Acts 28
1 And when they had escaped, then they knew that the isle was called Melita.
When we were all safe, we found that the island was called Malta.
2 And the barbarous 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 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.
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 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.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous creature hanging from his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet Vengeance alloweth not to live.
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.’
5 And he shook off the creature into the fire, and felt no harm.
However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and took no harm.
6 Yet 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 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.
7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the isle, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
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.
8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick with a fever and a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
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.
9 So when this was done, others also, who had diseases in the isle, came, and were healed:
After this, all the people in the island who had any illness came to Paul, and were cured.
10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they supplied us with such things as were necessary.
They also presented us with many gifts, and when we set sail they put supplies of necessaries on board.
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 a ship that had wintered in the island. She was an Alexandrian vessel, and had the Twin sons of Zeus for her figure-head.
12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days,
13 And from there we sailed around, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
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.
14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
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.
15 And from there, 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 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.
16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
On our reaching Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, except for the soldier who was in charge of him.
17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called together the chief of the Jews: and when they were assembled, he said to them, Men, brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
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.
18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
The Romans, when they had examined me, were ready to release me, because there was nothing in my conduct deserving death.
19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar; not that I had any thing to accuse my nation of.
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.
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.
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.’
21 And they said to him, We have neither received letters from Judaea concerning thee, neither have any of the brethren that came shown or spoken any harm of thee.
‘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.
22 But we desire to hear from thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
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.’
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.
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.
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
Some were inclined to accept what he said; others, however, rejected it.
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after Paul had spoken one word, Well spoke the Holy Spirit by Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,
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 –
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 this nation and say: You will hear with your ears without ever understanding, and, though you have eyes, you will see without ever perceiving.
27 For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard 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 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.
28 Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it.
Understand, then, that this salvation of God was sent for the Gentiles; and they will listen.’
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great dispute among themselves.
30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in to him,
For two whole years Paul stayed in a house which he rented for himself, welcoming all who came to see him,
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
proclaiming the kingdom of God, and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ, with perfect fearlessness, unhindered.
