Acts 28
Legacy Standard Bible
On the Island of Malta
28 And when (A)they had been brought safely through to shore, (B)then we learned that (C)the island was called [a]Malta. 2 (D)And the [b]natives showed us extraordinary affection; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and (E)received us all. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out [c]because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 And when (F)the [d]natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “(G)Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, [e]Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 However (H)he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 But they were waiting for him to soon swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, changing their minds, they (I)began to say that he was a god.
7 Now in the areas around that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying afflicted with fever and dysentery; and Paul, going to see him and having (J)prayed, (K)laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 And after this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being healed. 10 They also bestowed on us many honors of respect; and when we were setting sail, they [f]supplied us with [g]all we needed.
Paul Arrives in Rome
11 Now at the end of three months we set sail on (L)an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had [h]the Twin Brothers for its figurehead. 12 After we put into Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and after a day when a south wind sprang up, on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 [i]There we found some (M)brothers, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome. 15 And the (N)brothers, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the [j]Market of Appius and [k]Three Inns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
16 And when we entered Rome, Paul was (O)allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
Paul’s Ministry in Rome
17 And it happened that after three days [l]Paul called together those who were (P)the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “(Q)Brothers, (R)though I had done nothing against our people or (S)the customs of our [m]fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 And when they had (T)examined me, they (U)were willing to release me because there was (V)no ground [n]for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews [o]objected, I was forced to (W)appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. 20 For this reason, therefore, I [p]requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing (X)this chain for (Y)the sake of the hope of Israel.” 21 And they said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of (Z)the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this (AA)sect, it is known to us that (AB)it is spoken against everywhere.”
23 And when they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at (AC)his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly (AD)bearing witness about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, (AE)from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. 24 (AF)And some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others were not believing. 25 And when they disagreed with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying,
‘(AG)Go to this people and say,
“[q](AH)You will keep on hearing, [r]but will not understand;
And [s]you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
27 (AI)For the heart of this people has become dull,
And with their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes;
Lest they might see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I heal them.”’
28 Therefore let it be known to you that (AJ)this salvation of God was sent (AK)to the Gentiles—they will also hear.” 29 [t][When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.]
30 And he stayed two full years [u]in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, 31 [v](AL)preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ (AM)with all confidence, unhindered.
Footnotes
- Acts 28:1 Or Melita
- Acts 28:2 Lit barbarians
- Acts 28:3 Or from the heat
- Acts 28:4 Lit barbarians
- Acts 28:4 The personification of a goddess
- Acts 28:10 Or put on board
- Acts 28:10 Lit the things pertaining to the needs
- Acts 28:11 Gr Dioscuri; Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeus
- Acts 28:14 Lit Where
- Acts 28:15 Lat Appii Forum, a station approx. 43 miles from Rome
- Acts 28:15 Lat Tres Tabernae, a station approx. 33 miles from Rome
- Acts 28:17 Lit he
- Acts 28:17 Or forefathers
- Acts 28:18 Lit of death in me
- Acts 28:19 Lit spoke against
- Acts 28:20 Or invited you to see me and speak with me
- Acts 28:26 Lit with a hearing
- Acts 28:26 Lit and
- Acts 28:26 Lit seeing you will see
- Acts 28:29 Early mss omit this v
- Acts 28:30 Or at his own expense
- Acts 28:31 Or proclaiming
Acts 28
Living Bible
28 1-2 We soon learned that we were on the island of Malta. The people of the island were very kind to us, building a bonfire on the beach to welcome and warm us in the rain and cold.
3 As Paul gathered an armful of sticks to lay on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, fastened itself onto his hand! 4 The people of the island saw it hanging there and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live!”
5 But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. 6 The people waited for him to begin swelling or suddenly fall dead; but when they had waited a long time and no harm came to him, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.
7 Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the governor of the island. He welcomed us courteously and fed us for three days. 8 As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, healed him! 9 Then all the other sick people in the island came and were cured. 10 As a result we were showered with gifts,[a] and when the time came to sail, people put on board all sorts of things we would need for the trip.
11 It was three months after the shipwreck before we set sail again, and this time it was in The Twin Brothers of Alexandria, a ship that had wintered at the island. 12 Our first stop was Syracuse, where we stayed three days. 13 From there we circled around to Rhegium; a day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we arrived at Puteoli, 14 where we found some believers! They begged us to stay with them seven days. Then we went on to Rome.
15 The brothers in Rome had heard we were coming and came to meet us at the Forum[b] on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to live wherever he wanted to, though guarded by a soldier.
17 Three days after his arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders and spoke to them as follows:
“Brothers, I was arrested by the Jews in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government for prosecution, even though I had harmed no one nor violated the customs of our ancestors. 18 The Romans gave me a trial and wanted to release me, for they found no cause for the death sentence demanded by the Jewish leaders. 19 But when the Jews protested the decision, I felt it necessary, with no malice against them, to appeal to Caesar. 20 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and I could tell you that it is because I believe the Messiah[c] has come that I am bound with this chain.”
21 They replied, “We have heard nothing against you! We have had no letters from Judea or reports from those arriving from Jerusalem.[d] 22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about these Christians is that they are denounced everywhere!”
23 So a time was set, and on that day large numbers came to his house. He told them about the Kingdom of God and taught them about Jesus from the Scriptures—from the five books of Moses and the books of prophecy. He began lecturing in the morning and went on into the evening!
24 Some believed and some didn’t. 25 But after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul ringing in their ears: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said through Isaiah the prophet,
26 ‘Say to the Jews, “You will hear and see but not understand, 27 for your hearts are too fat and your ears don’t listen and you have closed your eyes against understanding, for you don’t want to see and hear and understand and turn to me to heal you.”’[e]
28-29 [f]So I want you to realize that this salvation from God is available to the Gentiles too, and they will accept it.”
30 Paul lived for the next two years in his rented house[g] and welcomed all who visited him, 31 telling them with all boldness about the Kingdom of God and about the Lord Jesus Christ; and no one tried to stop him.
Footnotes
- Acts 28:10 gifts, literally, “honors.”
- Acts 28:15 the Forum, about forty-three miles from Rome. The Three Taverns, about thirty-five miles from Rome.
- Acts 28:20 the Messiah, literally, “the hope of Israel.” But perhaps he is referring here, as in his other defenses, to his belief in the resurrection of the dead.
- Acts 28:21 from Jerusalem, implied.
- Acts 28:27 turn to me to heal you, see Isaiah 6:9-10.
- Acts 28:28 Some of the ancient manuscripts add, “And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having much dissenting among themselves.”
- Acts 28:30 in his rented house, or “at his own expense.”
Acts 28
King James Version
28 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our 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 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that 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: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, 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 gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, 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 confidence, no man forbidding him.
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