Paul ashore on Malta

1 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.

2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.

3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.

4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, ‘This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.’

5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

7 There was an estate near by that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days.

8 His father was ill in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.

9 When this had happened, the rest of those on the island who were ill came and were cured.

10 They honoured us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

Paul’s arrival at Rome

11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island – it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.

12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days.

13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli.

14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.

15 The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they travelled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged.

16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

Paul preaches at Rome under guard

17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: ‘My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.

18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.

19 The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people.

20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.’

21 They replied, ‘We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you.

22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.’

23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus.

24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.

25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: ‘The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:

26 ‘ “Go to this people and say,

‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.’

27 For this people’s heart has become calloused;

they hardly hear with their ears,

and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.”

28 ‘Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!’ [29]

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.

31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ – with all boldness and without hindrance!

Footnotes for the Book of Acts

a4Orlanguages; also in verse 11

b9That is, the Roman province by that name

c21Joel 2:28-32

d23Orof those not having the law(that is, Gentiles)

e28Psalm 16:8-11 (see Septuagint)

f35Psalm 110:1

a11Psalm 118:22

b26That is, Messiah or Christ

c26Psalm 2:1,2

a3Gen. 12:1

b7Gen. 15:13,14

c18Exodus 1:8

d20Orwas fair in the sight of God

e28Exodus 2:14

f32Exodus 3:6

g34Exodus 3:5,7,8,10

h37Deut. 18:15

i40Exodus 32:1

j43Amos 5:25-27 (see Septuagint)

k46Some early manuscriptsthe house of Jacob

l50Isaiah 66:1,2

a29That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture

a16Orin

a18Some manuscriptshe cared for them

b33Psalm 2:7

c34Isaiah 55:3

d35Psalm 16:10 (see Septuagint)

e41Hab. 1:5

f47The Greek is singular.

g47Isaiah 49:6

a14GreekSimeon, a variant ofSimon; that is, Peter

b17Amos 9:11,12 (see Septuagint)

c17,18Some manuscriptsthings’ – / 18the Lord’s work is known to him from long ago

d34Some manuscripts include hereBut Silas decided to remain there.

a5Orthe assembly of the people

b28From the Cretan philosopher Epimenides

c28From the Cilician Stoic philosopher Aratus

a2Orafter

b6Orother languages

c19A drachma was a silver coin worth about a day’s wages.

d21Ordecided in the Spirit

a40Or possiblyHebrew; also in 22:2

a5Exodus 22:28

b23The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.

a14OrHebrew

a27Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)

b29Some manuscripts include hereAfter he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.

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