And when they had been brought safely through, then we learned that the island was called Malta.
And the native people showed us no ordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain and because of the cold.
But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
And when the natives saw the venomous creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself has not allowed him to live.”
But he shook off the beast into the fire, and suffered no harm.
They were expecting him to swell or suddenly fall down dead, but when they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happening to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
Now in the area around that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and for three days treated us kindly as his guests.
And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went to him and after praying laid hands on him and healed him.
And after this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who also had diseases came and were healed.
They also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on the ship the things we needed.
Paul Arrives at Rome
And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria that had wintered at the island, whose figurehead was the Twin Sons of Zeus.
And having put in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.
And from there we sailed along the coast, and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli,
where we found some brothers and were entreated to stay with them seven days. And so we came to Rome.
And from there the brothers, when they heard about us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and the Three Taverns, whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage.
And when we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier that guarded him.
Paul in Rome
And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those who were the leading men of the Jews. And when they had gathered, he said to them, “Men and brothers, though I had done nothing against the People or the customs of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,
who, when they had examined me, desired to set me free because there was no reason for death in me.
But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I did not have any charge to bring against my nation.
So for this reason I asked to see you and to speak with you, because I am bound with this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel .”
And they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor has any of the brothers coming here reported or spoken any evil about you.
But we consider it suitable to hear from you what you think, for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”
And when they had appointed a day for him, they came to him in great numbers to where he was staying. From morning until evening he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the Kingdom of God and trying to persuade them about Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
And some were being persuaded by the things that were spoken, but others did not believe.
And as they began to leave, not being in agreement with one another, Paul made one final statement: “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,
when he said, Go to this people and say, ‘By hearing you will hear, yet absolutely not understand, and seeing you will see, yet absolutely not perceive.’
For the heart of this people has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would perceive with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn to God, and I would heal them.
Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen.”
[[And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.]]
And he stayed two whole years in his own rented house and welcomed everyone who came to him,
preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching the things about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.