Acts 28
Modern English Version
Paul in Malta
28 When they had escaped, they learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because of the rain and the cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper driven out by the heat fastened on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, justice does not allow him to live.” 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They expected him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But while they waited and saw no harm befall him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7 In that area was an estate of the chief man of the island, named Publius, who had welcomed us and courteously housed us for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, placing his hands on him, prayed and healed him. 9 When this happened, the rest on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 They honored us in many ways. And when we sailed, they provided us with necessary supplies.
Paul Arrives in Rome
11 After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. 12 Landing at Syracuse, we waited there for three days. 13 From there we circled around and sailed to Rhegium. After one day the south wind blew, and the next day we arrived at Puteoli. 14 There we found brothers, and were invited to remain with them for seven days. And so we went to Rome. 15 From there, when the brothers heard of us, they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius[a] and the Three Taverns[b] to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16 When we arrived at Rome, the centurion handed the prisoners over to the captain of the guard. But Paul was allowed to remain by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
Paul Preaches in Rome
17 After three days Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, having done nothing contrary to our people or the customs of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 When they had examined me, they were determined to release me, because there was no charge against me deserving death. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any charge to bring against my nation. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, because I am bound with this chain for the hope of Israel.”
21 They said to him, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers that have come have reported or spoken any evil of you. 22 But we think it is proper to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”
23 When they had arranged a day to be with him, many came to him at his residence. From morning until evening he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God to them, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. 24 Some believed what was said, but some did not believe. 25 Being in disagreement with one another, they were dismissed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit accurately spoke to our fathers through Isaiah the prophet,
26 ‘Go to this people and say:
You shall certainly hear, but never understand;
and you shall certainly see, but never perceive;
27 for the heart of this people has grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have closed their eyes,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.[c]’
28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They will hear it!”
29 When he had said these words, the Jews departed and disputed greatly among themselves. 30 Paul remained two whole years in his own rented house. He welcomed all who came to him, 31 boldly and freely preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.
Footnotes
- Acts 28:15 A town on the Appian Way about 55 miles from Rome.
- Acts 28:15 Or Three Inns, also on the Appian Way and about 10 miles closer to Rome.
- Acts 28:27 Isa 6:9–10.
Acts 28
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
While Stranded On The Island of Malta, Paul Heals the Sick
28 And having been brought-safely-through, then we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 And the natives[a] were showing us not the ordinary humaneness. For having lit a fire, they welcomed us all because of the rain having set-upon us and because of the cold. 3 And Paul having gathered a certain quantity of dry-sticks, and having put them on the fire— a viper having come-out because of the heat fastened-on his hand. 4 And when the natives saw the beast hanging from his hand, they were saying to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer whom, having been brought-safely-through from the sea, Justice[b] did not allow to live”. 5 Then indeed the one, having shaken-off the beast into the fire, suffered no harm. 6 And the ones were expecting that he was about to be swelling-up, or suddenly be falling down dead. But while they for a long time were waiting-in-expectation and observing nothing out-of-place happening to him— having changed their minds, they were saying that he was a god. 7 Now in the areas around that place were lands belonging to the leading[c] official of the island, Publius by name— who, having welcomed us, entertained[d] us courteously for three days. 8 And it came about that the father of Publius was lying-down, being gripped with fevers and dysentery, to whom having gone in and having prayed, having laid his hands on him, Paul healed him. 9 And this having taken place, the others on the island having infirmities were also coming to him and being cured— 10 who also honored us with many honors, and at our putting-to-sea provided the things for our needs.
After Three Winter Months, They Boarded Another Ship And Sailed For Rome
11 And after three[e] months, we put-to-sea in a ship having spent the winter at the island[f]— an Alexandrian one marked with the Twin-brothers[g]. 12 And having put-in at Syracuse, we stayed three days— 13 from which, having cast-off, we came to Rhegium. And after one day, a south wind having come up, we came on the second day to Puteoli— 14 where, having found brothers, we were invited to stay with them for seven[h] days. And so[i] we came[j] to Rome. 15 And from there the brothers, having heard the things concerning us, came as far as the Forum[k] of Appius and the Three Taverns[l] to meet us— whom having seen, Paul, having given-thanks to God, took courage[m].
