Acts 28

¹And after we had escaped, we then realized that the island was called Malta. Yet truly, the natives offered us no small amount of humane treatment.

²For they refreshed us all by kindling a fire, because rain was imminent and because of the cold.

³But when Paul had gathered together a bundle of twigs, and had placed them on the fire, a viper, which had been drawn to the heat, fastened itself to his hand.

⁴And truly, when the natives saw the beast hanging from his hand, they were saying to one another: “Certainly, this man must be a murderer, for though he escaped from the sea, vengeance will not permit him to live.”

⁵But shaking off the creature into the fire, he indeed suffered no ill effects.

⁶But they were supposing that he would soon swell up, and then would suddenly fall down and die. But having waited a long time, and seeing no ill effects in him, they changed their minds and were saying that he was a god.

⁷Now among these places were estates owned by the ruler of the island, named Publius. And he, taking us in, showed us kind hospitality for three days.

⁸Then it happened that the father of Publius lay ill with a fever and with dysentery. Paul entered to him, and when he had prayed and had laid his hands on him, he saved him.

⁹When this had been done, all who had diseases on the island approached and were cured.

¹⁰And then they also presented us with many honors. And when we were ready to set sail, they gave us whatever we needed.

¹¹And so, after three months, we sailed in a ship from Alexandria, whose name was ‘the Castors,’ and which had wintered at the island.

¹²And when we had arrived at Syracuse, we were delayed there for three days.

¹³From there, sailing close to the shore, we arrived at Rhegium. And after one day, with the south wind blowing, we arrived on the second day at Puteoli.

¹⁴There, after locating the brothers, we were asked to remain with them for seven days. And then we went on to Rome.

¹⁵And there, when the brothers had heard of us, they went to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. And when Paul had seen them, giving thanks to God, he took courage.

¹⁶And when we had arrived at Rome, Paul was given permission to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

¹⁷And after the third day, he called together the leaders of the Jews. And when they had convened, he said to them: “Noble brothers, I have done nothing against the people, nor against the customs of the fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

¹⁸And after they held a hearing about me, they would have released me, because there was no case for death against me.

¹⁹But with the Jews speaking against me, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, though it was not as if I had any kind of accusation against my own nation.

²⁰And so, because of this, I requested to see you and to speak to you. For it is because of the hope of Israel that I am encircled with this chain.”

²¹But they said to him: “We have not received letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the other new arrivals among the brothers reported or spoken anything evil against you.

²²But we are asking to hear your opinions from you, for concerning this sect, we know that it is being spoken against everywhere.”

²³And when they had appointed a day for him, very many persons went to him at his guest quarters. And he discoursed, testifying to the kingdom of God, and persuading them about Jesus, using the law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning until evening.

²⁴And some believed the things that he was saying, yet others did not believe.

²⁵And when they could not agree among themselves, they departed, while Paul was speaking this one word: “How well did the Holy Spirit speak to our fathers through the prophet Isaiah,

²⁶saying: ‘Go to this people and say to them: Hearing, you shall hear and not understand, and seeing, you shall see and not perceive.

²⁷For the heart of this people has grown dull, and they have listened with reluctant ears, and they have closed their eyes tightly, lest perhaps they might see with the eyes, and hear with the ears, and understand with the heart, and so be converted, and I would heal them.’

²⁸Therefore, let it be known to you, that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they shall listen to it.”

²⁹And when he had said these things, the Jews went away from him, though they still had many questions among themselves.

³⁰Then he remained for two whole years in his own rented lodgings. And he received all who went in to him,

³¹preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which are from the Lord Jesus Christ, with all faithfulness, without prohibition.

Acts 28

¹And when we had escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita. But the barbarians shewed us no small courtesy.

²For kindling a fire, they refreshed us all, because of the present rain and of the cold.

³And when Paul had gathered together a bundle of sticks and had laid them on the fire, a viper, coming out of the heat, fastened on his hand.

⁴And when the barbarians saw the beast hanging on his hand, they said one to another: Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, who, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance doth not suffer him to live.

⁵And he indeed, shaking off the beast into the fire, suffered no harm.

⁶But they supposed that he would begin to swell up and that he would suddenly fall down and die. But expecting long and seeing that there came no harm to him, changing their minds, they said that he was a god.

⁷Now in these places were possessions of the chief man of the island, named Publius: who, receiving us for three days, entertained us courteously.

⁸And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux. To whom Paul entered in. And when he had prayed and laid his hands on him, he healed him.

⁹Which being done, all that had diseases in the island came and were healed.

¹⁰Who also honoured us with many honours: and when we were to set sail, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

¹¹And after three months, we sailed in a ship of Alexandria, that had wintered in the island, whose sign was the Castors.

¹²And when we were come to Syracusa, we tarried there three days.

¹³From thence, compassing by the shore, we came to Rhegium: and after one day, the south wind blowing, we came the second day to Puteoli:

¹⁴Where, finding brethren, we were desired to tarry with them seven days. And so we went to Rome.

¹⁵And from thence, when the brethren had heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and the Three Taverns. Whom when Paul saw, he gave thanks to God and took courage.

¹⁶And when we were come to Rome, Paul was suffered to dwell by himself, with a soldier that kept him.

¹⁷And after the third day, he called together the chief of the Jews. And when they were assembled, he said to them: Men, brethren, I, having done nothing against the people or the custom of our fathers, was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

¹⁸Who, when they had examined me, would have released me, for that there was no cause of death in me.

¹⁹But the Jews contradicting it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar: not that I had anything to accuse my nation of.

²⁰For this cause therefore I desired to see you and to speak to you. Because that for the hope of Israel, I am bound with this chain.

²¹But they said to him: We neither received letters concerning thee from Judea: neither did any of the brethren that came hither relate or speak any evil of thee.

²²But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that it is every where contradicted.

²³And when they had appointed him a day, there came very many to him unto his lodgings. To whom he expounded, testifying the kingdom of God and persuading them concerning Jesus, out of the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning until evening.

²⁴And some believed the things that were said: but some believed not.

²⁵And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, Paul speaking this one word: Well did the Holy Ghost speak to our fathers by Isaias the prophet,

²⁶Saying: Go to this people and say to them: With the ear you shall hear and shall not understand: and seeing you shall see and shall not perceive.

²⁷For the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears have they heard heavily and their eyes they have shut, lest perhaps they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and should be converted: and I should heal them.

²⁸Be it known therefore to you that this salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles: and they will hear it.

²⁹And when he had said these things, the Jews went out from him, having much reasoning among themselves.

³⁰And he remained two whole years in his own hired lodging: and he received all that came in to him,

³¹Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, without prohibition.