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The Acts of the Apostles

Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic

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- Chapter 28 -

1
When we were brought safely through, we learned that the island was called Malta.
2
The native people offered to us not just ordinary kindness, but they lit a fire and welcomed us all, because of the constant rain and cold.
3
But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and placed them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened onto his hand.
4
When the native people saw the animal hanging from his hand, they said one to another, “This man certainly is a murderer who escaped from the sea, yet justice does not permit him to live.”
5
But then he shook the animal into the fire and suffered no harm.
6
They were waiting for him to become inflamed with a fever or to suddenly drop dead. But after they watched him for a long time and saw that nothing was unusual with him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7
Now in a nearby place there were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, a man named Publius. He welcomed us and kindly provided for us for three days.
8
It happened that the father of Publius had been made ill with a fever and dysentery. When Paul went to him, he prayed, placed his hands on him, and healed him.
9
After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed.
10
The people also honored us with many honors. When we were preparing to sail, they gave us what we needed.

Paul Arrives in Italy

11
After three months, we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, whose figurehead was The Twin Brothers.
12
After we landed at the city of Syracuse, we stayed there three days.
13
From there we sailed and arrived at the city of Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and in two days we came to the city of Puteoli.
14
There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. In this way we came to Rome.
15
From there the brothers, after they heard about us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw the brothers, he thanked God and took courage.

Paul Preaches at Rome

(Isaiah 6:1–13)
16
When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.
17
Then it came about that after three days Paul called together those men who were the leaders among the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing wrong against the people or the customs of our forefathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18
After they questioned me, they wished to set me free, because there was no reason in me for a death penalty.
19
But when the Jews spoke against their desire, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, although it is not as if I were bringing any accusation against my nation.
20
Because of my appeal, then, I have asked to see you and to speak with you. It is because of what Israel is confident about that I am bound with this chain.”
21
Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea about you, nor did any of the brothers come and report or say anything bad about you.
22
But we want to hear from you what you think about this sect, because it is known by us that it is spoken against everywhere.”
23
When they had set a day for him, more people came to him at his dwelling place. He presented the matter to them, and testified about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them about Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening.
24
Some were convinced about the things which were said, while others did not believe.
25
When they did not agree with one another, they left after Paul had spoken this one word, “The Holy Spirit spoke well through Isaiah the prophet to your forefathers.
26
He said, ’Go to this people and say, “By hearing you will hear, but not understand; and seeing you will see, but will not perceive.
27
For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they hardly hear, and they have shut their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn again, and I would heal them.”’
28
Therefore, you should know that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen.”
29
When he had said these things, the Jews went away. They were having a great dispute among themselves.
30
Paul lived for two whole years in his own rented house, and he welcomed all who came to him.
31
He was preaching the kingdom of God and was teaching the things about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness. No one stopped him.
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 wasThe 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 Gods 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.