28
“We Learned That the Island Was Called Malta”
1 After we had been brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta.
2 The people of the island were unusually kind to us; having built a fire, they welcomed all of us around it, since it had begun to rain and was cold.
3 Now Paul had gathered up a bundle of brushwood+ and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out of the bundle by the heat, fastened itself to his hand.
4 When the islanders saw the snake from Paul’s hand dangling and hanging down, they began saying, to one another, “This man must be a murderer, whom, although he was rescued from the sea, of whose death, although he was rescued from the sea, the goddess of justice has made sure.+”
5 While Paul,+ therefore, on the one hand, shaking the snake off into the fire, didn’t suffer any harm,
6 the people,+ on the other, were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. After waiting, though, for quite some time, and seeing not a thing happening to him that was out of the ordinary, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7 Now not far from the place where this happened to Paul+ were some fields that belonged to the highest official on the island, whose name was Publius, who, on welcoming us into his home, hosted us as his guests, so hospitably, for three days.
8 Well, it so happened that Publius’ father was lying in bed very sick, with fever and dysentery. Paul, after going into this man’s room+ and praying, placing his hands on him, healed him.+
9 After this happened, the other sick people on the island, too, kept coming and being healed themselves.
10 They+ bestowed on us many gifts and honors,+ and when we were preparing to sail, supplied us with everything we needed.+
“When We Arrived in Rome”
11 After three months we put out to sea on a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the twin patron gods of sailors, Castor and Pollux, as its figurehead.+
12 Putting in at the city of Syracuse, we stayed there three days.
13 From there having raised anchor, we arrived in the city of Rhegium. The next day a wind began to blow from the south,+ and on the following day+ we reached the city of Puteoli,
14 where, on finding some brothers and sisters, we were invited to stay with them for seven days. And that is how the journey went in our travel to Rome.+
15 From Rome+ the brothers and sisters, on hearing the news that we were coming,+ came as far south as the market town called the Forum of Appius and the staging post called Three Taverns to give us an official welcome.+ When Paul saw them,+ he thanked God and took courage.
16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was allowed to live in his own separate house,+ with the soldier who was keeping him under guard.
17 Three days later, he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had gathered, he said to them, “As for me, brothers,+ although I didn’t do a thing against our people or the customs that we received from our ancestors, it was as a prisoner from Jerusalem that I was handed over to the Romans,
18 who, on examining my case,+ wanted to release me, because they found in me nothing at all to warrant the death penalty.+
19 When the Jewish authorities+ objected, however, I was forced to appeal my case to the Emperor,+ even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation.+
20 That, in fact, is the very reason why I asked to see ᵖyou and speak with you, then. Indeed, it is because of+ the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
21 To him they replied, “We haven’t received from Judea any letters concerning ˢyou, nor have any of the brothers, on arrival from there, reported or said anything about ˢyou that is negative.
22 However, we would like ˢyou to tell us your views.+ When it comes to this sect, you see, we simply know+ that it is being spoken against everywhere.”
23 After they had set a day to meet with Paul,+ they came to him at the place where he was staying in even greater numbers, to whom he carefully explained+ one point after another, bearing solemn witness to the Kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the Torah+ of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.
24 While some were convinced by what was said, others refused to believe.
25 Being unable to agree with each other, they began to leave, after Paul made this one statement: “How fully accurate the Holy Spirit was when he spoke through the prophet Isaiah to ᵖyour ancestors,+
26 saying,
“ ‘Go to this people and say:
“ᵖYou will listen intently but certainly not understand,
and you will look closely but certainly not perceive.”
27 This people has become dull and stubborn and calloused,+ you see;+
their ears are nearly deaf,+
and their eyes they have shut.
Otherwise, they might see with their eyes,
and with their ears hear,
and with their minds+ understand,
and return, in which case I would heal them.’+
28 Therefore, know this and know it well: This message from God about his salvation+ has been sent to the Gentiles; it is they who will listen, too.”++
30 Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented house+ and welcomed all who came to visit him,
31 proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus the Messiah with the greatest of boldness and without restriction.