Acts 28 (FBV) · Opened

1When we were safely ashore, we discovered that we were on the island of Malta.Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.

2The people there were very kind—they started a fire and called all of us over so we could warm up from the rain and the cold.The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.

3Paul collected a bundle of firewood and threw it on the fire. But a poisonous snake was driven out of the bundle because of the heat and bit him, fastening itself on his hand.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.

4When the people there saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer. Even though he escaped death from the sea, Justice won't let him live.”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.”

5However, Paul shook the snake off into the fire, and suffered no ill effects.But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

6They were expecting him to swell up, or suddenly fall down dead. But after waiting a long time, they saw that nothing bad had happened to him so they changed their minds and decided he must be a god.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.

7Nearby were lands that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and looked after us for three days very hospitably.Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

8Now Publius' father was sick, lying in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and prayed for him, placed his hands on him, and healed him.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.

9After this happened, everyone else who was sick on the island came and was healed.After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.

10They presented us with many gifts, and when we had to sail they provided everything we needed for the voyage.The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.

11After a three month stay we set sail aboard a ship from Alexandria that had spent the winter at the island. It had a figurehead of the Heavenly Twins.After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead.

12We stopped at Syracuse, and spent three days there.Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

13From there we sailed on to Rhegium. The following day a south wind blew, and on the second day we arrived at the port of Puteoli,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.

14where we discovered some believers. They asked us to stay with them for a week. So we came to Rome.There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.

15When some of the believers from Rome heard we had arrived they came to meet us at the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was thankful to God and much encouraged.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.

16When we entered Rome, Paul was permitted to stay under house arrest with a soldier to guard him.When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

17Three days later Paul invited the Jewish leaders there to come to see him. When they were all together he told them, “Brothers, even though I had not done anything wrong against the people or the customs of our forefathers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman authorities.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.

18After they had interrogated me they wanted to release me because I had done nothing that warranted execution.They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.

19But the Jewish leaders opposed this, so I was forced to appeal to Caesar—not that I had any accusations against my own people.But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.

20That's why I asked to see you, and talk to you, because it is on account of the hope of Israel that I am chained up like this.”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“We have not received any letters from Judea about you, and none of our people have come here with reports against you or to speak badly of you,” they told him.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“But we do want to hear from you what you believe—especially regarding this sect, which we know is condemned everywhere.”But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”

23They made an appointment to meet with him. On that day many people came to where he was staying. From morning till night Paul was explaining to them, telling them about the kingdom of God. He tried to convince them about Jesus using the writings of the law of Moses and the prophets.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.

24Some accepted what Paul said, but some refused to believe.Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.

25They couldn't agree among themselves, and they left after Paul told them this: “The Holy Spirit said it well through Isaiah the prophet to your forefathers,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‘Go to these people and tell them: Even though you hear, you won't ever understand, and even though you see, you won't ever comprehend.‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

27For the minds of these people have become calloused and hard, their ears cannot hear, their eyes are shut, in case they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their minds, and might come back to me and I would heal them.’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.’

28Consequently you should know that this salvation that comes from God has been sent to the foreigners and they will listen.”Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”

30For two full years Paul stayed there in the house he rented, welcoming everyone who came to see him.Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.

31He spoke of the kingdom of God, and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ very boldly. No one prevented him.Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 28

Ashore on Malta

Paul Arrives in Italy

Paul Preaches at Rome

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