1 When A[they] Acts 16:10; 27:1they had been brought safely through, BActs 27:39then we found out that CActs 27:26the island was called 1Or MelitaMalta. 2 AActs 28:4; Rom 1:14; 1 Cor 14:11; Col 3:11The 1Lit barbariansnatives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and BRom 14:1received us all. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out 1Or from the heatbecause of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When AActs 28:2the 1Lit barbariansnatives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “BLuke 13:2, 4Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, 2Or Justice, i.e. the personification of a goddessjustice has not allowed him to live.” 5 However AMark 16:18he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 But they were expecting that he was about 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 AActs 14:11began to say that he was a god.

7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had AActs 9:40; James 5:14fprayed, he BMatt 9:18; Mark 5:23; 6:5laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. 10 They also honored us with many 1Lit honorsmarks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they 2Or put on boardsupplied us with 3Lit the things pertaining to the needsall we needed.

11 At the end of three months we set sail on AActs 27:6an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had 1Gr Dioscuri; i.e. Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeusthe 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 sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 1Lit WhereThere we found some AJohn 21:23; Acts 1:15; 6:3; 9:30; 28:15; Rom 1:13;brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome. 15 And the AActs 1:15; 10:23; 11:1, 12, 29; 12:17brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the 1Lat Appii Forum, a station about 43 miles from RomeMarket of Appius and 2Lat Tres Tabernae, a station about 33 miles from RomeThree Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

16 When we entered Rome, Paul was AActs 24:23allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

17 After three days 1Lit hePaul called together those who were AActs 13:50; 25:2the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “BActs 22:5Brethren, CActs 25:8though I had done nothing against our people or DActs 6:14the customs of our 2Or forefathersfathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18  “And when they had AActs 22:24examined me, they BActs 26:32were willing to release me because there was CActs 23:29; 25:25; 26:31no ground 1Lit of death in mefor putting me to death. 19  “But when the Jews 1Lit spoke againstobjected, I was forced to AActs 25:11, 21, 25; 26:32appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. 20  “For this reason, therefore, I 1Or invited you to see me and speak with merequested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing AActs 21:33this chain for BActs 26:6fthe sake of the hope of Israel.” 21 They said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of AActs 3:17; 22:5; 28:14; Rom 9:3the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. 22  “But we desire to hear from you what 1Lit you thinkyour views are; for concerning this AActs 24:14sect, it is known to us that B1 Pet 2:12; 3:16; 4:14, 16it is spoken against everywhere.”

23 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at APhilem 22his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly BLuke 16:28; Acts 1:3; 23:11testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, CActs 8:35from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. 24 AActs 14:4Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. 25 And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying,

30 And he stayed two full years 1Or at his own expensein his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, 31 1Or proclaimingAMatt 4:23; Acts 20:25; 28:23preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ B2 Tim 2:9with all openness, unhindered.