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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

  1. Acts 28:1 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were brought safely through”) which is understood as temporal
  2. Acts 28:2 Literally “not the ordinary”
  3. Acts 28:2 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“lit”) has been translated as a finite verb
  4. Acts 28:3 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had gathered”)
  5. Acts 28:3 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  6. Acts 28:3 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came out”) has been translated as a finite verb
  7. Acts 28:4 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began saying”)
  8. Acts 28:4 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was rescued”) which is understood as concessive
  9. Acts 28:4 Here personified as a goddess
  10. Acts 28:5 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“shook off”) has been translated as a finite verb
  11. Acts 28:6 Or “to burn with fever” (either meaning is possible here)
  12. Acts 28:6 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had waited”)
  13. Acts 28:6 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“changed their minds”) has been translated as a finite verb
  14. Acts 28:6 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began saying”)
  15. Acts 28:7 Literally “by name”
  16. Acts 28:7 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“welcomed”) has been translated as a finite verb
  17. Acts 28:7 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  18. Acts 28:8 Here this participle (“went”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
  19. Acts 28:8 Literally “whom”
  20. Acts 28:8 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“praying”) which is understood as temporal
  21. Acts 28:8 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  22. Acts 28:8 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“placed”) has been translated as a finite verb
  23. Acts 28:9 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had taken place”)
  24. Acts 28:10 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“putting out to sea”) which is understood as temporal
  25. Acts 28:10 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  26. Acts 28:10 Literally “for the needs”
  27. Acts 28:11 Literally “marked with the Dioscuri” (a joint name for the twin gods Castor and Pollux)
  28. 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
  29. Acts 28:13 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“got underway”) has been translated as a finite verb
  30. Acts 28:13 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
  31. Acts 28:14 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“found”) has been translated as a finite verb
  32. Acts 28:15 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  33. Acts 28:15 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  34. Acts 28:15 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“gave thanks”) has been translated as a finite verb
  35. Acts 28:17 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had assembled”)
  36. Acts 28:17 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had done”) which is understood as concessive
  37. Acts 28:17 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  38. Acts 28:18 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had examined”) which is understood as temporal
  39. Acts 28:18 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  40. Acts 28:19 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“objected”)
  41. Acts 28:19 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had”) which is understood as concessive
  42. Acts 28:19 Or “nation”
  43. Acts 28:20 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  44. Acts 28:21 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“come”) has been translated as a finite verb
  45. Acts 28:23 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had set”) which is understood as temporal
  46. Acts 28:23 Here the present tense has been translated as conative (“attempting to convince”)
  47. Acts 28:24 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“what was said”) which is understood as means
  48. Acts 28:25 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“made”)
  49. Acts 28:26 Literally “hearing you will hear”
  50. Acts 28:26 Literally “seeing you will see”
  51. Acts 28:27 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  52. Acts 28:27 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  53. Acts 28:27 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  54. Acts 28:27 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  55. Acts 28:27 A quotation from Isa 6:9–10
  56. 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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Acts 28
New Living Translation

Paul on the Island of Malta

28 Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. 2 The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us.

3 As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. 4 The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand 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 swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.

7 Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly 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, he healed him. 9 Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. 10 As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.

Paul Arrives at Rome

11 It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods[a] as its figurehead. 12 Our first stop was Syracuse,[b] where we stayed three days. 13 From there we sailed across to Rhegium.[c] A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli. 14 There we found some believers,[d] who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.

15 The brothers and sisters[e] in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum[f] on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns.[g] When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.

16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.

Paul Preaches at Rome under Guard

17 Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. 18 The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. 19 But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. 20 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.”

21 They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. 22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”

23 So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. 24 Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. 25 And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,

26 ‘Go and say to this people:
When you hear what I say,
    you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
    you will not comprehend.
27 For the hearts of these people are hardened,
    and their ears cannot hear,
    and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
    and their ears cannot hear,
    and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
    and let me heal them.’[h]

28 So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”[i]

30 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense.[j] He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.

Footnotes

  1. 28:11 The twin gods were the Roman gods Castor and Pollux.
  2. 28:12 Syracuse was on the island of Sicily.
  3. 28:13 Rhegium was on the southern tip of Italy.
  4. 28:14 Greek brothers.
  5. 28:15a Greek brothers.
  6. 28:15b The Forum was about 43 miles (70 kilometers) from Rome.
  7. 28:15c The Three Taverns was about 35 miles (57 kilometers) from Rome.
  8. 28:26-27 Isa 6:9-10 (Greek version).
  9. 28:28 Some manuscripts add verse 29, And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, greatly disagreeing with each other.
  10. 28:30 Or in his own rented quarters.
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