Acts 28
Christian Standard Bible
Malta’s Hospitality
28 Once safely ashore, we(A) then learned that the island was called Malta.(B) 2 The local people(C) showed us extraordinary kindness. 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 on his hand. 4 When the local people saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man, no doubt, is a murderer. Even though he has escaped the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”(D) 5 But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm.(E) 6 They expected that he would begin to swell up or suddenly drop dead. 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 healed. 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 Gods[a] as its figurehead. 12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there, after making a circuit along the coast,[b] we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found brothers and sisters(H) and were invited to stay a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 Now the brothers and sisters 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,[c] Paul was allowed to live 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 there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.(K) 19 Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar;(L) even though I had no charge to bring against my people. 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 want to hear what your views are, since we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”(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 testified about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them about 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:[d] “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your[e] ancestors through the prophet Isaiah 26 when he said,
Go to these people and say:
You will always be listening,
but never understanding;
and you will always be looking,
but never perceiving.
27 For the hearts of these people
have grown callous,
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears,
understand with their heart
and turn,
and I would heal them.[f](Q)
28 Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”[g]
Paul’s Ministry Unhindered
30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God(R) and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness(S) and without hindrance.
Footnotes
- 28:11 Gk Dioscuri, twin sons of Zeus, Castor and Pollux
- 28:13 Other mss read From there, casting off,
- 28:16 Other mss add the centurion turned the prisoners over to the military commander; but
- 28:25 Or after they began to leave, Paul made one statement
- 28:25 Other mss read our
- 28:26–27 Is 6:9–10
- 28:28 Some mss include v. 29: After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a vigorous debate among themselves.
Acts 28
Lexham English Bible
Paul on Malta
28 And after we[a] were brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 And the local inhabitants showed extraordinary[b] kindness to us, for they lit a fire and[c] welcomed us all, because of the rain that had begun and because of the cold. 3 And when[d] Paul had gathered a large number of sticks and was placing them[e] on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and[f] fastened itself on his hand. 4 And when the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying[g] to one another, “Doubtless this man is a murderer whom, although he[h] was rescued from the sea, Justice[i] has not permitted to live!” 5 He, in turn, shook off the creature into the fire and[j] suffered no harm. 6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell up[k] or suddenly to fall down dead. So after[l] they had waited for a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and[m] began saying[n] that he was a god.
7 Now in the regions around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, named[o] Publius, who welcomed us and[p] entertained us[q] hospitably for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying down, afflicted with fever and dysentery. Paul went[r] to him[s] and after[t] praying, he placed his[u] hands on him and[v] healed him. 9 And after[w] this had taken place, the rest of those on the island who had diseases were coming and being healed also. 10 They also honored us with many honors, and when we[x] were putting out to sea, they gave us[y] the things we needed.[z]
Paul Arrives in Rome at Last
11 Now after three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian one with the twin gods Castor and Pollux as its insignia.[aa] 12 And putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. 13 From there we got underway[ab] and[ac] arrived at Rhegium, and after one day a south wind came up and[ad] on the second day we came to Puteoli, 14 where we found brothers, and[ae] were implored to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. 15 And from there the brothers, when they[af] heard the news about us, came to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When he[ag] saw them, Paul gave thanks to God and[ah] took courage. 16 And when we entered into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.
Paul and the Jewish Community in Rome
17 Now it happened that after three days, he called together those who were the most prominent of the Jews. And when[ai] they had assembled, he said to them, “Men and brothers, although[aj] I had done nothing against our[ak] people or the customs of our fathers, from Jerusalem I was delivered as a prisoner into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they[al] had examined me, were wanting to release me,[am] because there was no basis for an accusation worthy of death with me. 19 But because[an] the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar (not as if I[ao] had any charge to bring against my own people).[ap] 20 Therefore for this reason I have requested to see you and to speak with you,[aq] for because of the hope of Israel I am wearing this chain!” 21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters about you from Judea, nor has any of the brothers come and[ar] reported or spoken anything evil about you. 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for concerning this sect it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”
23 And when they[as] had set a day with him, many more came to him at his lodging place, to whom he was explaining from early in the morning until evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and attempting to convince[at] them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 24 And some were convinced by[au] what was said, but others refused to believe. 25 So being in disagreement with one another, they began to leave after[av] Paul made one statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through the prophet Isaiah to your fathers, 26 saying,
‘Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing[aw] and will never understand,
and you will keep on seeing[ax] and will never perceive.
27 For the heart of this people has become dull,
and with their[ay] ears they hear with difficulty,
and they have shut their eyes,
lest they see with their[az] eyes,
and hear with their[ba] ears,
and understand with their[bb] heart,
and turn, and I would heal them.”’[bc]
28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They also will listen!”[bd]
30 So he stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.
Footnotes
- Acts 28:1 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were brought safely through”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 28:2 Literally “not the ordinary”
- Acts 28:2 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“lit”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 28:3 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had gathered”)
- Acts 28:3 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 28:3 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came out”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 28:4 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began saying”)
- Acts 28:4 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was rescued”) which is understood as concessive
- Acts 28:4 Here personified as a goddess
- Acts 28:5 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“shook off”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 28:6 Or “to burn with fever” (either meaning is possible here)
- Acts 28:6 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had waited”)
- Acts 28:6 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“changed their minds”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 28:6 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began saying”)
- Acts 28:7 Literally “by name”
- Acts 28:7 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“welcomed”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 28:7 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 28:8 Here this participle (“went”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
- Acts 28:8 Literally “whom”
- Acts 28:8 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“praying”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 28:8 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Acts 28:8 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“placed”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 28:9 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had taken place”)
- Acts 28:10 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“putting out to sea”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 28:10 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 28:10 Literally “for the needs”
- Acts 28:11 Literally “marked with the Dioscuri” (a joint name for the twin gods Castor and Pollux)
- Acts 28:13 Or “we sailed along” (with “the coast” understood); the exact meaning of the text as it stands is disputed and various additional terms have to be supplied in any case
- Acts 28:13 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“got underway”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 28:13 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 28:14 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“found”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 28:15 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 28:15 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 28:15 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“gave thanks”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 28:17 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had assembled”)
- Acts 28:17 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had done”) which is understood as concessive
- Acts 28:17 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Acts 28:18 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had examined”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 28:18 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 28:19 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“objected”)
- Acts 28:19 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had”) which is understood as concessive
- Acts 28:19 Or “nation”
- Acts 28:20 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 28:21 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“come”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 28:23 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had set”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 28:23 Here the present tense has been translated as conative (“attempting to convince”)
- Acts 28:24 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“what was said”) which is understood as means
- Acts 28:25 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“made”)
- Acts 28:26 Literally “hearing you will hear”
- Acts 28:26 Literally “seeing you will see”
- Acts 28:27 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Acts 28:27 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Acts 28:27 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Acts 28:27 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Acts 28:27 A quotation from Isa 6:9–10
- Acts 28:28 Some later manuscripts include v. 29: “And when he had said these things, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.”
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