Community of believers

⁴² The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. ⁴³ A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were united and shared everything. ⁴⁵ They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. ⁴⁶ Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. ⁴⁷ They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.

Paul travels to Jerusalem

21 After we tore ourselves away from them, we set sail on a straight course to Cos, reaching Rhodes the next day, and then Patara. ² We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, boarded, and put out to sea. ³ We spotted Cyprus, but passed by it on our left. We sailed on to the province of Syria and landed in Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo. ⁴ We found the disciples there and stayed with them for a week. Compelled by the Spirit, they kept telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem. ⁵ When our time had come to an end, we departed. All of them, including women and children, accompanied us out of town where we knelt on the beach and prayed. ⁶ We said good-bye to each other, then we boarded the ship and they returned to their homes.

On the Island of Malta

28 After reaching land safely, we learned that the island was called Malta. ² The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. Because it was rainy and cold, they built a fire and welcomed all of us. ³ Paul gathered a bunch of dry sticks and put them on the fire. As he did, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, latched on to his hand. ⁴ When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He was rescued from the sea, but the goddess Justice hasn’t let him live!” ⁵ Paul shook the snake into the fire and suffered no harm. ⁶ They expected him to swell up with fever or suddenly drop dead. After waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to claim that he was a god.

⁷ Publius, the island’s most prominent person, owned a large estate in that area. He welcomed us warmly into his home as his guests for three days. ⁸ Publius’ father was bedridden, sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul went to see him and prayed. He placed his hand on him and healed him. ⁹ Once this happened, the rest of the sick on the island came to him and were healed. ¹⁰ They honored us in many ways. When we were getting ready to sail again, they supplied us with what we needed.

Greeting

¹ From the elder.

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I truly love.

² Dear friend, I’m praying that all is well with you and that you enjoy good health in the same way that you prosper spiritually.

Encouragement for Gaius

³ I was overjoyed when the brothers and sisters arrived and spoke highly of your faithfulness to the truth, shown by how you live according to the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth. ⁵ Dear friend, you act faithfully in whatever you do for our brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers. ⁶ They spoke highly of your love in front of the church. You all would do well to provide for their journey in a way that honors God, ⁷ because they left on their journey for the sake of Jesus Christ without accepting any support from the Gentiles. ⁸ Therefore, we ought to help people like this so that we can be coworkers with the truth.

Criticism of Diotrephes

⁹ I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, doesn’t welcome us. ¹⁰ Because of this, if I come, I will bring up what he has done—making unjustified and wicked accusations against us. And as if that were not enough, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers and sisters but stops those who want to do so and even throws them out of the church! ¹¹ Dear friend, don’t imitate what is bad but what is good. Whoever practices what is good belongs to God. Whoever practices what is bad has not seen God.

Approval of Demetrius

¹² Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, even the truth itself. We also speak highly of him, and you know that what we say is true.

Final greeting

¹³ I have a lot to say to you, but I don’t want to use pen and ink. ¹⁴ I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face-to-face.

¹⁵ Peace be with you. Your friends here greet you. Greet our friends there by name.