Acts 28 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Malta’s Hospitality

28 Once safely ashore, we(A) then learned that the island was called Malta.(B) 2 The local people(C) showed us extraordinary kindness. They lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold. 3 As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the local people saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man, no doubt, is a murderer. Even though he has escaped the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”(D) 5 But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm.(E) 6 They expected that he would begin to swell up or suddenly drop dead. After they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.(F)

Ministry in Malta

7 Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 Publius’s father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.(G) 9 After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 So they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed.

Rome at Last

11 After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Gods[a] as its figurehead. 12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there, after making a circuit along the coast,[b] we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found brothers and sisters(H) and were invited to stay a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 Now the brothers and sisters from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16 When we entered Rome,[c] Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who guarded him.(I)

Paul’s First Interview with Roman Jews

17 After three days he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.(J) 18 After they examined me, they wanted to release me, since there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.(K) 19 Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar;(L) even though I had no charge to bring against my people. 20 For this reason I’ve asked to see you and speak to you. In fact, it is for the hope of Israel that I’m wearing this chain.”(M)

21 Then they said to him, “We haven’t received any letters about you from Judea. None of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, since we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”(N)

The Response to Paul’s Message

23 After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and testified about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.(O) 24 Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe.(P)

25 Disagreeing among themselves, they began to leave after Paul made one statement:[d] “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your[e] ancestors through the prophet Isaiah 26 when he said,

Go to these people and say:
You will always be listening,
but never understanding;
and you will always be looking,
but never perceiving.
27 For the hearts of these people
have grown callous,
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears,
understand with their heart
and turn,
and I would heal them.[f](Q)

28 Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”[g]

Paul’s Ministry Unhindered

30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God(R) and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness(S) and without hindrance.

Footnotes

  1. 28:11 Gk Dioscuri, twin sons of Zeus, Castor and Pollux
  2. 28:13 Other mss read From there, casting off,
  3. 28:16 Other mss add the centurion turned the prisoners over to the military commander; but
  4. 28:25 Or after they began to leave, Paul made one statement
  5. 28:25 Other mss read our
  6. 28:26–27 Is 6:9–10
  7. 28:28 Some mss include v. 29: After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a vigorous debate among themselves.

Cross references

  1. 28:1 : Ac 16:10; 27:1
  2. 28:1 : Ac 27:26,39
  3. 28:2 : Rm 1:14; 1Co 14:11; Col 3:11
  4. 28:4 : Lk 13:2,4; Jn 9:2
  5. 28:5 : Mk 16:18; Lk 10:19
  6. 28:6 : Ac 8:10; 14:11
  7. 28:8 : Ac 9:40; Jms 5:14–15
  8. 28:14 : Jn 21:23; Ac 1:16
  9. 28:16 : Ac 24:23; 27:3
  10. 28:17 : Ac 6:14; 25:8
  11. 28:18 : Ac 22:24; 23:29; 26:31
  12. 28:19 : Ac 25:11; 26:32
  13. 28:20 : Ac 21:33; 26:6–7,29; Eph 6:20; 2Tm 1:16
  14. 28:22 : Lk 2:34; Ac 24:5; 1Pt 2:12; 4:14
  15. 28:23 : Ac 8:35; 17:3; 19:8; 26:22; Phm 22
  16. 28:24 : Ac 14:4; 19:9
  17. 28:26–27 : Ps 119:70; Is 6:9–10; Mt 13:14–15; Mk 4:12; Lk 8:10; Jn 12:40; Rm 11:8
  18. 28:31 : Mt 4:23; Ac 20:25; 28:23
  19. 28:31 : Ac 4:29,31; 2Tm 2:9

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28 And when we had escaped, then we knew that the isle was called Melita. 2 And the heathen men did to us not little courtesy [Soothly barbarians, or heathen men, gave to us not little humanity, or courtesy]. And when a fire was kindled, they refreshed us all, for the rain that came, and the cold. ...
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Acts 28 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

28 When we were safe on land, we found that the island we were on was called Malta. 2 The people there were very kind to us. They made a fire for us and took care of us. It was cold and raining. 3 Paul gathered some sticks of wood. He put them on the fire. A bad snake came out of the heat and hung o...
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Acts 28 - World English Bible (WEB)

28 When we had escaped, then they[a] learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire and received us all, because of the present rain and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a v...
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Acts 28 - The Voice (VOICE)

28 We quickly learned that we were on the island of Malta. 2 The Maltese people found us and were extraordinarily kind to us. They kindled a bonfire and welcomed us around it, which we greatly appreciated because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul was gathering firewood and helping build the fire. A ...
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Acts 28 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

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Acts 28 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Paul on the Island of Malta28 After we had escaped, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. 3 Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fir...
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Acts 28 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

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Acts 28 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

28 And when they had escaped, they learned that the isle was called Malta. 2 And the people of the country showed us no little kindness. For they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 And when Paul had gathered a number of sticks, and laid the...
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