Psalms 46; Psalms 47; Psalms 48; Acts 28

1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

2 Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas,

3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah

4 [There is] a river- its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High.

5 God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns.

6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when He lifts His voice.

7 The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

8 Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings devastation on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; He burns up the chariots.

10 "Stop [your fighting]-and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth."

11 The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with a jubilant cry.

2 For the Lord Most High is awe-inspiring, a great King over all the earth.

3 He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet.

4 He chooses for us our inheritance- the pride of Jacob, whom He loves. Selah

5 God ascends amid shouts of joy, the Lord, amid the sound of trumpets.

6 Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, sing praise!

7 Sing a song of instruction, for God is King of all the earth.

8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.

9 The nobles of the peoples have assembled [with] the people of the God of Abraham. For the leaders of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.

1 The Lord is great and is highly praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain,

2 rising splendidly, is the joy of the whole earth. Mount Zion on the slopes of the north is the city of the great King.

3 God is known as a stronghold in its citadels.

4 Look! The kings assembled; they advanced together.

5 They looked, and froze with fear; they fled in terror.

6 Trembling seized them there, agony like that of a woman in labor,

7 as You wrecked the ships of Tarshish with the east wind.

8 Just as we heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord of Hosts, in the city of our God; God will establish it forever. Selah

9 God, within Your temple, we contemplate Your faithful love.

10 Your name, God, like Your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is filled with justice.

11 Mount Zion is glad. The towns of Judah rejoice because of Your judgments.

12 Go around Zion, encircle it; count its towers,

13 note its ramparts; tour its citadels so that you can tell a future generation:

14 "This God, our God forever and ever- He will lead us eternally."

1 Safely ashore, we then learned that the island was called Malta.

2 The local people showed us extraordinary kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all in, since rain was falling and it was 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 to his hand.

4 When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "This man is probably a murderer, and though he has escaped the sea, Justice does not allow him to live!"

5 However, he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.

6 They expected that he would swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

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 It happened that Publius' father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.

9 After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.

10 So they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed.

11 After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead.

12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed three days.

13 From there, after making a circuit along the coast, we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli.

14 There we found believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.

15 Now the believers from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

16 And when we entered Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

17 After three days he called together the leaders of the Jews. And when they had gathered he said to them: "Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our forefathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans

18 who, after examining me, wanted to release me, since I had not committed a capital offense.

19 Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar; it was not as though I had any accusation against my nation.

20 So, 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."

21 And 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 consider it suitable to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, we are aware that it is spoken against everywhere."

23 After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and witnessed about the kingdom of God. He persuaded them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.

24 Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe.

25 Disagreeing among themselves, they began to leave after Paul made one statement: "The Holy Spirit correctly spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your forefathers

26 when He said, Go to this people and say: 'You will listen and listen, yet never understand; and you will look and look, yet never perceive.

27 For this people's heart has 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 be converted-and I would heal them.'

28 Therefore, let it be known to you that this saving work of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!" [

29 After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a prolonged debate among themselves.]

30 Then he stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him,

31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with full boldness and without hindrance.