In Rome Paul Explains His Circumstance To The Jews, Who Ask To Hear His Message
16 And when we entered into Rome, it was permitted to Paul to stay by himself [n], with the soldier guarding him. 17 And it came about after three days that he called-together the ones being leading ones of the Jews. And they having come together, he was saying to them, “I, men, brothers, having done nothing contrary to our people or our ancestors’ customs, was handed-over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans— 18 who, having examined me, were wanting to release me because of there being no charge worthy of death in connection with me. 19 But the Jews speaking-against it, I was compelled to appeal-to Caesar— not as-though having anything to accuse my nation. 20 For this reason therefore, I called-for you, to see and speak to you. For I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel”. 21 And the ones said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers having arrived report or speak anything evil concerning you. 22 And we consider-it-fitting that we hear from you the things which you think. For indeed concerning this sect[o], it is known to us that it is being spoken-against everywhere”.
Some Believed Paul’s Message, Others Rejected. Paul Turns To The Gentiles
23 And having appointed a day for him, more came to him at his lodging— to whom he was explaining it from early-in-the-morning until evening, solemnly-testifying as to the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. 24 And some were being persuaded by the things being said, but others were not-believing[p]. 25 And being not-in-agreement with one another, they were departing, Paul having spoken one statement— that “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet [in Isa 6:9-10] to your fathers, 26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say: In hearing, you will hear and by no means understand. And while seeing, you will see and by no means perceive. 27 For the heart of this people became dull[q], and they hardly[r] heard with their ears, and they closed their eyes, that they might not ever see[s] with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand in their heart, and turn-back, and I shall heal[t] them’. 28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God was sent-forth to the Gentiles. They[u] also will hear it”. 29 [v]
While Two Years Pass, Paul Continues To Proclaim Christ
30 And he stayed two[w] whole years in his own rented-quarters[x]. And he was welcoming all the ones coming-in to him— 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without-hindrance.
Footnotes
- Acts 28:2 That is, the local non-Greek-cultured people.
- Acts 28:4 That is, the goddess by this name; or, justice as an abstract concept.
- Acts 28:7 Or, the first man, a title for this official found in inscriptions on Malta.
- Acts 28:7 Or, received us as guests, gave us lodging.
- Acts 28:11 That is, some time in February of a.d. 60.
- Acts 28:11 It would have been in the port of Valetta.
- Acts 28:11 Or, Dioscuri. That is, the Greek gods Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeus and Leda, patron gods of sailors. The mark may refer to a carved figurehead, or to painted emblems on each side of the prow.
- Acts 28:14 During this time, Julius (v 1) would have been making arrangements for the 130 mile or 210 kilometer journey by road to Rome.
- Acts 28:14 Or, in this manner.
- Acts 28:14 Or, went.
- Acts 28:15 This location was 39 miles or 63 kilometers south of Rome.
- Acts 28:15 Or, Inns. This location was 30 miles or 49 kilometers south of Rome.
- Acts 28:15 Paul had written them the book of Romans (in 20:2) about three years earlier, and now takes courage at their concern for him.
- Acts 28:16 That is, in his own rented quarters (v 30), rather than in prison.
- Acts 28:22 That is, Christians.
- Acts 28:24 Or, refusing-to-believe.
- Acts 28:27 Or, thick, fat, insensitive.
- Acts 28:27 That is, with difficulty. They are spiritually hard of hearing.
- Acts 28:27 This expresses the purpose of the people. They closed their eyes to God that they might not ever see what they did not want to see, and never have to change their ways and return to God.
- Acts 28:27 Paul places the blame on these Jews for not entering the process that results in spiritual healing: see and hear, understand, and turn back.
- Acts 28:28 Or, And they will listen.
- Acts 28:29 Some manuscripts add ‘And he having spoken these things, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.’
- Acts 28:30 Thus, closing the book some time in a.d. 62. Some think Paul was then tried and released; others that his case was dismissed because the Jews failed to prosecute it. Some think Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon during this time. Others think these letters were written during the two years in Caesarea (24:27); others, in an imprisonment in Ephesus during Acts 19.
- Acts 28:30 Or, at his own expense (in Roman government quarters).
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
