Acts 28

1 Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.

2 The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.

3 Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand.

4 When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”

5 But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

6 The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

7 Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

8 The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man.

9 After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.

10 The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.

11 After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead.

12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

13 From there we sailed around and came to Rhegium. After one day, a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at Puteoli.

14 There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.

15 The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.

16 When we arrived in Rome, the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

17 After three days, Paul called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.

18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.

19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.

20 So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”

21 The leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you.

22 But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”

23 So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.

24 Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.

25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to our fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

26 ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

27 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

28 Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”

29 And when he had said these things, the Jews went away, disputing sharply among themselves.

30 Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.

31 Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 ¶ And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the 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.

4 And when the barbarians saw the [venomous] beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

6 Howbeit 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.

7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded [us] with such things as were necessary.

11 ¶ And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.

12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried [there] three days.

13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:

14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

15 And from thence, 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.

16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

17 ¶ And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men [and] brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let [me] go, because there was no cause of death in me.

19 But when the Jews spake against [it], I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

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.

21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

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.

24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull 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.

28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and [that] they will hear it.

29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

30 ¶ And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

1 And when we were come out, we learned that the name of the island was Melite.

2 And the people showed us no small kindness, and kindled a fire, and took us all in because of the rain that was come upon us, and because of the cold.

3 And when Paul had gathered together a heap of sticks, and laid them upon the fire, an adder came from the heat, and took Paul's hand.

4 And when the people saw the beast hanging on his hand, they said one to another, This man is a murderer, whom vengeance will not let live, though he hath escaped the sea.

5 And he turned the beast into the fire, and no evil happened unto him.

6 And they waited, when he would swell, or fall down dead. And when they had waited a long time, and saw that no evil happened unto him, they turned, and said that he was a god.

7 And in the same place the chief of the island, whose name was Publius, had an estate; and he received us, and lodged us three days with kindness.

8 And it came to pass, that Publius' father was sick of a fever and dysentery. And Paul went in unto him, and prayed, and laid his hand upon him, and healed him.

9 And when this was done, the rest of the people that were sick in the island came and were healed.

10 And they did us great honour: and when we went out, they loaded up the things that were needful for us.

11 And after three moons we sailed from Alexandria in a ship which had wintered at the island, and had a banner of the twins.

12 And when we were come to Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

13 And when we were compassed about, we came to Rhegion: and after a day, when the south wind rose, we came the next day to Puteolj.

14 And we found brethren, and were requested of them that we should tarry there seven days. And so we came to Rome.

15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they went out to meet us unto Appifor and Tretabern. When Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and gained confidence.

16 And when we were come to Rome, the sub-captain delivered the prisoners unto the chief captain. But Paul was permitted to remain where he would, with a soldier guarding his.

17 And it came to pass after three days, that Paul called together the chief of the Jews. And when they were come together, he said unto them: Men, brethren, I have done nothing against our people, nor against the customs of my father, and yet am delivered captive out of Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,

18 Which, when they had heard me, would have loosed me, because there was no cause of death in me.

19 And when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to plead with Caesar; not as though I had a cause of action against my people.

20 For this cause have I asked of you, that I might see you, and speak unto you: for for the hope of Israel I am compassed about with this chain.

21 And they said unto him, We have received no writing out of Judea for thy sake, neither hath there come any brother that hath spoken or said any evil of thee.

22 But we will hear from thee what thou thinkest. For of this sect we know that it is contradicted at every end.

23 And when they had appointed him a day, many came unto him into the inn, whom he interpreted, and testified of the kingdom of God, and preached unto them of Jesus out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from the early morning until the evening.

24 And some fell to the things which he spake; but some believed not.

25 And when they were displeased among themselves, they departed, when Paul spake a word, which the Holy Ghost spake by the prophet Isaiah unto our fathers.

26 And said: Go unto this people, and say, With your ears ye shall hear, and not understand; and with your eyes ye shall see, and not know.

27 For the heart of this people is hardened, and they hardly hear with their ears, and slumber with their eyes; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand in their heart, and be converted, and I should help them.

28 Let it be known unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles; and they shall hear it.

29 And when he spake these things, the Jews went and had much questioning among themselves.

30 And Paul abode two years in his own house, and received all them that came unto him,

31 Preached the kingdom of GOD, and taught of the LORD JEsu with all gladness unbidden.