Paul on the Island of Malta

28 When we ·were safe on land [reached safety], we learned that the island was called Malta [^C58 miles southwest of Sicily]. ² The ·people who lived there [native people; ^Lbarbarians; ^Ca term referring to non-Greek speakers] were very ·good [kind] to us. Because it was raining and very cold, they made a fire and welcomed all of us. ³ Paul gathered a pile of ·sticks [brushwood] and was putting them on the fire when a ·poisonous snake [viper] came out because of the heat and ·bit [^Lfastened itself to] him on the hand. ⁴ The ·people living on the island [native people; 28:2] saw the ·snake [^Lcreature; animal] hanging from Paul’s hand and said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He ·did not die in [^Lescaped from] the sea, but Justice [^LDikē; ^Cpronounced di-káy); the goddess of justice] ·does not want [has not allowed] him to live.” ⁵ But Paul shook the ·snake [^Lcreature; animal] off into the fire and ·was not hurt [suffered no harm]. ⁶ ·The people [^LThey] thought that Paul would swell up or fall down dead. They waited and watched him for a long time, but nothing ·bad [^Lunusual] happened to him. So they changed their minds and said, “He is a god!”

⁷ There ·were some fields [or was an estate] around there owned by Publius, ·an important man [or the chief official; governor] on the island. He ·welcomed [received] us into his home and ·was very good to us [provided generous hospitality; treated us as honored guests] for three days. ⁸ Publius’ father was sick in bed with a fever and dysentery [^Ca serious illness that includes cramping and severe diarrhea]. Paul went to him, prayed, and ·put [or laid] his hands on the man and healed him. ⁹ After this, ·all the other [^Lthe rest of the] sick people on the island came to Paul, and he healed them, too. The people on the island gave us many honors. When we were ready to leave, they gave us the ·things [provisions] we needed.

Paul Goes to Rome

After three months we got on a ship from Alexandria [27:6] that had stayed on the island during the winter. On the front of the ship was the sign of the ·twin gods [^CCastor and Pollux, the twin sons of Zeus; protectors of sailors]. ¹² We ·stopped [put in] at Syracuse [^Ca major city on the island of Sicily] for three days. ¹³ From there we ·sailed to [^Lset sail and arrived at] Rhegium [^Ca port city on the Italian mainland across from Sicily]. The next day a wind began to blow from the south, and ·a day later [^Lon the second day] we came to Puteoli [^Ca bit further north on the southwestern coast of Italy]. ¹⁴ We found some ·believers [^Lbrothers (and sisters)] there who ·asked [invited] us to stay with them for ·a week [^Lseven days]. ·Finally [^LAnd so in this way], we came to Rome. ¹⁵ The ·believers [^Lbrothers (and sisters)] in Rome heard that we were there and came out as far as the ·Market [^LForum] of Appius [^Cabout 40 miles from Rome] and the Three Inns [^Ceight miles toward Rome from the Market of Appius] to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and ·was encouraged [took courage].

Paul in Rome

¹⁶ When we arrived at Rome, Paul was allowed to live alone, with the soldier who guarded him.

¹⁷ Three days later ·Paul [^Lhe] sent for the leaders of the ·Jewish community [^LJews] there. When they came together, he said, “[^LMen,] Brothers, I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ·ancestors [forefathers; fathers]. But I was ·arrested [made a prisoner] in Jerusalem and given ·to [^Linto the hands of] the Romans. ¹⁸ After they ·asked me many questions [examined me; tried my case], they wanted to let me go free because they could find no reason why I should be ·killed [given the death penalty]. ¹⁹ But the Jews there ·argued against that [objected], so I had to ·ask to come to Rome to have my trial before [^Lappeal to] Caesar. But I have no ·charge [accusation] to bring against my own ·people [nation]. ²⁰ That is why I wanted to see you and talk with you. I am bound with this chain because ·I believe in [^Lof] the hope of Israel.”

²¹ They ·answered [said to] Paul, “We have received no letters from Judea about you. None of our Jewish brothers who have come from there brought news or told us anything bad about you. ²² But we ·want to hear [consider it worth hearing] your ideas, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this ·religious group [sect].”

²³ Paul and the people ·chose [arranged; appointed] a day for a meeting and on that day ·many more of the Jews [^La great number] met with Paul at the place he was staying. He spoke to them ·all day long [^Lfrom morning until evening]. Using the law of Moses and the prophets’ writings [^Cthe whole Old Testament], he explained [^Lby testifying/bearing witness about] the kingdom of God, and he tried to persuade them to believe these things about Jesus. ²⁴ Some ·believed [^Lwere persuaded by] what Paul said, but others ·did [were] not. ²⁵ So they ·argued [disagreed with each other] and began leaving after Paul said one more thing to them: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ·ancestors [fathers] through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

²⁸ “[^LTherefore,] I want you to know that God has also sent his salvation to ·all nations [the Gentiles], and they will listen!” |²⁹ ·After [or When] ·Paul [^Lhe] said this, the Jews left. They were arguing very much with each other.|^[a]

³⁰ Paul stayed two full years ·in his own rented house [or at his own expense] and welcomed all people who came to visit him. ³¹ He ·boldly [confidently] ·preached about [proclaimed] the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ, ·and no one stopped him [freely; without hindrance].