Acts 28 - GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Paul on the Island of Malta

28 When we were safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The people who lived on the island were unusually kind to us. They made a fire and welcomed all of us around it because of the rain and the cold.

3 Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire. The heat forced a poisonous snake out of the brushwood. The snake bit Paul’s hand and wouldn’t let go. 4 When the people who lived on the island saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He may have escaped from the sea, but justice won’t let him live.”

5 Paul shook the snake into the fire and wasn’t harmed. 6 The people were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they had waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

7 A man named Publius, who was the governor of the island, had property around the area. He welcomed us and treated us kindly, and for three days we were his guests. 8 His father happened to be sick in bed. He was suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, prayed, placed his hands on him, and made him well.

9 After that had happened, other sick people on the island went to Paul and were made well. 10 They showed respect for us in many ways, and when we were going to set sail, they put whatever we needed on board.

Paul Sails from Malta to Rome

11 After three months we sailed on an Alexandrian ship that had spent the winter at the island. The ship had the gods Castor and Pollux carved on its front. 12 We stopped at the city of Syracuse and stayed there for three days. 13 We sailed from Syracuse and arrived at the city of Rhegium. The next day a south wind began to blow, and two days later we arrived at the city of Puteoli. 14 In Puteoli we discovered some believers who begged us to spend a week with them.

15 Believers in Rome heard that we were coming, so they came as far as the cities of Appius’ Market and Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and felt encouraged. So we finally arrived in the city of Rome.[a] 16 After our arrival, Paul was allowed to live by himself, but he had a soldier who guarded him.

Paul in Rome

17 After three days Paul invited the most influential Jews in Rome to meet with him. When they assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, I haven’t done anything against the Jewish people or violated the customs handed down by our ancestors. Yet, I’m a prisoner from Jerusalem, and I’ve been handed over to the Roman authorities. 18 The Roman authorities cross-examined me and wanted to let me go because I was accused of nothing for which I deserved to die. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal my case to the emperor. That doesn’t mean I have any charges to bring against my own people. 20 That’s why I asked to see you and speak with you. I’m wearing these chains because of what Israel hopes for.”

21 The Jewish leaders told Paul, “We haven’t received any letters from Judea about you, and no Jewish person who has come to Rome has reported or mentioned anything bad about you. 22 However, we would like to hear what you think. We know that everywhere people are talking against this sect.”

23 On a designated day a larger number of influential Jews ⌞than expected⌟ went to the place where Paul was staying. From morning until evening, Paul was explaining God’s kingdom to them. He was trying to convince them about Jesus from Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets. 24 Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others continued to disbelieve.

25 The Jews, unable to agree among themselves, left after Paul had quoted this particular passage to them: “How well the Holy Spirit spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah! 26 The Spirit said: ‘Go to these people and say,

“You will hear clearly but never understand.
You will see clearly but never comprehend.
27 These people have become close-minded
and hard of hearing.
They have shut their eyes
so that their eyes never see.
Their ears never hear.
Their minds never understand.
And they never turn to me for healing.” ’

28 “You need to know that God has sent his salvation to people who are not Jews. They will listen.” [b]

30 Paul rented a place to live for two full years and welcomed everyone who came to him. 31 He spread the message about God’s kingdom and taught very boldly about the Lord Jesus Christ. No one stopped him.

Footnotes

  1. 28:15 The last sentence in verse 14 has been placed in verse 15 to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.
  2. 28:28 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 29: “After Paul said this, the Jews left. They argued intensely among themselves.”

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Acts 28 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

28 And having been saved, then they knew that the island is called Melita, 2 and the foreigners were shewing us no ordinary kindness, for having kindled a fire, they received us all, because of the pressing rain, and because of the cold; 3 but Paul having gathered together a quantity of sticks, and ...
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Acts 28 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

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)

From Malta to Rome28 Once safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us unusual kindness. Because it had started raining and it was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed us all. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and placed it on the fire, a vi...
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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)

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 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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Acts 28 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

The Snake on Malta28 When we reached safety, we discovered that the island was called Malta. 2 The local inhabitants treated us with unusual kindness: they set to and built a fire for us all, since it was cold and had started to rain. 3 Paul had collected quite a bundle of brushwood, and was putti...
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Acts 28 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Paul on the Island of Malta28 After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it. 3 Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was pu...
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Acts 28 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Paul on the Island of Malta28 After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us round it. 3 Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was put...
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Acts 28 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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Acts 28 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

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