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1 When we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta.
2 The native people offered to us not just ordinary kindness, but they lit a fire and welcomed us all, because of the constant rain, and because of the cold.
3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and placed them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened onto his hand.
4 When the native people saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said one to another, “This man certainly is a murderer who escaped from the sea, yet justice does not permit him to live.”
5 But then he shook off the snake into the fire and suffered no harm.
6 But they were expecting him to soon become inflamed or to suddenly drop dead. But after they watched for a long time and saw nothing unusual happening to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7 Now in an area near that same place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, a man named Publius. He welcomed us and kindly entertained us for three days.
8 It happened that the father of Publius was lying sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul went to him and prayed, placing his hands on him, and healed him.
9 After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed.
10 The people also honored us with many honors. When we were preparing to sail, they gave us what we needed.
11 So after three months, we set sail in a ship that had spent the winter at the island, a ship of Alexandria, with “the twin gods” as its figurehead.
12 After we landed at the city of Syracuse, we stayed there three days.
13 From there we sailed and arrived at the city of Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and in two days we came to the city of Puteoli.
14 There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. In this way we came to Rome.
15 From there the brothers, after they heard the things abut us, came out to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw the brothers, he thanked God and took courage.
16 When we came to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.
17 Then it came about that after three days Paul called together those men who were the leaders among the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, “Men, brothers, although I have done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18 After they questioned me, they wished to set me free, because there was no reason in me for a death penalty.
19 But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, although it is not as if I have any accusation to bring against my nation.
20 Therefore, for this reason, I have called you, to see you and to speak with you. For I am bound with this chain because of the certain hope of Israel.”
21 Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea about you, nor did any of the brothers come and report or say anything bad about you.
22 But we want to hear from you what you think about this sect, because indeed it is known by us that it is spoken against everywhere.”
23 So when they had set a day for him, more people came to him at his dwelling place. He presented the matter to them, and testified about the kingdom of God. He also tried to persuade them about Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening.
24 Some indeed were convinced about the things which he was saying, but others did not believe.
25 When they were in disagreement with one another, they left after Paul had spoken this one statement, “The Holy Spirit spoke well through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers.
26 He said, ‘Go to this people and say, “By hearing you will hear, but you will not understand; and by seeing you will see, but you will not perceive.
27 For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they hardly hear, and they have shut their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn again, and I would heal them.”’
28 Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen.”
29 [ When he had said these things, the Jews went away. They were having a great dispute among themselves.]
30 Paul stayed for two whole years in his own rented house, and he welcomed all those who came to him.
31 He was proclaiming the kingdom of God and was teaching the things about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness. No one stopped him.
The Acts of the Apostles