Acts 28

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1. 1Once we had safely escaped, we learned that the island was called Melita.
2. 2The native people showed us extraordinary kindness. They built a fire and welcomed all of us because of the rain that was falling and the cold.
3. 3Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and was laying them on the fire when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened onto his hand.
4. 4When the natives saw the venomous creature hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Even though he escaped the sea, justice will not allow him to live."
5. 5But he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.
6. 6They kept watching, expecting him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing wrong with him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7. 7Nearby were estates belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius. He welcomed us and hospitably housed us for three days.
8. 8It happened that Publius's father was lying sick with fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, prayed, laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9. 9After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.
10. 10They also honored us with many honors, and when we were departing, they loaded us with the supplies we needed.
11. 11After three months, we set sail on an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island. Its sign was Castor and Pollux.
12. 12We landed at Syracuse and stayed there three days.
13. 13From there we sailed along the coast and arrived at Rhegium. After one day a south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli.
14. 14There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we made our way toward Rome.
15. 15The brothers there, when they heard about us, came to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
16. 16When we arrived in Rome, the centurion handed over the prisoners to the captain of the guard. But Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier guarding him.
17. 17Three days later, Paul called together the leading men among the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, "Brothers, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18. 18After they examined me, they wanted to release me because there was no grounds for a death sentence.
19. 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar — not that I had any charge to bring against my own nation.
20. 20For this reason I asked to see you and speak with you, because it is for the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain."
21. 21They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers who have come here have reported or spoken anything bad about you.
22. 22But we would like to hear from you what you think, because regarding this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere."
23. 23So they set a day, and a large number came to him at his lodging. From morning until evening, he explained and testified about the kingdom of God, trying to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
24. 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.
25. 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul made one final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors, saying,
26. 26'Go to this people and say: You will keep on hearing but never understand, and you will keep on seeing but never perceive.
27. 27For the heart of this people has grown dull, their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed — lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and turn back, and I should heal them.'
28. 28Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen."
29. 29After he said these things, the Jews departed, having much debate among themselves.
30. 30Paul lived for two whole years in his own rented quarters, and he welcomed everyone who came to him.
31. 31He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, and no one hindered him.