Acts 28

28 ¹Once we were brought safely through, we learned that the island was called Malta. ²Local people showed us unusual kindness: they lit a fire and welcomed us all, since rain had started and it was cold. ³When Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out from the heat and fastened onto his hand. ⁴Seeing the creature hanging from his hand, the natives said to each other, "This man must be a murderer—though he escaped the sea, Justice won't let him live." ⁵But he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. ⁶They expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead. But after watching a long time and seeing nothing wrong happen to him, they changed their minds, calling him a god.

⁷Near that place were estates belonging to the island's chief official, named Publius, who welcomed us and hosted us kindly for three days. ⁸Publius's father lay sick with fever and dysentery. Paul went in, prayed, laid hands on him, and healed him. ⁹After this, the rest of the sick on the island came and were healed. ¹⁰They paid us many honors, and when we sailed, loaded us with everything we needed.

Paul Arrives in Rome

¹¹After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, marked with the Twin Brothers. ¹²We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. ¹³From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium. A day later a south wind rose, and on the second day we reached Puteoli. ¹⁴There we found brothers and sisters and were urged to stay with them seven days; so we came to Rome. ¹⁵The brothers and sisters there heard about us and came to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. Seeing them, Paul thanked our Father and took courage.

Paul Proclaims the Kingdom

¹⁶When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.

¹⁷Three days later he gathered the Jewish leaders. When they assembled, he said to them, "Brothers, though I'd done nothing against our people or our ancestors' customs, I was handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into Roman hands. ¹⁸After examining me, they wanted to release me, since I had no charge deserving death. ¹⁹When the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. ²⁰That's why I asked to see and speak with you—I wear this chain because of Israel's hope."

²¹They said to him: "We received no letters from Judea about you, nor has any brother who came reported or said anything bad about you. ²²We'd like to hear what you think, since we know this sect is spoken against everywhere."

²³They set a day and came to his lodging in greater numbers. From morning to evening he explained, testifying about the kingdom of our Father and trying to persuade them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. ²⁴Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. ²⁵Disagreeing among themselves, they left after Paul added one final word: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

²⁶"'Go to this people and say: You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.

²⁷For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes—otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.'

²⁸So know: our Father's salvation was sent to the nations—they will listen." ^a a v28 The earliest manuscripts do not have a verse 29 here; later copies add: "And when he had said this, the Jews departed, arguing greatly among themselves."

³⁰He stayed two whole years in his own rented place and welcomed all who came to him, ³¹proclaiming our Father's kingdom and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ, boldly and unhindered.