Acts 28

New American Standard Bible

Safe at Malta

28 When ^(A)they had been brought safely through, ^(B)then we found out that ^(C)the island was called ^[a]Malta. ²^(D)The ^[b]natives showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and ^(E)took us all in because of the rain that had started and because of the cold. ³But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out ^[c]because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. ⁴When ^(F)the ^[d]natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “^(G)Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, ^[e]justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵However, ^[f]^(H)Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. ⁶Now they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and ^(I)began to say that he was a god.

⁷Now in the neighboring parts of that place were lands belonging to the ^[g]leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us warmly for three days. ⁸And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with a recurring fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after he ^(J)prayed, he ^(K)laid his hands on him and healed him. ⁹After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being cured. ¹⁰They also showed us many honors, and when we were about to set sail, they ^[h]supplied us with ^[i]everything we needed.

Paul Arrives in Rome

¹¹After three months we set sail on ^(L)an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had ^[j]the Twin Brothers for its figurehead. ¹²After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. ¹³From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind came up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. ¹⁴^[k]There we found some ^(M)brothers and sisters, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and that is how we came to Rome. ¹⁵And from there the ^(N)brothers and sisters, when they heard about us, came as far as the ^[l]Market of Appius and the ^[m]Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

¹⁶When we entered Rome, Paul was ^(O)allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

¹⁷After three days ^[n]Paul called together those who were ^(P)the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “^(Q)Brothers, ^(R)though I had done nothing against our people or ^(S)the customs of our ^[o]fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. ¹⁸And when they had ^(T)examined me, they ^(U)were willing to release me because there were ^(V)no grounds ^[p]for putting me to death. ¹⁹But when the Jews ^[q]objected, I was forced to ^(W)appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. ²⁰For this reason, therefore, I ^[r]requested to see you and to speak with you, since I am wearing ^(X)this chain for ^(Y)the sake of the hope of Israel.” ²¹They said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor has any of ^(Z)the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. ²²But we desire to hear from you what ^[s]your views are; for regarding this ^(AA)sect, it is known to us that ^(AB)it is spoken against everywhere.”

²³When they had set a day for ^[t]Paul, people came to him at ^(AC)his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly ^(AD)testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, ^(AE)from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. ²⁴^(AF)Some were being persuaded by the things said by Paul, but others would not believe. ²⁵And when they disagreed with one another, they began leaving after Paul said one parting statement: “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, ²⁶saying,

‘^(AG)Go to this people and say,
“^[u]^(AH)You will keep on hearing, and will not understand;
And ^[v]you will keep on seeing, and will not perceive;
²⁷^(AI)For the hearts of this people have become ^[w]insensitive,
And with their ears they ^[x]hardly hear,
And they have closed their eyes;
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.”’

²⁸Therefore, let it be known to you that ^(AJ)this salvation of God has been sent ^(AK)to the Gentiles; they will also listen.”^[y]

³⁰Now Paul stayed two full years ^[z]in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, ³¹^[aa]^(AL)preaching the kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ ^(AM)with all openness, unhindered.

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Footnotes

Acts 28:1 Or Melita
Acts 28:2 Gr barbaroi, referring to people who did not speak Greek
Acts 28:3 Or from the heat
Acts 28:4 See note v 2
Acts 28:4 Or Justice; i.e., the personification of a goddess
Acts 28:5 Lit he
Acts 28:7 Prob. the Roman governor of the island
Acts 28:10 Or put on board
Acts 28:10 Lit the things pertaining to the needs
Acts 28:11 Gr Dioscuri; i.e., Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeus
Acts 28:14 Lit Where
Acts 28:15 Lat Appii Forum, a station about 43 miles or 69.2 km from Rome
Acts 28:15 Lat Tres Tabernae, a station about 33 miles or 53.1 km from Rome
Acts 28:17 Lit he
Acts 28:17 Or forefathers
Acts 28:18 Lit of death in me
Acts 28:19 Lit spoke against
Acts 28:20 Or invited you to see me and speak with me
Acts 28:22 Lit you think
Acts 28:23 Lit him
Acts 28:26 Lit with a hearing you will hear
Acts 28:26 Lit seeing you will see
Acts 28:27 Lit dull
Acts 28:27 Or are hard of hearing
Acts 28:28 Late mss add as v 29: When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.
Acts 28:30 Or at his own expense
Acts 28:31 Or proclaiming