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The Acts of the Apostles

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- Chapter 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 (a) 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.

Paul Arrives in Italy

11
After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers (b) as a figurehead.
12
Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.
13
From there we weighed anchor 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 (c) and the Three Taverns (d) to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.

Paul Preaches at Rome

(Isaiah 6:1–13)
16
When we arrived in Rome,(e) Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
17
After three days, he 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 your 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.’(f)
28
Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”(g)
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.

Footnotes

(a)28:4 Greek Dike; that is, the Greek goddess of justice
(b)28:11 Greek Dioscuri; that is, the Greek gods Castor and Pollux
(c)28:15 The Forum of Appius was about 43 miles or 70 kilometers from Rome.
(d)28:15 The Three Taverns was about 35 miles or 57 kilometers from Rome.
(e)28:16 BYZ and TR include the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the captain of the barrack, but.
(f)28:27 Isaiah 6:9–10 (see also LXX)
(g)28:28 BYZ and TR include 29 When he had said this, the Jews went away, disputing sharply among themselves.
1
When we had escaped, then they (a) learned that the island was called Malta.
2
The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire and received us all, because of the present rain and because of the cold.
3
But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
4
When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live.”
5
However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn’t harmed.
6
But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7
Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and courteously entertained us for three days.
8
The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him.
9
Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came and were cured.
10
They also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed.

Paul Arrives in Italy

11
After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose figurehead was “The Twin Brothers.”
12
Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.
13
From there we circled around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli,
14
where we found brothers,(b) and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome.
15
From there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

Paul Preaches at Rome

(Isaiah 6:1–13)
16
When we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
17
After three days Paul called together those who were the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, “I, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers, still was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,
18
who, when they had examined me, desired to set me free, because there was no cause of death in me.
19
But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything about which to accuse my nation.
20
For this cause therefore I asked to see you and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”
21
They said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers come here and report or speak any evil of you.
22
But we desire to hear from you what you think. For, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”
23
When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening.
24
Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
25
When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one message: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,
26
saying, ‘Go to this people and say, in hearing, you will hear, but will in no way understand. In seeing, you will see, but will in no way perceive.
27
For this people’s heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, then I would heal them.’(c)
28
“Be it known therefore to you that the salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will listen.”
29
When he had said these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.(d)
30
Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house and received all who were coming to him,
31
preaching God’s Kingdom and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.

Footnotes

(a)28:1 NU reads “we”
(b)28:14 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
(c)28:27 ℘ Isaiah 6:9-10
(d)28:29 NU omits verse 29.
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