Acts

Malta and Rome

After being rescued, we learned that the island was called Malta.

The natives were very friendly. They lit a big bonfire and took good care of us all since it was rainy and cold.

Paul gathered a bundle of dried twigs; as he threw them into the fire, a viper suddenly came out because of the heat and wrapped itself around his hand.

When the natives saw the viper hanging from his hand, they said to one another:

“Surely this man is a murderer: he has barely escaped from the raging sea, yet divine justice will not allow him to live.”

But Paul shook off the viper into the fire and was not harmed. They waited to see him swell and die;

but after observing him for a while, they saw that nothing happened to him; so they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

Near this place was an estate owned by the island’s leader, named Publius. For three days, this man welcomed us warmly.

It happened that his father was in bed with a fever and dysentery.

Paul went to see him; he prayed, laid his hands on him, and healed him.

Because of this, the rest of the sick on the island came to him, and they too were cured.

So they showed us great kindness, and at our departure, they provided us with everything we needed.

After three months, we boarded a ship that had spent the winter at the island. It belonged to an Alexandrian company and bore the figurehead of Castor and Pollux as its insignia.

We sailed for Syracuse and stayed there for three days.

After circumnavigating the coast, we arrived at Rhegium. The next day, a south wind began to blow, and after two days, we reached Puteoli,

where we found some of our brothers and sisters, who invited us to stay with them for a week. That is how we came to Rome.

There, the brothers and sisters had heard about our arrival and came out to meet us as far as the Appian Forum and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and was encouraged.

Upon arriving in Rome, the captain turned the prisoners over to the military governor but allowed Paul to stay in a private house with the soldier guarding him.

After three days, Paul called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them:

“Brothers, although I have not done anything against our people or the traditions of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.

They examined me and wanted to set me free, because they saw nothing in my case that deserved death.

But the Jews objected, so I was forced to appeal to Caesar without any intention of bringing any charge against my own people.

Therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, because it is for the hope of Israel that I am wearing these chains.”

They responded:

“We have not received any letter about you from Judea, and none of the brothers who have come from there have brought any message or spoken against you.

But we want to hear your opinion; although we already know that everywhere, people speak against this sect you belong to.”

They scheduled a day for him and came in large numbers to his lodging.

So Paul explained everything he wanted to share about the kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus, using the law of Moses and the prophets as his starting point. This went on from morning till night.

Some were convinced by his words, while others were not.

Finally, the Jews left, still arguing intensely among themselves, and Paul sent them away with this statement:

“What the Holy Spirit said has come true, when he spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah:

Go to these people and tell them:

No matter how much you hear,

you will not understand;

you will see, but not perceive.

The hearts of these people

have grown hard;

they have covered their ears and closed their eyes,

so that they might not see with their eyes

and hear with their ears,

so that their hearts may understand,

and I may heal them.

Let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the pagans: they will listen.”

[[And when he had said this, the jews left, seriously arguing among themselves]]

Paul stayed for two full years in a house he personally rented, where he received everyone who came to visit him freely.

He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught the truth about Jesus Christ, the Lord, quite openly and without any hindrance.