Malta’s Hospitality

28 Once ashore, we^(A) then learned that the island was called Malta.^{(B) 2} The local people^(C) showed us extraordinary kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold. ³ As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself to his hand. ⁴ When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man is probably a murderer, and though he has escaped the sea, Justice^[a] does not allow him to live!”^{(D) 5} However, he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.^{(E) 6} They expected that he would swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.^(F)

Ministry in Malta

⁷ Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. ⁸ Publius’s father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.^{(G) 9} After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. ¹⁰ So they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed.

Rome at Last

¹¹ After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Brothers^[b] as its figurehead. ¹² Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed three days. ¹³ From there, after making a circuit along the coast,^[c] we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli. ¹⁴ There we found believers^[d](H) and were invited to stay with them for seven days.

And so we came to Rome. ¹⁵ Now the believers^[e] from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. ¹⁶ When we entered Rome,^[f] Paul was permitted to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.^(I)

Paul’s First Interview with Roman Jews

¹⁷ After three days he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them: “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.^{(J) 18} After they examined me, they wanted to release me, since I had not committed a capital offense.^{(K) 19} Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar;^(L) it was not as though I had any accusation against my nation. ²⁰ For this reason I’ve asked to see you and speak to you. In fact, it is for the hope of Israel that I’m wearing this chain.”^(M)

²¹ Then they said to him, “We haven’t received any letters about you from Judea. None of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you. ²² But we would like to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, we are aware that it is spoken against everywhere.”^(N)

The Response to Paul’s Message

²³ After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and witnessed about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.^{(O) 24} Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe.^(P)

²⁵ Disagreeing among themselves, they began to leave after Paul made one statement: “The Holy Spirit correctly spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your^[g] ancestors ²⁶ when He said,

²⁸ Therefore, let it be known to you that this saving work of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!”^(R) [²⁹ After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a prolonged debate among themselves.]^[i]

Paul’s Ministry Unhindered

³⁰ Then he stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, ³¹ proclaiming the kingdom of God^(S) and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with full boldness^(T) and without hindrance.

Greeting

1 Paul,^(A) an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will:^(B)

To the faithful saints^(C) in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.^[a](D)

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Rich Blessings

³ Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.^{(E) 4} For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.^[b](F) In love^{[c] 5} He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, ⁶ to the praise of His glorious grace^(G) that He favored us with in the Beloved.^(H)

⁷ We have redemption in Him^(I) through His blood, the forgiveness^(J) of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. ⁹ He made known to us the mystery of His will,^(K) according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him^{(L) 10} for the administration^[d] of the days of fulfillment^[e]—to bring everything together in the Messiah,^(M) both things in heaven and things on earth^(N) in Him.^(O)

¹¹ We have also received an inheritance^[f] in Him, predestined^(P) according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope^(Q) in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.^(R)

¹³ When you heard the message of truth,^(S) the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.^{(T) 14} He is the down payment^(U) of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession,^[g] to the praise of His glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Insight

¹⁵ This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^[h] would give you a spirit^[i](V) of wisdom and revelation^(W) in the knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray that the perception of your mind^[j] may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope^(X) of His calling,^(Y) what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power^(Z) to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

God’s Power in Christ

²⁰ He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand^(AA) in the heavens^(AB)— ²¹ far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,^[k](AC) not only in this age but also in the one to come.^{(AD) 22} And He put everything under His feet^(AE)[l] and appointed Him as head^(AF) over everything for the church, ²³ which is His body,^(AG) the fullness^(AH) of the One who fills all things^(AI) in every way.

From Death to Life

2 And you were dead^(AJ) in your trespasses and sins ² in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world,^(AK) according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens,^[m](AL) the spirit^(AM) now working in the disobedient.^{[n] 3} We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly^(AN) desires, carrying out the inclinations^(AO) of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath^(AP) as the others were also. ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy,^(AQ) because of His great love^(AR) that He had for us,^{[o] 5} made us alive^(AS) with the Messiah even though we were dead^(AT) in trespasses. You are saved by grace! ⁶ Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens,^{(AU) 7} so that in the coming ages^(AV) He might display the immeasurable riches^(AW) of His grace through His kindness^(AX) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For you are saved by grace^(AY) through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are His creation, created^(AZ) in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time^(BA) so that we should walk in them.

Unity in Christ

¹¹ So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,”^(BB) which is done in the flesh by human hands.^{(BC) 12} At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise,^(BD) without hope^(BE) and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood^(BF) of the Messiah. ¹⁴ For He is our peace, who made both groups one^(BG) and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, ¹⁵ He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create^(BH) in Himself one^(BI) new man from the two, resulting in peace. ¹⁶ He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body^(BJ) through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.^{[p] 17} When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news^(BK) of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(BL) 18} For through Him we both have access^(BM) by one Spirit to the Father.^{(BN) 19} So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,^(BO) with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. ²¹ The whole building, being put together^(BP) by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord.^{(BQ) 22} You also are being built together^(BR) for God’s dwelling^(BS) in the Spirit.