Malta’s Hospitality

28 Once safely ashore, we(A) then learned that the island was called Malta.(B) The local people(C) showed us extraordinary kindness. They lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold. 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. 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) But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm.(E) 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

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. 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) 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

  1. 28:11 Gk Dioscuri, twin sons of Zeus, Castor and Pollux
  2. 28:13 Other mss read From there, casting off,
  3. 28:16 Other mss add the centurion turned the prisoners over to the military commander; but
  4. 28:25 Or after they began to leave, Paul made one statement
  5. 28:25 Other mss read our
  6. 28:26–27 Is 6:9–10
  7. 28:28 Some mss include v. 29: After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a vigorous debate among themselves.

28 And kai when we had escaped diasōzō safely , then tote we learned epiginōskō that hoti the ho island nēsos was called kaleō Malta Melitē. The ho native barbaros people showed parechō us hēmeis no ou · ho ordinary tynchanō kindness philanthrōpia, for gar they kindled haptō a fire pyra and welcomed proslambanō us hēmeis all pas, because dia it had begun to ephistēmi · ho rain hyetos · ho and kai because dia of the ho cold psychos. When Paul Paulos had gathered systrephō · de · ho a tis bundle plēthos of sticks phryganon and kai put epitithēmi them on epi the ho fire pyra, a viper echidna came out exerchomai from apo the ho heat thermē and fastened kathaptō onto · ho his autos hand cheir. When hōs · de the ho native people barbaros saw the ho creature thērion hanging kremannymi from ek · ho his autos hand cheir, they said legō to pros each allēlōn other , “ Certainly pantōs this houtos man anthrōpos is eimi a murderer phoneus, · ho and though he hos has escaped diasōzō from ek the ho sea thalassa, · ho justice dikē has eaō not ou allowed eaō him to live zaō.” But oun Paul ho shook apotinassō the ho creature thērion off into eis the ho fire pyr and suffered paschō no oudeis harm kakos. They ho · de were expecting prosdokaō that he autos was going mellō to swell pimprēmi up or ē suddenly aphnō fall katapiptō down dead nekros; but de when prosdokaō they autos waited prosdokaō a long time epi and kai saw theōreō no mēdeis misfortune atopos happen ginomai to eis him autos, they changed metaballō their minds and said legō that he autos was eimi a god theos.

Now de in en the ho region around peri · ho that ekeinos place topos were hyparchō fields chōrion belonging to the ho leading prōtos man of the ho island nēsos, by name onoma Publius Poplios, who hos welcomed anadechomai us hēmeis and for three treis days hēmera entertained xenizō us hospitably philophronōs. It happened ginomai that · de the ho father patēr of ho Publius Poplios lay katakeimai sick with bouts synechō of fever pyretos and kai with dysentery dysenterion. Paul Paulos visited eiserchomai him hos, · ho and kai when he had prayed proseuchomai, he laid epitithēmi his ho hands cheir on him autos and healed iaomai him autos. And de when this houtos happened ginomai, the ho rest loipos of the ho people on en the ho island nēsos who had echō diseases astheneia also kai came proserchomai and kai were cured therapeuō. 10 They hos also kai honored timaō us hēmeis with many polys honors timē, and kai when we were getting anagō ready to sail , they put epitithēmi · ho on pros board whatever ho we needed chreia.

11 After meta · de three treis months mēn we put out anagō to sea in en a ship ploion that had wintered paracheimazō at en the ho island nēsos, a ship of Alexandria Alexandrinos, with the “ Heavenly Twins Dioskouroi” as a figurehead parasēmos. 12 And kai when we put katagō in at eis Syracuse Syrakousai, we stayed epimenō there three treis days hēmera. 13 From there hothen we circled periaireō round and came katantaō to eis Rhegium Rhēgion; and kai after meta one heis day hēmera a south wind notos came epiginomai up , and on the following deuteraios day we arrived erchomai in eis Puteoli Potioloi, 14 where hou we found heuriskō brethren adelphos, and were invited parakaleō to stay epimenō with para them autos seven hepta days hēmera. And kai so houtōs we went erchomai toward eis · ho Rome Rhōmē. 15 And the ho brothers adelphos there kakeithen, when they heard akouō · ho about peri us hēmeis, came erchomai as achri far as the Forum phoron of Appius Appios and kai Three treis Taverns tabernai to eis meet apantēsis us hēmeis. On seeing them hos, · ho Paul Paulos gave thanks eucharisteō to ho God theos and took lambanō courage tharsos. 16 And de when hote we entered eiserchomai Rome Rhōmē, Paul Paulos was allowed epitrepō · ho to stay menō by kata himself heautou, with syn a soldier stratiōtēs · ho guarding phylassō him autos.

17 And de it happened ginomai that after meta three treis days hēmera Paul autos called synkaleō together the ho leaders prōtos of the ho Jews Ioudaios. And de when they autos gathered synerchomai, he said legō to pros them autos: “ My brothers anēr, though poieō I egō have done poieō nothing oudeis against enantion our ho people laos or ē the ho customs ethos of our ho fathers patrōos, yet I was delivered paradidōmi as a prisoner desmios from ek Jerusalem Hierosolyma into eis the ho hands cheir of the ho Romans Rhōmaios. 18 They hostis examined anakrinō me egō and wanted boulomai to release apolyō me, because dia · ho there was hyparchō no mēdeis basis aitia for a death thanatos sentence against en me egō. 19 But de when the ho Jews Ioudaios objected antilegō, I was compelled anankazō to appeal epikaleō to Caesar Kaisar, but not ou as hōs though I had echō some tis charge to bring against katēgoreō · ho my own egō people ethnos. 20 For dia this houtos reason , therefore oun, · ho I have parakaleō asked aitia to see you hymeis and kai speak proslaleō with you, since gar it is because of the ho hope elpis of ho Israel Israēl that I wear perikeimai · ho this houtos chain halysis.” 21 And de they ho said legō to pros him autos, “ We hēmeis have received dechomai no oute letters gramma from apo Judea Ioudaia about peri you sy, · ho nor oute have any tis of the ho brothers adelphos come from there paraginomai and reported apangellō or ē spoken laleō any tis bad ponēros about peri you sy. 22 But de we desire axioō to hear akouō from para you sy what hos you think phroneō, for gar with peri regard to · ho this houtos sect hairesis it is eimi known gnōstos to us hēmeis that hoti everywhere pantachou it is spoken antilegō against .”

23 When they had arranged tassō · de a day hēmera to meet with him autos, many polys came erchomai to pros him autos at eis his ho lodging xenia, and he expounded ektithēmi to them hos, testifying diamartyromai to the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos and te trying peithō to convince them autos about peri · ho Jesus Iēsous both te from apo the ho Law nomos of Moses Mōysēs and kai from the ho Prophets prophētēs, from apo morning prōi till heōs evening hespera. 24 And kai some ho men were convinced peithō by what ho he said legō, but de others ho refused apisteō to believe . 25 And de not being eimi in harmony asymphōnos among pros themselves allēlōn, they departed apolyō after Paul Paulos made legō · ho one heis further statement rhēma. “ The ho Holy hagios Spirit pneuma · ho was right kalōs in saying laleō to pros your hymeis fathers patēr through dia Isaiah ēsaias the ho prophet prophētēs: · ho 26 “‘ Go poreuō to pros · ho this houtos people laos, and kai say legō, “ You will indeed hear akoē but kai never ou mē understand syniēmi, and kai you will indeed see blepō but kai never ou mē perceive”; 27 for gar the ho heart kardia of ho this houtos people laos has become dull pachunō, and kai they hear akouō with difficultly bareōs with their ho ears ous, and kai · ho their autos eyes ophthalmos they have closed kammyō, lest mēpote they should see with their ho eyes ophthalmos and kai hear akouō with their ho ears ous and kai understand syniēmi with their ho heart kardia and kai turn epistrephō, and kai I should heal iaomai them autos.’ 28 So oun let it be eimi known gnōstos to you hymeis that hoti this houtos salvation of ho God theos has been sent apostellō to the ho Gentiles ethnos; · ho even kai they autos will listen akouō.”

30 Paul lived emmenō there · de two dietia whole holos years in en his idios own rented misthōma house and kai welcomed apodechomai all pas who ho came eisporeuomai to pros him autos, 31 proclaiming kēryssō the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos and kai teaching didaskō · ho about peri the ho Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos with meta all pas boldness parrēsia, without hindrance akōlytōs.

Paul Ashore on Malta

28 Once safely on shore, we(A) found out that the island(B) was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand,(C) they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”(D) But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.(E) The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.(F)

There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer,(G) placed his hands on him(H) and healed him.(I) When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us(J) in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

Paul’s Arrival at Rome

11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship(K) with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and sisters(L) who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters(M) there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.(N)

Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard

17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders.(O) When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers,(P) although I have done nothing against our people(Q) or against the customs of our ancestors,(R) I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me(S) and wanted to release me,(T) because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.(U) 19 The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar.(V) I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel(W) that I am bound with this chain.”(X)

21 They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people(Y) who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”(Z)

23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God,(AA) and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets(AB) he tried to persuade them about Jesus.(AC) 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.(AD) 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said(AE) through Isaiah the prophet:

26 “‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 For this people’s heart has become calloused;(AF)
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a](AG)

28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation(AH) has been sent to the Gentiles,(AI) and they will listen!” [29] [b]

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God(AJ) and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness(AK) and without hindrance!

Footnotes

  1. Acts 28:27 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)
  2. Acts 28:29 Some manuscripts include here After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.