Ashore on Malta 1 UDB After we had arrived safely on the shore, we learned that it was an island called Malta. BSB BSB: Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.
2 UDB The people who lived there gave to us better than the usual hospitality. They lit a fire and invited us to come and warm ourselves because it was raining and it was cold. BSB BSB: The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.
3 UDB When Paul collected some sticks of wood and put them on the fire, a poisonous snake came out from the fire to escape from the heat, and it bit Paul on his hand and stayed there. BSB BSB: Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand.
4 UDB When the people from the island saw the creature dangling from Paul's hand, they said to each other, "Probably this man has murdered someone. Although he has escaped from being drowned in the sea, the goddess Justice will cause him to die." BSB BSB: When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
5 UDB But Paul simply shook the snake off into the fire, and nothing happened to him. BSB BSB: But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
6 UDB The people were expecting that Paul's body would soon swell up with a fever or that he would suddenly fall down and die. But after they had waited a long time, they saw that nothing was wrong with him. So the people changed what they were thinking and said to one another, "This man is not a murderer! He is a god!" BSB BSB: The islanders 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 UDB Now in a place near to where they were, there were some fields that belonged to a man whose name was Publius. He was the chief official on the island. He invited us to come and stay in his home. He took very good care of us for three days. BSB BSB: Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
8 UDB At that time Publius's father had fever and dysentery, and he was lying in bed. So Paul visited him and prayed for him. Then Paul placed his hands on him and healed him. BSB BSB: The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man.
9 UDB After Paul had done that, the other people on the island who were sick came to him, and he healed them also. BSB BSB: After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.
10 UDB They brought us gifts and showed in other ways that they greatly respected us. When we were ready to leave three months later, they brought us food and other things that we would need on the ship. BSB BSB: The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.
Paul Arrives in Italy 11 UDB After we had stayed there three months, we got on a ship that was from Alexandria and that was going to Italy, and we sailed away. On the front of the ship there were carved images of the twin gods whose names were Castor and Pollux. BSB BSB: After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead.
12 UDB When we arrived at the city of Syracuse, we stayed there three days. BSB BSB: Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.
13 UDB Then we sailed and arrived at the city of Rhegium in Italy. The next day, the wind was blowing from the south, so in only two more days we reached the town of Puteoli. There we left the ship. BSB BSB: From there we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day, a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at Puteoli.
14 UDB In Puteoli we met some fellow believers who wanted us to stay with them for seven days. After this, we finally arrived at Rome. BSB BSB: There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.
15 UDB In Rome, some fellow believers had heard about us, so they came to meet us. Some of them met us at the town called The Market on Appian Road, and others met us at the town called The Three Inns. When Paul saw those believers, he thanked God and was encouraged. BSB BSB: The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.
Paul Preaches at Rome (Isaiah 6:1–13)
17 UDB After Paul had been there three days, he sent a message to the Jewish leaders to come and talk with him. When they came to him, Paul said to them, "My dear brothers, although I have not opposed our people nor spoken against the customs of our ancestors, our leaders in Jerusalem seized me. But before they could kill me, a Roman commander rescued me and later sent me to the city of Caesarea for Roman authorities to put me on trial. BSB BSB: After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.
18 UDB The Roman authorities questioned me and wanted to release me because I had not done any bad thing for which I should be executed. BSB BSB: They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.
19 UDB But when the Jewish leaders there spoke against the desire of the Romans to set me free, I had to request that the emperor judge me here in Rome. But my reason for doing that was not because I wanted to accuse our own people or their leaders about anything. BSB BSB: But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.
20 UDB So I have requested you to come here so that I can tell you why I am a prisoner. It is because I believe in what the people of Israel confidently expect God will do for us." BSB BSB: So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
21 UDB Then the Jewish leaders said, "We have not received any letters from our fellow Jews in Judea about you. Also, none of our fellow Jews who have arrived here from Judea have said anything bad about you. BSB BSB: The leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you.
22 UDB But we want to hear what you think about this group that you belong to because we know that in many places people are speaking against it." BSB BSB: But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”
23 UDB So they decided that they would come back on another day to hear Paul speak to them. When that day arrived, even more people than before came to where Paul was staying. Paul told them about how God would rule everyone; he talked about how the law of Moses and the prophets foretold Jesus. Paul talked from morning until evening with all who would listen. BSB BSB: So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
24 UDB Some of those Jews were persuaded to believe what Paul said about Jesus was true, but others did not believe that it was true. BSB BSB: Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.
25 UDB When they began to disagree with each other, and when they were about to leave, Paul had one more thing to say: "The Holy Spirit said the truth to your ancestors when he spoke these words to Isaiah the prophet: BSB BSB: They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
26 UDB 'Go to your people and say to them: "You hear with your ears, but you never understand what God is saying. You see with your eyes, but you never really see the things that God is doing. BSB BSB: ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 UDB These people do not understand, because they have become stubborn. Their ears are almost deaf, and they have closed their eyes because they do not want to see. They do not want to hear with their ears or understand with their hearts, for then they would come back to me, and I would heal them."' BSB BSB: For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
28 UDB Therefore, you should know that God sent this salvation to the Gentiles, and they will listen." BSB BSB: Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
31 UDB He preached and taught people about how God would show himself as king, and he taught them about the Lord Jesus Christ. He did that with great boldness, and no one tried to stop him. BSB BSB: Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.