Acts

1When we had escaped, then theylearned that the island was called Malta.

2The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire and received us all, because of the present rain and because of the cold.

3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.

4When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live.”

5However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn’t harmed.

6But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and courteously entertained us for three days.

8The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him.

9Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came and were cured.

10They also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed.

11After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose figurehead was “The Twin Brothers.”

12Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

13From there we circled around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli,

14where we found brothers,and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome.

15From there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

16When we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

17After three days Paul called together those who were the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, “I, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers, still was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,

18who, when they had examined me, desired to set me free, because there was no cause of death in me.

19But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything about which to accuse my nation.

20For this cause therefore I asked to see you and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”

21They said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers come here and report or speak any evil of you.

22But we desire to hear from you what you think. For, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”

23When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening.

24Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.

25When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one message: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,

26saying,‘Go to this people and say, in hearing, you will hear,but will in no way understand.In seeing, you will see,but will in no way perceive.

27For this people’s heart has grown callous.Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed.Lest they should see with their eyes,hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, then I would heal them.’

28“Be it known therefore to you that the salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will listen.”

29When he had said these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.

30Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house and received all who were coming to him,

31preaching God’s Kingdom and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.

1And having been saved, then they knew that the island is called Melita,

2and the foreigners were shewing us no ordinary kindness, for having kindled a fire, they received us all, because of the pressing rain, and because of the cold;

3but Paul having gathered together a quantity of sticks, and having laid [them] upon the fire, a viper — out of the heat having come — did fasten on his hand.

4And when the foreigners saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said unto one another, 'Certainly this man is a murderer, whom, having been saved out of the sea, the justice did not suffer to live;'

5he then, indeed, having shaken off the beast into the fire, suffered no evil,

6and they were expecting him to be about to be inflamed, or to fall down suddenly dead, and they, expecting [it] a long time, and seeing nothing uncommon happening to him, changing [their] minds, said he was a god.

7And in the neighbourhood of that place were lands of the principal man of the island, by name Publius, who, having received us, three days did courteously lodge [us];

8and it came to pass, the father of Publius with feverish heats and dysentery pressed, was laid, unto whom Paul having entered, and having prayed, having laid [his] hands on him, healed him;

9this, therefore, being done, the others also in the island having infirmities were coming and were healed;

10who also with many honours did honour us, and we setting sail — they were lading [us] with the things that were necessary.

11And after three months, we set sail in a ship (that had wintered in the isle) of Alexandria, with the sign Dioscuri,

12and having landed at Syracuse, we remained three days,

13thence having gone round, we came to Rhegium, and after one day, a south wind having sprung up, the second [day] we came to Puteoli;

14where, having found brethren, we were called upon to remain with them seven days, and thus to Rome we came;

15and thence, the brethren having heard the things concerning us, came forth to meet us, unto Appii Forum, and Three Taverns — whom Paul having seen, having given thanks to God, took courage.

16And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the captain of the barrack, but Paul was suffered to remain by himself, with the soldier guarding him.

17And it came to pass after three days, Paul called together those who are the principal men of the Jews, and they having come together, he said unto them: 'Men, brethren, I — having done nothing contrary to the people, or to the customs of the fathers — a prisoner from Jerusalem, was delivered up to the hands of the Romans;

18who, having examined me, were wishing to release [me], because of their being no cause of death in me,

19and the Jews having spoken against [it], I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar — not as having anything to accuse my nation of;

20for this cause, therefore, I called for you to see and to speak with [you], for because of the hope of Israel with this chain I am bound.'

21And they said unto him, 'We did neither receive letters concerning thee from Judea, nor did any one who came of the brethren declare or speak any evil concerning thee,

22and we think it good from thee to hear what thou dost think, for, indeed, concerning this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against;'

23and having appointed him a day, they came, more of them unto him, to the lodging, to whom he was expounding, testifying fully the reign of God, persuading them also of the things concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and the prophets, from morning till evening,

24and, some, indeed, were believing the things spoken, and some were not believing.

25And not being agreed with one another, they were going away, Paul having spoken one word — 'Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers,

26saying, Go on unto this people and say, With hearing ye shall hear, and ye shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and ye shall not perceive,

27for made gross was the heart of this people, and with the ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they did close, lest they may see with the eyes, and with the heart may understand, and be turned back, and I may heal them.

28'Be it known, therefore, to you, that to the nations was sent the salvation of God, these also will hear it;'

29and he having said these things, the Jews went away, having much disputation among themselves;

30and Paul remained an entire two years in his own hired [house], and was receiving all those coming in unto him,

31preaching the reign of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness — unforbidden.