Ashore on Malta 1 UST After we had arrived safely on the shore, we learned that we were on an island whose name was Malta. BSB BSB: Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.
2 UST The people who lived there took care of us very generously. It was cold and it was starting to rain. So they lit a fire and invited all of us to come and warm ourselves. BSB BSB: The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.
3 UST Now Paul{ was helping by} collecting a bundle of pieces of wood to burn. When he put them on the fire, a poisonous snake came out from the bundle to escape from the heat of the fire. It bit Paul on his hand and clung to it. 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 UST Now the people from the island saw the snake dangling from Paul’ s hand. They said to each other,“This man has probably murdered someone. He has escaped from drowning in the sea. But the goddess Justice is punishing him anyway. He will die from this snake bite.” 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 UST But Paul shook his hand hard so that the snake would fall off his hand and back into the fire. The snake fell off and Paul was not hurt at all. BSB BSB: But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
6 UST Still, some of the people of the island expected that Paul’ s body would soon swell up because of the snake bite. Others thought he would suddenly fall down and die. But they waited a long time and did not see either of those things happen to him. So the people decided they had been wrong about who Paul was. They said to one another,“This man is not a murderer. He must be a god{, because that snake bite would have killed any human being}!” 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 UST Now the people of the island had built the fire near 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 UST At that time Publius’ father had fever and a stomach illness. He was lying sick 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 UST After Paul healed Publius’ father, the rest of the people on the island who were sick came to him and he healed them too. BSB BSB: After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.
10 UST The island people also brought us gifts and showed in other ways that they greatly respected us. Later on, when we were ready to leave, 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 UST We stayed on Malta for a total of three months. Then we left on a ship that had spent the winter there. The ship was from Alexandria and was going to Italy. 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 UST 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 UST Then we sailed away from Syracuse and arrived at the city of Rhegium in Italy. The next day, the wind began to blow from the south. So in only two more days, we reached the town of Puteoli.{ There we got off the ship and went the rest of the way to Rome by land.} 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 UST In Puteoli we met some fellow believers who asked us to stay with them for seven days. After that, we continued on to Rome. BSB BSB: There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.
15 UST Some fellow believers in Rome had heard that we were coming and they came to meet us. Some of them met us at the place on the Appian Road whose name was the Market. Others met us at the place whose name was the Three Inns. When Paul saw those believers, he thanked God and felt brave. 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 UST Now after Paul had been in Rome for three days, he sent a message to the Jewish leaders to come and talk with him. And when they arrived, Paul said to them,“My dear kinsmen, I have not opposed our people or spoken against the customs of our ancestors.{ But some Jews in Jerusalem seized me and tried to kill me. A Roman commander rescued me and later} sent me as a prisoner to the city of Caesarea so that the Roman authorities could 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 UST 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 UST But the Jewish leaders argued that the Romans should not set me free, So I had to request that the emperor judge me here in Rome. But I did not do that because I wanted to accuse our leaders of doing anything wrong. 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 UST So I asked you to come here so that I could tell you why I am a prisoner. It is because I believe in what we Jews confidently expect that 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 UST Then the Jewish leaders replied,“We have not received any letters from our fellow Jews in Judea about you. And none of our fellow Jews who have come 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 UST But we would appreciate you telling us what you think about this group that you belong to. Please tell us, because we are aware 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 UST So they decided that they would come back on another day. On that day, even more people than before came to where Paul was staying to hear Paul speak. Paul explained many things to them. He talked about how God would rule everyone. He also talked about how various places in the Scriptures foretold that Jesus would come. Paul talked for that entire day with the people who had come to his house. 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 UST Paul was able to persuade some of those Jews that the things he said about Jesus were true. But some others would not believe that they were true. BSB BSB: Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.
25 UST The two groups argued with each other. When they were about to leave, Paul told them one more thing. He said,“The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said something through 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 UST He said,‘Go to the people of Israel and say to them:“You seem to be listening but you never really understand what God is saying. You seem to be looking but you never really recognize 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 UST These people do not understand because they have become stubborn. It is as if they have become deaf. It is as if they have closed their eyes. It is as if they have done this because they do not want to see well, and they do not want to hear well, and they do not want to understand well. If they did pay attention to me and understand what I am telling them, they would stop sinning and live in the right way again. If they did that, I would restore 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 UST Therefore, you should know that God is offering to save the non- Jews, and many of them will accept his offer.” BSB BSB: Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
29 UST When he had said these things, the Jews went away. They were having a great dispute among themselves. BSB BSB: Not in the BSB
31 UST He preached about how God would rule over everyone. He also taught people about the Lord Jesus the Messiah. He spoke about these things very openly. 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.