man is not a murderer! Probably he is a god!”
The people were expecting that he would soon swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after waiting expectantly for a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7 Near where the people had made the fire, there were some fields that belonged to a man whose name was Publius. He was the chief official on the island. He invited us to [come and stay in] his home. He took care of us for three days.
Now in the region around that place were lands that belonged to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and hospitably took care of us as his guests for three days.
8 [At that time] Publius’ father had a fever and dysentery, and he was lying [in bed]. So Paul visited him and prayed [for him. Then] Paul placed his hands on him and healed him.
Now it so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fevers and dysentery. So Paul went in to see him and healed him by praying and laying his hands on him.
9 After Paul had done that, the other people on the island who were sick came [to him] and [he] healed them, too.
After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed.
10 They brought us gifts and [showed in other ways that] they greatly respected us. When we were [ready] to leave [three months later], they brought us food and other things that we would need [for the trip].
So the people bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to set sail, they provided us with the things we needed.
11 After [we had stayed there] three months, we [got on] a ship [that was going to Italy and] sailed away. The ship had been in [a harbor on] the island during the months when there are many storms. It had come from Alexandria [city]. On the front of the ship there were carved images of the twin gods [whose names were Castor and Pollux].
After three months, we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and that had the twin sons of Zeus as its figurehead.
12 We [sailed from the island and] arrived at Syracuse [city on Sicily island] and stayed there three days.
Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.
13 Then we traveled on by ship and arrived at Rhegium [port in Italy]. The next day, the wind was blowing from behind us, [so we sailed along fast]. The day after that, we reached Puteoli [town, where we left the ship].
From there we took a circuitous course and arrived at Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.
14 In Puteoli we met some believers who invited us to stay with them for a week. [After visiting them], we [left there and started to travel by land] to Rome.
There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.
15 [A group of] believers [who lived in Rome] had heard that we [(exc) were coming]. So they came out [from Rome] to meet us. [Some of] them met us at [the town called] ‘The Market on Appian [Road’, ] and others met us at [the town called] ‘The Three Inns’. When Paul saw those believers, he thanked God and was encouraged.
When the brothers from Rome heard the news about us, they came out as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage.
16 After we [(exc)] arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted {[a Roman official who was responsible for guarding Paul] permitted Paul} to live [in a house] by himself. But [there was always] a soldier there to guard him.
When we came into Rome, the centurion transferred the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
17 After [Paul had been there] three days, he sent a message to the Jewish leaders [to come and talk with him. So] they came, and Paul said to them, “My fellow Jews, although I have not opposed our people nor spoken against the customs of our ancestors, [our leaders] in Jerusalem [seized] [MTY] [me. But before they could kill me, a Roman commander rescued me and later sent me] to Caesarea for Roman [authorities/officials to put me on trial].
After three days, Paul called together those who were prominent among the Jews. When they had gathered together, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18 The Roman authorities/officials questioned me and wanted to release me, because I had not done any [bad] thing for which I should be executed {they should kill me}.
When they examined me, they were willing to release me because there were no grounds for death in my case.
19 But when the Jewish [leaders] [SYN] there opposed [what the Roman authorities wanted to do], I had to formally request that the Emperor [judge me here in Rome]. But my reason for doing that was not that I wanted to accuse our leaders about anything.
But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation to make against my own nation.
20 So I have requested you [to come] here so that I can tell you why I am a prisoner. It is because I believe in [MTY] our Messiah, the one [God long ago promised to send] to us [(inc)] Jews.”
That is why I have asked to see you and speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
21 Then [the Jewish leaders] said, “We [(exc)] have not received any letters from [our fellow Jews] in Judea about you. Also, none of our fellow Jews who have arrived [here from Judea] has said anything bad about you.
They said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about yoʋ, and none of the brothers who have come here have reported or spoken anything bad about yoʋ.
22 But we [(exc)] want to hear what you [(sg)] think about this [Christian] sect/group, because we know that in many places [HYP] bad things are being said {people are saying bad things} about it.”
But we think it would be best to hear what yoʋr views are, for concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”
23 So they [talked with Paul and decided that they would come back on another day to hear him. When that day arrived], those Jews came back to the place where Paul was staying, and they brought more Jews with them. Paul talked to them from morning until evening. He talked to them about how God wants to rule [people’s lives] [MET]. He tried to convince them that Jesus [is the Messiah] by reminding them what Moses and the other prophets had written [MTY].
When they had arranged a day to meet with Paul, many more came to him at his lodging. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
24 Some of those Jews believed that what was said [by Paul] {what [Paul] said} about Jesus [was true], but others did not believe [that it was true].
Some were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.
25 So they began to argue with one another. [Paul realized that some of them did not want to listen to him, so] when they were about to leave, he said, “The Holy Spirit said something to your/our(incl) ancestors. He spoke these words to Isaiah the prophet, [and what he said is also true about you]:
So they were in disagreement with one another and began to leave after Paul made this one final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to our fathers through the prophet Isaiah:
26 Go to your fellow Israelites and tell them, ‘You repeatedly listen [to the message of God], but you never understand [what God is saying]. You repeatedly look at and see [the things that God is doing], but you never understand [what they mean].
‘Go to this people and say, “Although you will hear, you will never understand, and although you will see, you will never perceive.”
27 God also said to the prophet, These people do not understand, because they have become stubborn. They have ears, but they do not understand what they hear, and they have closed their eyes [because they do not want to see]. If they wanted to obey what I say to them, they might understand what they see [me doing] and what they hear [me saying]. Then they might turn from their sinful behavior and I would save them.’
For the heart of this people has become calloused; with their ears they have barely heard, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn back, and I would heal them.’
28 [That is what God said to the prophet Isaiah about our ancestors. But you Jews today do not want to believe God’s message]. Therefore, I am telling you that [God] has sent to the non-Jews this message about how he saves people, and they will listen [and accept it]!”
Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
After Paul said these things, the Jews went away and had a great dispute among themselves.
30 For two whole years Paul stayed [there] in a house that he rented. Many people came to see him, and he received them all gladly [and talked with them].
For two whole years Paul stayed in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to him,
31 He preached [and taught people] about how God could rule [their lives] [MET] and taught them about the Lord Jesus Christ. He did that without being afraid, and no one tried to stop him.
preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
