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,+ 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.