Acts 28

¹After we were brought safely through , we then learned that the island was called Malta .

²The native people showed us unusual kindness , for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all , because it had begun to rain and was cold .

³When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire , a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand .

⁴When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand , they said to one another , No doubt this man is a murderer . Though he has escaped from the sea , Justice has not allowed him to live .

⁵He, however , shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm .

⁶They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead . But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him , they changed their minds and said that he was a god .

⁷Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island , named Publius , who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days .

⁸It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery . And Paul visited him and prayed , and putting his hands on him healed him .

⁹And when this had taken place , the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured .

¹⁰They also honored us greatly , and when we were about to sail , they put on board whatever we needed .

¹¹After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island , a ship of Alexandria , with the twin gods as a figurehead .

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

¹³And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium . And after one day a south wind sprang up , and on the second day we came to Puteoli .

¹⁴There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days . And so we came to Rome .

¹⁵And the brothers there , when they heard about us , came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us . On seeing them , Paul thanked God and took courage .

¹⁶And when we came into Rome , Paul was allowed to stay by himself , with the soldier who guarded him .

¹⁷After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews , and when they had gathered , he said to them , Brothers , though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers , yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans .

¹⁸When they had examined me , they wished to set me at liberty , because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.

¹⁹But because the Jews objected , I was compelled to appeal to Caesar — though I had no charge to bring against my nation .

²⁰For this reason , therefore , I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain .

²¹And they said to him , We have received no letters from Judea about you , and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you .

²²But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against .

²³When they had appointed a day for him , they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers . From morning till evening he expounded to them , testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets .

²⁴And some were convinced by what he said , but others disbelieved .

²⁵And disagreeing among themselves , they departed after Paul had made one statement : The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet :

²⁶Go 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 with their ears they can barely hear , and their eyes they have closed ; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn , and I would heal them .

²⁸Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles ; they will listen .

³⁰He lived there two whole years at his own expense , and welcomed all who came to him ,

³¹proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance .