Acts 28
English Standard Version
Paul on Malta
28 After we were brought safely through, (A)we then learned that (B)the island was called Malta. 2 (C)The native people[a] showed us unusual (D)kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When (E)the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, (F)“No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, (G)Justice[b] has not allowed him to live.” 5 He, however, (H)shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, (I)they changed their minds and (J)said that he was a god.
7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and (K)prayed, and (L)putting his hands on him, healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly,[c] and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.
Paul Arrives at Rome
11 After three months we set sail in (M)a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods[d] as a figurehead. 12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found (N)brothers[e] and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 And (O)the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, (P)Paul thanked God and took courage. 16 And when we came into Rome, (Q)Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
Paul in Rome
17 After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, (R)though I had done nothing against our people or (S)the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 When they had examined me, they (T)wished to set me at liberty, (U)because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. 19 But because the Jews objected, I was compelled (V)to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against (W)my nation. 20 For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is (X)because of (Y)the hope of Israel that I am wearing (Z)this (AA)chain.” 21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of (AB)the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this (AC)sect we know that everywhere (AD)it is spoken against.”
23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening (AE)he expounded to them, testifying to (AF)the kingdom of God and (AG)trying to convince them about Jesus (AH)both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And (AI)some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. 25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: (AJ)“The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
26 (AK)“‘Go to this people, and say,
(AL)“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
27 (AM)For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and (AN)turn, and I would heal them.’
28 Therefore let it be known to you that (AO)this (AP)salvation of God (AQ)has been sent to the Gentiles; (AR)they will listen.”[f]
30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense,[g] and (AS)welcomed all who came to him, 31 (AT)proclaiming (AU)the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ (AV)with all boldness and (AW)without hindrance.
Footnotes
- Acts 28:2 Greek barbaroi (that is, non–Greek speakers); also verse 4
- Acts 28:4 Or justice
- Acts 28:10 Greek honored us with many honors
- Acts 28:11 That is, the Greek gods Castor and Pollux
- Acts 28:14 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 15, 21
- Acts 28:28 Some manuscripts add verse 29: And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having much dispute among themselves
- Acts 28:30 Or in his own hired dwelling
Acts 28
International Standard Version
Paul on the Island of Malta
28 When we were safely on shore, we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The people who lived there were unusually kind to us. It had started to rain and was cold, so they started a bonfire and invited us to join them[a] around it. 3 Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and put it on the fire. A poisonous snake was forced out by the heat and attached itself to Paul’s[b] hand. 4 When the people who lived there saw the snake hanging from his hand, they told one another, “This man must be a murderer! He may have escaped from the sea, but Justice[c] won’t let him live.” 5 But he shook the snake into the fire and wasn’t harmed. 6 They were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7 The governor of the island, whose name was Publius, owned estates in that part of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us with great hospitality for three days. 8 The father of Publius happened to be sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, prayed, and healed him by placing his hands on him. 9 After that had happened, the rest of the sick people on the island went to him and were healed. 10 The islanders[d] honored us in many ways, and when we were about to sail again,[e] they supplied us with everything we needed.
Paul Sails from Malta to Rome
11 Three months later, we continued our sailing onboard an Alexandrian ship that had spent the winter at the island. It had the Twin Brothers[f] as its figurehead. 12 We stopped at Syracuse and stayed there for three days. 13 Then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. A day later, a south wind began to blow, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. After this, we arrived in Rome. 15 The brothers there heard about us and came as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and felt encouraged. 16 When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.
Paul in Rome
17 Three days later, Paul[g] called the leaders of the Jews together. When they assembled, he told them, “Brothers, although I haven’t done anything against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to let me go because there was no reason for me to receive[h] the death penalty in my case. 19 But the Jews objected and forced me to appeal to the emperor, even though I have no countercharge to bring against my own people. 20 That’s why I asked to see you and speak with you, since it is for the hope of Israel that I’m wearing this chain.”
21 The Jewish leaders[i] told him, “We haven’t received any letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or mentioned anything bad about you. 22 However, we’d like to hear from you what you believe, because people are talking against this sect everywhere.” 23 So they set a day to meet with Paul[j] and came out in large numbers to see him where he was staying.
From morning until evening, he continued to explain the kingdom of God to them, trying to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. 24 Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others wouldn’t believe. 25 They disagreed with one another as they were leaving, so Paul added this statement: “The Holy Spirit was so right when he spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah! 26 He said,
‘Go to this people and say,
“You will listen and listen
but never understand,
and you will look and look
but never see!
27 For this people’s minds[k] have become stupid,
and their ears can barely hear,
and they have shut their eyes
so that they may never see with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart
and turn and let me heal them.”’[l]
28 You must understand that this message about[m] God’s salvation has been sent to the gentiles, and they will listen.”[n]
30 For two whole years Paul[o] lived in his own rented place and welcomed everyone who came to him. 31 He continued to preach about the kingdom of God and to teach boldly and freely about the Lord Jesus, the Messiah.[p]
Footnotes
- Acts 28:2 The Gk. lacks to join them
- Acts 28:3 Lit. his
- Acts 28:4 I.e. a Roman god whom they supposed punished wrongdoers
- Acts 28:10 Lit. They
- Acts 28:10 The Gk. lacks again
- Acts 28:11 Lit. the Dioscuri; i.e. Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeus
- Acts 28:17 Lit. he
- Acts 28:18 The Gk. lacks me to receive
- Acts 28:21 Lit. They
- Acts 28:23 Lit. him
- Acts 28:27 Lit. heart
- Acts 28:27 Cf. Isa 6:9-10
- Acts 28:28 The Gk. lacks message about
- Acts 28:28 Other mss. read will listen. 29 When he had said these words, the Jews left, arguing intensely among themselves.
- Acts 28:30 Lit. he
- Acts 28:31 Or Christ
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
