28 2 The Barbarians’ courtesy towards Paul and his company. 3 A viper on Paul’s hand: 6 He shaketh it off without harm: 8 Publius  9 and others are by him healed. 11 They depart from Malta, 16 and come to Rome. 17 Paul openeth to the Jews, 20 the cause of his coming: 22 He preacheth Jesus 30 two years.

¹ And when they were come safe, then they knew that the Isle was called ^[a]Malta.

² And the Barbarians showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire, and received us everyone, because of the present shower, and because of the cold.

^3 [b]And when Paul had gathered a number of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and leaped on his hand.

^4 [c]Now when the Barbarians saw the worm hang on his hand, they said among themselves, This man surely is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet ^[d]Vengeance hath not suffered to live.

⁵ But he shook off the worm into the fire, and felt no harm.

⁶ Howbeit they waited when he should have ^[e]swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: ^[f]but after they had looked a great while, and saw no inconvenience come to him, they changed their minds, and said, That he was a God.

^7 [g]In the same quarters, the chief man of the Isle (whose name was Publius) had possessions: the same received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

⁸ And so it was, that the father of Publius lay sick of the fever, and of a bloody flix: to whom Paul entered in, and when he prayed, he laid his hands on him, and healed him.

^9 [h]When this then was done, others also in the Isle, which had diseases, came to him, and were healed,

^10 [i]Which also did us great honor: and when we departed, they laded us with things necessary.

¹¹ ¶ ^[j]Now after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the Isle, whose ^[k]badge was Castor and Pollux.

¹² And when we arrived at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

¹³ And from thence we set a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day, the South wind blew, and we came the second day to Puteoli:

^14 [l]Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days, and so we went toward Rome.

¹⁵ ¶ ^[m]And from thence when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us at the ^[n]Market of Appius, and at the three taverns, whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and waxed bold.

¹⁶ So when we came to Rome, the Centurion delivered the prisoners to the general Captain: but Paul was suffered to dwell by ^[o]himself with a soldier that kept him.

^17 [p]And the third day after, Paul calleth the chief of the Jews together, and when they were come, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or Laws of the fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

¹⁸ Who when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

^19 [q]But when the Jews spake contrary, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar, not because I had ought to accuse my nation of.

²⁰ For this cause therefore have I called for you to see you, and to speak with you: for that hope of Israel’s sake, I am bound with this chain.

²¹ Then they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither came any of the brethren that showed or spake any evil of thee.

²² But we will hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.

^23 [r]And when they had appointed him a day, there came many unto him into his lodging, to whom he expounded, ^[s]testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them those things that concern Jesus, both out of the Law of Moses, and out of the Prophets, from morning to night.

^24 [t]And some were [persuaded] with the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

²⁵ Therefore when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, to wit, Well spake the holy Ghost by Isaiah the Prophet unto our fathers,

^26 [u]Saying, ^(A)Go unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive.

²⁷ For the heart of this people is waxed fat, and their ears are dull of hearing, and with their eyes have they ^[v]winked, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and should return that I might heal them.

^28 [w]Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they shall hear it.

^29 [x]And when he had said these things, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

^30 [y]And Paul remained two years full in an house hired for himself, and received all that came in unto him,

³¹ Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all boldness of speech, without let.