Acts 28
1599 Geneva Bible
28 2 The Barbarians’ courtesy towards Paul and his company. 3 A viper on Paul’s hand: 6 He shaketh it off without harm: 8 Publius 9 and others are by him healed. 11 They depart from Malta, 16 and come to Rome. 17 Paul openeth to the Jews, 20 the cause of his coming: 22 He preacheth Jesus 30 two years.
1 And when they were come safe, then they knew that the Isle was called [a]Malta.
2 And the Barbarians showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire, and received us everyone, because of the present shower, and because of the cold.
3 [b]And when Paul had gathered a number of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and leaped on his hand.
4 [c]Now when the Barbarians saw the worm hang on his hand, they said among themselves, This man surely is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet [d]Vengeance hath not suffered to live.
5 But he shook off the worm into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 Howbeit they waited when he should have [e]swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: [f]but after they had looked a great while, and saw no inconvenience come to him, they changed their minds, and said, That he was a God.
7 [g]In the same quarters, the chief man of the Isle (whose name was Publius) had possessions: the same received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
8 And so it was, that the father of Publius lay sick of the fever, and of a bloody flix: to whom Paul entered in, and when he prayed, he laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9 [h]When this then was done, others also in the Isle, which had diseases, came to him, and were healed,
10 [i]Which also did us great honor: and when we departed, they laded us with things necessary.
11 ¶ [j]Now after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the Isle, whose [k]badge was Castor and Pollux.
12 And when we arrived at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13 And from thence we set a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day, the South wind blew, and we came the second day to Puteoli:
14 [l]Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days, and so we went toward Rome.
15 ¶ [m]And from thence when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us at the [n]Market of Appius, and at the three taverns, whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and waxed bold.
16 So when we came to Rome, the Centurion delivered the prisoners to the general Captain: but Paul was suffered to dwell by [o]himself with a soldier that kept him.
17 [p]And the third day after, Paul calleth the chief of the Jews together, and when they were come, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or Laws of the 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 [q]But when the Jews spake contrary, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar, not because 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: for that hope of Israel’s sake, I am bound with this chain.
21 Then they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither came any of the brethren that showed or spake any evil of thee.
22 But we will hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.
23 [r]And when they had appointed him a day, there came many unto him into his lodging, to whom he expounded, [s]testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them those things that concern Jesus, both out of the Law of Moses, and out of the Prophets, from morning to night.
24 [t]And some were [persuaded] with the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
25 Therefore when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, to wit, Well spake the holy Ghost by Isaiah the Prophet unto our fathers,
26 [u]Saying, (A)Go unto this people, and say, By 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 fat, and their ears are dull of hearing, and with their eyes have they [v]winked, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and should return that I might heal them.
28 [w]Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they shall hear it.
29 [x]And when he had said these things, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
30 [y]And Paul remained two years full in an house hired for himself, 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 boldness of speech, without let.
Footnotes
- Acts 28:1 That is it which at this day we call Malta.
- Acts 28:3 The godly are sure to have danger upon danger, but they have always a glorious issue.
- Acts 28:4 Although adversity be the punishment of sin, yet seeing that God in punishing of men doth not always respect sin, they judge rashly, which either do not wait for the end, or do judge and esteem of men according to prosperity or adversity.
- Acts 28:4 Right and reason.
- Acts 28:6 The Greek word signifieth, to be inflamed, or to swell: moreover Dioscorides in book 6, chap. 38, witnesseth, that the biting of a viper causeth a swelling of the body, and so saith Nicander, in his remedies against poisons.
- Acts 28:6 There is nothing more unconstant, every way, than they which are ignorant of true religion.
- Acts 28:7 It never yet repented any man, that received the servant of God, were he never so miserable and poor.
- Acts 28:9 Although Paul were a captive, yet the virtue of God was not captive.
- Acts 28:10 God doeth well to strangers for his children’s sake.
- Acts 28:11 Idols do not defile the Saints, which do in no wise consent unto them.
- Acts 28:11 So they used to deck the forepart of their ships, whereupon the ships were called by such names.
- Acts 28:14 God boweth and bendeth the hearts even of profane men, as it pleaseth him to favor his.
- Acts 28:15 God never suffereth his to be afflicted above their strength.
- Acts 28:15 Appius way, was a pavement made by Appius the blind with the help of his soldiers, long and broad, and running out toward the sea, and there were three taverns in it.
- Acts 28:16 Not in a common prison, but in a house which he hired for himself.
- Acts 28:17 Paul in every place remembereth himself to be an Apostle.
- Acts 28:19 We may use the means which God giveth us, but so that we seek the glory of God, and not ourselves.
- Acts 28:23 The law and the Gospel agree well together.
- Acts 28:23 By good reasons, and proved that the kingdom of God foretold them by the Prophets, was come.
- Acts 28:24 The Gospel is a savor of life to them that believe, and a savor of death to them that be disobedient.
- Acts 28:26 The unbelievers do willingly resist the truth, and yet not by chance.
- Acts 28:27 They made as though they saw not that which they saw against their wills: yea they did see, but they would not see.
- Acts 28:28 The unbelief of the reprobate and castaways cannot cause the truth of God to be of none effect.
- Acts 28:29 Not the Gospel, but the contempt of the Gospel is the cause of strife and debate.
- Acts 28:30 The word of God cannot be bound.
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
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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