Acts 28
1Once we had been brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2The local people, who did not speak Greek, showed us extraordinary humanity. They lit a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain and was cold.
3Now, as Paul was gathering a bundle of dry sticks and laying them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself onto his hand. 4When the locals saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "This man is certainly a murderer! Even though he was saved from the sea, Justice has not permitted him to live." 5However, Paul simply shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing out of the ordinary happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.
7In the area surrounding that place, there were lands belonging to the chief official of the island, a man named Publius. He welcomed us and hosted us with warm hospitality for three days. 8It so happened that Publius’s father was bedridden, gripped by fevers and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him. 9After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who were suffering from diseases also came and were cured. 10They honored us with many marks of respect, and when we were setting sail, they provided us with everything we needed.
11After three months, we set sail on an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island; its figurehead featured the Twin Brothers. 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there for three days, 13and from there we weighed anchor and arrived at Rhegium. A day later, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so, we came to Rome. 15The brothers there, having heard the news about us, came from as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
16When we entered Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him. 17After three days, he called together the leaders of the local Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them: "Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the ancestral customs of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18When they had examined me, they wanted to release me because there was no basis for a death sentence in my case. 19But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar—not that I had any accusation to bring against my own nation. 20For this reason, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain."
21They replied to him, "We have received no letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers arrived to report or say anything evil about you. 22But we think it is right to hear from you what your views are; for regarding this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere."
23Having set a day with him, they came to him at his lodging in even greater numbers. From morning until evening, he explained the matter to them, testifying solemnly about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. 24Some were persuaded by what was said, while others refused to believe. 25Since they could not agree with one another, they began to leave after Paul made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers 26when he said: 'Go to this people and say: "You will listen and listen, but never understand; and you will look and look, but never perceive. 27For the heart of this people has grown calloused, and they have become hard of hearing with their ears, and they have shut their eyes; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn back—and I would heal them."'
28Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation from God has been sent to the nations; they are the ones who will listen."
30Paul remained for two whole years in his own rented lodging, and he welcomed all who came to him, 31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unhindered.