Acts 28 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Safe at Malta

28 When ^(A)they had been brought safely through, ^(B)then we found out that ^(C)the island was called ^[a]Malta. ^{2 (D)}The ^[b]natives showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and ^(E)took us all in because of the rain that had started and because of the cold. ³ But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out ^[c]because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. ⁴ When ^(F)the ^[d]natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “^(G)Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, ^[e]justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵ However, ^[f](H)Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. ⁶ Now they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and ^(I)began to say that he was a god.

⁷ Now in the neighboring parts of that place were lands belonging to the ^[g]leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us warmly for three days. ⁸ And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with a recurring fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after he ^(J)prayed, he ^(K)laid his hands on him and healed him. ⁹ After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being cured. ¹⁰ They also showed us many honors, and when we were about to set sail, they ^[h]supplied us with ^[i]everything we needed.

Paul Arrives in Rome

¹¹ After three months we set sail on ^(L)an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had ^[j]the Twin Brothers for its figurehead. ¹² After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. ¹³ From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind came up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. ^{14 [k]}There we found some ^(M)brothers and sisters, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and that is how we came to Rome. ¹⁵ And from there the ^(N)brothers and sisters, when they heard about us, came as far as the ^[l]Market of Appius and the ^[m]Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

¹⁶ When we entered Rome, Paul was ^(O)allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

¹⁷ After three days ^[n]Paul called together those who were ^(P)the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “^(Q)Brothers, ^(R)though I had done nothing against our people or ^(S)the customs of our ^[o]fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. ¹⁸ And when they had ^(T)examined me, they ^(U)were willing to release me because there were ^(V)no grounds ^[p]for putting me to death. ¹⁹ But when the Jews ^[q]objected, I was forced to ^(W)appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. ²⁰ For this reason, therefore, I ^[r]requested to see you and to speak with you, since I am wearing ^(X)this chain for ^(Y)the sake of the hope of Israel.” ²¹ They said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor has any of ^(Z)the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. ²² But we desire to hear from you what ^[s]your views are; for regarding this ^(AA)sect, it is known to us that ^(AB)it is spoken against everywhere.”

²³ When they had set a day for ^[t]Paul, people came to him at ^(AC)his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly ^(AD)testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, ^(AE)from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. ^{24 (AF)}Some were being persuaded by the things said by Paul, but others would not believe. ²⁵ And when they disagreed with one another, they began leaving after Paul said one parting statement: “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, ²⁶ saying,

‘^(AG)Go to this people and say,
“^[u](AH)You will keep on hearing, and will not understand;
And ^[v]you will keep on seeing, and will not perceive;
^{27 (AI)}For the hearts of this people have become ^[w]insensitive,
And with their ears they ^[x]hardly hear,
And they have closed their eyes;
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.”’

²⁸ Therefore, let it be known to you that ^(AJ)this salvation of God has been sent ^(AK)to the Gentiles; they will also listen.”^[y]

³⁰ Now Paul stayed two full years ^[z]in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, ^{31 [aa](AL)}preaching the kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ ^(AM)with all openness, unhindered.

Footnotes

1. Acts 28:1 Or Melita
2. Acts 28:2 Gr barbaroi, referring to people who did not speak Greek
3. Acts 28:3 Or from the heat
4. Acts 28:4 See note v 2
5. Acts 28:4 Or Justice; i.e., the personification of a goddess
6. Acts 28:5 Lit he
7. Acts 28:7 Prob. the Roman governor of the island
8. Acts 28:10 Or put on board
9. Acts 28:10 Lit the things pertaining to the needs
10. Acts 28:11 Gr Dioscuri; i.e., Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeus
11. Acts 28:14 Lit Where
12. Acts 28:15 Lat Appii Forum, a station about 43 miles or 69.2 km from Rome
13. Acts 28:15 Lat Tres Tabernae, a station about 33 miles or 53.1 km from Rome
14. Acts 28:17 Lit he
15. Acts 28:17 Or forefathers
16. Acts 28:18 Lit of death in me
17. Acts 28:19 Lit spoke against
18. Acts 28:20 Or invited you to see me and speak with me
19. Acts 28:22 Lit you think
20. Acts 28:23 Lit him
21. Acts 28:26 Lit with a hearing you will hear
22. Acts 28:26 Lit seeing you will see
23. Acts 28:27 Lit dull
24. Acts 28:27 Or are hard of hearing
25. Acts 28:28 Late mss add as v 29: When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.
26. Acts 28:30 Or at his own expense
27. Acts 28:31 Or proclaiming

Cross references

1. Acts 28:1 : [they] Acts 16:10; 27:1
2. Acts 28:1 : Acts 27:39
3. Acts 28:1 : Acts 27:26
4. Acts 28:2 : Acts 28:4; Rom 1:14; 1 Cor 14:11; Col 3:11
5. Acts 28:2 : Rom 14:1
6. Acts 28:4 : Acts 28:2
7. Acts 28:4 : Luke 13:2, 4
8. Acts 28:5 : Mark 16:18
9. Acts 28:6 : Acts 14:11
10. Acts 28:8 : Acts 9:40; James 5:14f
11. Acts 28:8 : Matt 9:18; Mark 5:23; 6:5
12. Acts 28:11 : Acts 27:6
13. Acts 28:14 : John 21:23; Acts 1:15; 6:3; 9:30; 28:15; Rom 1:13;
14. Acts 28:15 : Acts 1:15; 10:23; 11:1, 12, 29; 12:17
15. Acts 28:16 : Acts 24:23
16. Acts 28:17 : Acts 13:50; 25:2
17. Acts 28:17 : Acts 22:5
18. Acts 28:17 : Acts 25:8
19. Acts 28:17 : Acts 6:14
20. Acts 28:18 : Acts 22:24
21. Acts 28:18 : Acts 26:32
22. Acts 28:18 : Acts 23:29; 25:25; 26:31
23. Acts 28:19 : Acts 25:11, 21, 25; 26:32
24. Acts 28:20 : Acts 21:33
25. Acts 28:20 : Acts 26:6f
26. Acts 28:21 : Acts 3:17; 22:5; 28:14; Rom 9:3
27. Acts 28:22 : Acts 24:14
28. Acts 28:22 : 1 Pet 2:12; 3:16; 4:14, 16
29. Acts 28:23 : Philem 22
30. Acts 28:23 : Luke 16:28; Acts 1:3; 23:11
31. Acts 28:23 : Acts 8:35
32. Acts 28:24 : Acts 14:4
33. Acts 28:26 : Is 6:9
34. Acts 28:26 : Matt 13:14f
35. Acts 28:27 : Is 6:10
36. Acts 28:28 : Ps 98:3; Luke 2:30; Acts 13:26
37. Acts 28:28 : Acts 9:15; 13:46
38. Acts 28:31 : Matt 4:23; Acts 20:25; 28:23
39. Acts 28:31 : 2 Tim 2:9