Acts of the Apostles 28

Malta

1Once we were safe we learned that the island was called Malta. 2The local people showed us extraordinary kindness: they lit a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and it was cold. 3Paul had gathered an armful of brushwood and was putting it on the fire when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened on his hand. 4When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand they said to one another, “This man must be a murderer. He escaped the sea, but Justice would not let him live.” 5He simply shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6They were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing that nothing out of the ordinary happened to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. 7Nearby were estates belonging to the chief official of the island, a man named Publius, who took us in and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8It happened that Publius’ father was in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him, prayed, laid his hands on him and healed him. 9After that, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10They honored us in many ways, and when we set sail they put on board everything we needed.

On to Rome

11Three months later we sailed on an Alexandrian ship that had wintered on the island; its figurehead was the Dioscuri. 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed three days, 13and from there we worked our way round and reached Rhegium. A day later a south wind came up and on the second day we arrived at Puteoli. 14There we found brothers and sisters who invited us to stay a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15The believers there had heard about us and came out as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us; when Paul saw them he thanked God and took courage. 16When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.

Paul speaks to the Jews of Rome

17Three days later he called together the leading men of the Jews, and when they had gathered he said to them: “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was handed over as a prisoner in Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18They examined me and wanted to release me, since there was no ground in my case for a death sentence. 19But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar — not that I had any charge to bring against my own nation. 20That is why I asked to see you and speak with you: it is for the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” 21They replied, “We have had no letters about you from Judea, and none of the brothers who have come here has reported or said anything bad about you. 22But we would like to hear from you what your convictions are, for we know that this sect is spoken against everywhere.”

The last word, and two open years

23They fixed a day with him and came in even larger numbers to where he was staying. From morning until evening he laid it out for them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and from the prophets. 24Some were persuaded by what he said; others would not believe. 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave, and Paul added one last word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah: 26‘Go to this people and say: You will hear and hear, and never understand; you will look and look, and never see. 27For this people’s heart has grown dull; they hear with heavy ears and they have shut their eyes — otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart and turn back, and I would heal them.’ 28So let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; and they will listen.” 29When he had said this, the Jews left, arguing heatedly among themselves.* 30For two whole years Paul stayed there in a house he rented for himself, and he welcomed all who came to him, 31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness, and no one stopped him.