The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 28 -

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

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

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

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

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

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

And in the neighborhood of that place were lands of the principal man of the island, by name Publius, who, having received us, courteously lodged [us for] three days;

and it came to pass, the father of Publius was lying, oppressed with fevers and dysentery, to whom Paul, having entered and having prayed, having laid [his] hands on him, healed him;

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

who also honored us with many honors, and we setting sail—they were loading [us] with the things that were necessary.

Paul Arrives in Italy

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

and having landed at Syracuse, we remained three days,

there having gone around, we came to Rhegium, and after one day, a south wind having sprung up, the second [day] we came to Puteoli,

where, having found brothers, we were called on to remain with them seven days, and thus we came to Rome;

and there, the brothers having heard the things concerning us, came forth to meet us, as far as [the] Forum of Appius, and Three Taverns—whom Paul having seen, having given thanks to God, took courage.

Paul Preaches at Rome

(Isaiah 6:1–13)

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

And 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 to them: “Men, brothers, I—having done nothing contrary to the people, or to the customs of the fathers—a prisoner from Jerusalem, was delivered up into the hands of the Romans;

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

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

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

And they said to him, “We neither received letters concerning you from Judea, nor did anyone who came of the brothers declare or speak any evil concerning you,

and we think it good from you to hear what you think, for indeed, concerning this sect it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere”;

and having appointed him a day, more of them came to him, to the lodging, to whom he was setting [it] forth, testifying fully the Kingdom of God, persuading them also of the things concerning Jesus, both from the Law of Moses, and the Prophets, from morning until evening,

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

And not being agreed with one another, they were going away, Paul having spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit spoke well through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,

saying, Go on to this people and say, With hearing you will hear, and you will not understand, and seeing you will see, and you will not perceive,

for the heart of this people was made obtuse, and with the ears they barely heard, and they closed their eyes, lest they may see with the eyes, and may understand with the heart, and should turn, and I may heal them.

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

[[and he having said these things, the Jews went away, having much debate among themselves;]]

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

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

When we had escaped, then they

(a)

learned that the island was called Malta.

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

But 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.

When 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.”

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

But 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.

Now 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.

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

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

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

Paul Arrives in Italy

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

Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

From 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,

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

From 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.

Paul Preaches at Rome

(Isaiah 6:1–13)

When 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.

After 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,

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

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

For 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.”

They 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.

But 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.”

When 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.

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

When 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,

saying, ‘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.

For 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.’(c)

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

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

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

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

Footnotes

(a)28:1 NU reads “we”

(b)28:14 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(d)28:29 NU omits verse 29.