28:1 After we had safely reached shore,¹ we learned that the island was called Malta.² 28:2 The local inhabitants³ showed us extraordinary⁴ kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain⁵ and was cold. 28:3 When Paul had gathered⁶ a bundle of brushwood⁷ and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 28:4 When the local people⁸ saw the creature hanging from Paul’s⁹ hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself¹⁰ has not allowed him to live!”¹¹ 28:5 However,¹² Paul¹³ shook¹⁴ the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 28:6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell up¹⁵ or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited¹⁶ a long time and had seen¹⁷ nothing unusual happen¹⁸ to him, they changed their minds¹⁹ and said he was a god.²⁰

28:7 Now in the region around that place²¹ were fields belonging to the chief official²² of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. 28:8 The father²³ of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him²⁴ and after praying, placed²⁵ his hands on him and healed²⁶ him. 28:9 After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick²⁷ also came and were healed.²⁸ 28:10 They also bestowed many honors,²⁹ and when we were preparing to sail,³⁰ they gave³¹ us all the supplies we needed.³²

28:11 After three months we put out to sea³³ in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the ‘Heavenly Twins’³⁴ as its figurehead.³⁵ 28:12 We put in³⁶ at Syracuse³⁷ and stayed there three days. 28:13 From there we sailed from place to place³⁸ and arrived at Rhegium,³⁹ and after one day a south wind sprang up⁴⁰ and on the second day we came to Puteoli.⁴¹ 28:14 There⁴² we found⁴³ some brothers⁴⁴ and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. 28:15 The brothers from there,⁴⁵ when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius⁴⁶ and Three Taverns⁴⁷ to meet us. When he saw them,⁴⁸ Paul thanked God and took courage. 28:16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live⁴⁹ by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

28:17 After three days⁵⁰ Paul⁵¹ called the local Jewish leaders⁵² together. When they had assembled,⁵³ he said to them, “Brothers,⁵⁴ although I had done⁵⁵ nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors,⁵⁶ from Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans.⁵⁷ 28:18 When⁵⁸ they had examined me, they wanted to release me,⁵⁹ because there was no basis for a death sentence⁶⁰ against me. 28:19 But when the Jews objected,⁶¹ I was forced to appeal to Caesar⁶²—not that I had some charge to bring⁶³ against my own people.⁶⁴ 28:20 So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.”⁶⁵ 28:21 They replied,⁶⁶ “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there⁶⁷ and reported or said anything bad about you. 28:22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know⁶⁸ that people⁶⁹ everywhere speak against⁷⁰ it.”

28:23 They set⁷¹ a day to meet with him,⁷² and they came to him where he was staying⁷³ in even greater numbers.⁷⁴ From morning until evening he explained to them,⁷⁵ testifying⁷⁶ about the kingdom of God⁷⁷ and trying to convince⁷⁸ them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 28:24 Some were convinced⁷⁹ by what he said,⁸⁰ but others refused⁸¹ to believe. 28:25 So they began to leave,⁸² unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors⁸³ through the prophet Isaiah 28:26 when he said,

‘Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing,⁸⁴ but will never understand,
and you will keep on looking,⁸⁵ but will never perceive.
28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull,⁸⁶
and their ears are hard of hearing,⁸⁷
and they have closed their eyes,
so that they would not see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn,⁸⁸ and I would heal them.”’⁸⁹

28:28 “Therefore be advised⁹⁰ that this salvation from God⁹¹ has been sent to the Gentiles;⁹² they⁹³ will listen!”⁹⁴

28:30 Paul⁹⁵ lived⁹⁶ there two whole years in his own rented quarters⁹⁷ and welcomed⁹⁸ all who came to him, 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ⁹⁹ with complete boldness¹⁰⁰ and without restriction.¹⁰¹