Acts 28 (New American Standard)

Safe at Malta

1 When ¹they had been brought safely through, ²then we found out that ³the island was called ^aMalta. 2 ⁴The ^bnatives showed us extraordinary kindness ; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and ⁵received us all. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out ^cbecause of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When ⁶the ^dnatives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, "⁷Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, ^ejustice has not allowed him to live." 5 However ⁸he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and ⁹began to say that he was a god. 7 Now in the neighborhood of 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 in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery ; and Paul went in to see him and after he had ¹⁰prayed, he ¹¹laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. 10 They also honored us with many ^fmarks of respect ; and when we were setting sail, they ^gsupplied us with ^hall we needed.

Paul Arrives at Rome

11 At the end of three months we set sail on ¹²an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had ⁱthe Twin Brothers for its figurehead. 12 After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 ^jThere we found some ¹³brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days ; and thus we came to Rome. 15 And the ¹⁴brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the ^kMarket of Appius and ^lThree Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16 When we entered Rome, Paul was ¹⁵allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. 17 After three days ^mPaul called together those who were ¹⁶the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, "¹⁷Brethren , ¹⁸though I had done nothing against our people or ¹⁹the customs of our ⁿfathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 "And when they had ²⁰examined me, they ²¹were willing to release me because there was ²²no ground ^ofor putting me to death. 19 "But when the Jews ^pobjected, I was forced to ²³appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. 20 "For this reason, therefore, I ^qrequested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing ²⁴this chain for ²⁵the sake of the hope of Israel." 21 They said to him, "We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of ²⁶the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. 22 "But we desire to hear from you what ^ryour views are; for concerning this ²⁷sect, it is known to us that ²⁸it is spoken against everywhere." 23 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at ²⁹his lodging in large numbers ; and he was explaining to them by solemnly ³⁰testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, ³¹from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. 24 ³²Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. 25 And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying, '³³GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, "^s34YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, ^tBUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND ; AND ^uYOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE ; 27 ³⁵FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES ; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM."' 28 "Therefore let it be known to you that ³⁶this salvation of God has been sent ³⁷to the Gentiles ; they will also listen." 29 [^vWhen he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.] 30 And he stayed two full years ^win his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, 31 ^x38preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ ³⁹with all openness, unhindered.