28:1 After we had safely reached shore, 1 we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 28:2 The local inhabitants 3 showed us extraordinary 4 kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain 5 and was cold. 28:3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood 6 and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 28:4 When the local people 7 saw the creature hanging from Paul’s 8 hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself 9 has not allowed him to live!” 10 28:5 However, 11 Paul 12 shook 13 the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 28:6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell up 14 or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited 15 a long time and had seen 16 nothing unusual happen 17 to him, they changed their minds 18 and said he was a god. 19
28:7 Now in the region around that place 20 were fields belonging to the chief official 21 of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. 28:8 The father 22 of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him 23 and after praying, placed 24 his hands on him and healed 25 him. 28:9 After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick 26 also came and were healed. 27 28:10 They also bestowed many honors, 28 and when we were preparing to sail, 29 they gave 30 us all the supplies we needed. 31
28:11 After three months we put out to sea 32 in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the “Heavenly Twins” 33 as its figurehead. 34 28:12 We put in 35 at Syracuse 36 and stayed there three days. 28:13 From there we cast off 37 and arrived at Rhegium, 38 and after one day a south wind sprang up 39 and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 40 28:14 There 41 we found 42 some brothers 43 and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. 44 28:15 The brothers from there, 45 when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius 46 and Three Taverns 47 to meet us. When he saw them, 48 Paul thanked God and took courage. 28:16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live 49 by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
28:17 After three days 50 Paul 51 called the local Jewish leaders 52 together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, 53 although I had done 54 nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, 55 from Jerusalem 56 I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. 57 28:18 When 58 they had heard my case, 59 they wanted to release me, 60 because there was no basis for a death sentence 61 against me. 28:19 But when the Jews objected, 62 I was forced to appeal to Caesar 63 – not that I had some charge to bring 64 against my own people. 65 28:20 So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.” 66 28:21 They replied, 67 “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there 68 and reported or said anything bad about you. 28:22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know 69 that people 70 everywhere speak against 71 it.”
28:23 They set 72 a day to meet with him, 73 and they came to him where he was staying 74 in even greater numbers. 75 From morning until evening he explained things 76 to them, 77 testifying 78 about the kingdom of God 79 and trying to convince 80 them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 28:24 Some were convinced 81 by what he said, 82 but others refused 83 to believe. 28:25 So they began to leave, 84 unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors 85 through the prophet Isaiah 28:26 when he said,
‘Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing, 86 but will never understand,
and you will keep on looking, 87 but will never perceive.
28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull, 88
and their ears are hard of hearing, 89
and they have closed their eyes,
so that they would not see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, 90 and I would heal them.”’ 91
28:28 “Therefore be advised 92 that this salvation from God 93 has been sent to the Gentiles; 94 they 95 will listen!”
28:29 [[EMPTY]] 9628:30 Paul 97 lived 98 there two whole years in his own rented quarters 99 and welcomed 100 all who came to him,