28And after we^* were brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. ²And the local inhabitants showed extraordinary^a kindness to us, for they lit a fire and^* welcomed us all, because of the rain that had begun and because of the cold. ³And when^* Paul had gathered a large number of sticks and was placing them^* on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and^* fastened itself on his hand. ⁴And when the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying^* to one another, “Doubtless this man is a murderer whom, although he^* was rescued from the sea, Justice^* has not permitted to live!” ⁵He, in turn, shook off the creature into the fire and^* suffered no harm. ⁶But they were expecting that he was going to swell up^b or suddenly to fall down dead. So after^* they had waited for a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and^* began saying^* that he was a god.

⁷Now in the regions around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, named^c Publius, who welcomed us and^* entertained us^* hospitably for three days. ⁸And it happened that the father of Publius was lying down, afflicted with fever and dysentery. Paul went^* to him^d and after^* praying, he placed his^* hands on him and^* healed him. ⁹And after^* this had taken place, the rest of those on the island who had diseases were coming and being healed also. ¹⁰They also honored us with many honors, and when we^* were putting out to sea, they gave us^* the things we needed.^e

Paul Arrives in Rome at Last

¹¹Now after three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian one with the twin gods Castor and Pollux as its insignia.^f ¹²And putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. ¹³From there we got underway^g and^* arrived at Rhegium, and after one day a south wind came up and^* on the second day we came to Puteoli, ¹⁴where we found brothers, and^* were implored to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. ¹⁵And from there the brothers, when they^* heard the news about us, came to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When he^* saw them, Paul gave thanks to God and^* took courage. ¹⁶And when we entered into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.

Paul and the Jewish Community in Rome

¹⁷Now it happened that after three days, he called together those who were the most prominent of the Jews. And when^* they had assembled, he said to them, “Men and brothers, although^* I had done nothing against our^* people or the customs of our fathers, from Jerusalem I was delivered as a prisoner into the hands of the Romans, ¹⁸who, when they^* had examined me, were wanting to release me,^* because there was no basis for an accusation worthy of death with me. ¹⁹But because^* the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar (not as if I^* had any charge to bring against my own people).^h ²⁰Therefore for this reason I have requested to see you and to speak with you,^* for because of the hope of Israel I am wearing this chain!” ²¹And they said to him, “We have received no letters about you from Judea, nor has any of the brothers come and^* reported or spoken anything evil about you. ²²But we would like to hear from you what you think, for concerning this sect it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”

²³And when they^* had set a day with him, many more came to him at his lodging place, to whom he was explaining from early in the morning until evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and attempting to convince^* them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. ²⁴And some were convinced by^* what was said, but others refused to believe. ²⁵So being in disagreement with one another, they began to leave after^* Paul made one statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through the prophet Isaiah to your fathers, ²⁶saying,

‘Go to this people and say,

“You will keep on hearingⁱ and will never understand,

and you will keep on seeing^j and will never perceive.

²⁷For the heart of this people has become dull,

and with their^* ears they hear with difficulty,

and they have shut their eyes,

lest they see with their^* eyes,

and hear with their^* ears,

and understand with their^* heart,

and turn, and I would heal them.” ’^k

²⁸Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They also will listen!”^l

³⁰So he stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and welcomed all who came to him, ³¹proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were brought safely through”) which is understood as temporal
aLiterally “not the ordinary”
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“lit”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had gathered”)
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came out”) has been translated as a finite verb
*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began saying”)
*Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was rescued”) which is understood as concessive
*Here personified as a goddess
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“shook off”) has been translated as a finite verb
bOr “to burn with fever” (either meaning is possible here)
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had waited”)
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“changed their minds”) has been translated as a finite verb
*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began saying”)
cLiterally “by name”
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“welcomed”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here this participle (“went”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
dLiterally “whom”
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“praying”) which is understood as temporal
*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“placed”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had taken place”)
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“putting out to sea”) which is understood as temporal
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
eLiterally “for the needs”
fLiterally “marked with the Dioscuri” (a joint name for the twin gods Castor and Pollux)
gOr “we sailed along” (with “the coast” understood); the exact meaning of the text as it stands is disputed and various additional terms have to be supplied in any case
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“got underway”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“found”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“gave thanks”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had assembled”)
*Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had done”) which is understood as concessive
*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had examined”) which is understood as temporal
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“objected”)
*Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had”) which is understood as concessive
hOr “nation”
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“come”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had set”) which is understood as temporal
*Here the present tense has been translated as conative (“attempting to convince”)
*Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“what was said”) which is understood as means
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“made”)
iLiterally “hearing you will hear”
jLiterally “seeing you will see”
*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
kA quotation from Isa 6:9–10
lSome later manuscripts include v. 29: “And when he had said these things, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.”