The Acts of the Apostles

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- Chapter 28 -

And 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.

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

But 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.

And 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.”

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

But 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.

Now 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.

Then 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.

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

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

Paul Arrives in Italy

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

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

From 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.

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

And 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.

Paul Preaches at Rome

(Isaiah 6:1–13)

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

And 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.

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

But 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.

And 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.”

But 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.

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

And 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.

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

And 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,

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

For 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.’

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

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

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

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

Footnotes

(a)28:11 The name Castor refers to a prominent star (the stars were used by sailors for navigation), and also to a figure in Greek mythology, one of the Gemini twins. Since the name in Latin is in the genitive case, it implies that the ship was considered to belong to, or to be under the protection of, these Greek mythological gods.(Conte)

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.