Welcomed on Malta
28 1 Once we were brought safely through, we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us extraordinary kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all, because the rain had set in and it was cold. 3 Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and was putting them on the fire when a viper, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "This man must be a murderer. Though he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." 5 But he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop 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 Now in the area around that place were lands belonging to the chief official of the island, a man named Publius, who welcomed us warmly and showed us great hospitality for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius was lying sick with fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him, and after praying he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 They honored us in many ways, and when we were ready to sail they put on board everything we needed.
Paul Arrives in Rome
11 After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian vessel with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day a south wind came up, and on the second day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found brothers and sisters and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When he saw them, Paul thanked our Father and was encouraged.
Paul Proclaims the Kingdom
16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
17 After three days he called together the leaders 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 from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 When they had examined me, they wanted to release me, because there was no ground for a death sentence in my case. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar — though I had no charge to bring against my own nation. 20 This is why I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is for the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.
21 They said to him, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers who came here has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for concerning this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against."
23 So they set a day with him, and came to him at his lodging in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying to the kingdom of our Father and trying to persuade them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 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 one final statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in speaking to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, saying, 26 "'Go to this people and say: You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. 27 For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes — otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.
28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of our Father has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen." 29 a a v29 This verse is not in the earliest manuscripts; later copies add: “And when he had said this, the Jews departed, arguing greatly among themselves.”
30 He stayed two whole years in his own rented place and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of our Father and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.