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Safe at Malta

¹ After ^(C1)we were safe on land, ^(C2)we found out that ^(C3)the island was called ^(F1)Malta.² And ^(C1)the ^(F1)natives showed us extraordinary kindness and hospitality; for they kindled a fire and ^(C2)welcomed us all, since it had begun to rain and was cold.³ But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a ^(F1)viper crawled out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.⁴ When ^(C1)the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, "^(C2)Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, Justice the avenging goddess has not permitted him to live."⁵ Then ^(C1)Paul simply shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.⁶ But they stood watching and expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and ^(C1)began saying that he was a god.

⁷ In the vicinity of that place there were estates belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed and entertained us hospitably for three days.⁸ And it happened that the father of Publius was sick in bed with recurring attacks of fever and dysentery; and Paul went to him, and after he had ^(C1)prayed, he ^(C2)laid his hands on him and healed him.⁹ After this occurred, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being healed.¹⁰ They also gave us many honors gifts and courtesies expressing respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all the things we needed.

Paul Arrives at Rome

¹¹ At the end of three months we set sail on a ship which had wintered at the island, ^(C1)an Alexandrian ship with the ^(F1)Twin Brothers Castor and Pollux as its figurehead.¹² We landed at Syracuse on Sicily and stayed there three days.¹³ From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium on Italy's southern tip; and a day later a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at ^(F1)Puteoli.¹⁴ There we found some ^(C1)believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.¹⁵ And the ^(C1)brothers and sisters, having heard news about us, came from as far away as the ^(F1)Forum of Appius and ^(F2)Three Inns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was encouraged.

¹⁶ When we entered Rome, Paul was ^(C1)allowed to stay by himself in rented quarters with the soldier who was guarding him.

¹⁷ Three days later he called together ^(C1)the leaders of the Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, "^(C2)Kinsmen, ^(C3)though I have done nothing against our people or against ^(C4)the customs of our fathers, yet I was turned over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.¹⁸ "After they had ^(C1)interrogated me, they ^(C2)were ready to release me because I was ^(C3)not guilty of any offense deserving death.¹⁹ "But when the Jews objected to my release, I was forced to ^(C1)appeal to Caesar (Emperor Nero), not because I had any charge to make against my nation.²⁰ "For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you, since it is ^(C1)for the sake of the hope of Israel (the Messiah, the resurrection) that I am bound with ^(C2)this chain."²¹ They said to him, "We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of ^(C1)the Jewish brothers come here and reported or said anything bad about you.²² "But we would like to hear from you what your views are that is, exactly what you believe; for in regard to this ^(C1)sect (Christianity), we are fully aware that ^(C2)it is denounced everywhere."

²³ When they had set a day for Paul, they came to ^(C1)his lodging in large numbers. And he carefully explained Christianity to them from morning until evening, solemnly ^(C2)testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, ^(C3)both from the Law of Moses and from the writings of the Prophets.^24 (C1)Some were persuaded by what he said, but others would not believe.²⁵ They disagreed among themselves and they began to leave after Paul had made one last statement: "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, saying,²⁶ '^(C1)GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY,

"^(C2)YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND,
YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

^27 (C1)FOR THE HEART (the understanding, the soul) OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL (calloused),
AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
AND THEY HAVE SHUT THEIR EYES to the truth;
OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN to Me,
AND I WOULD HEAL THEM."' ^(VR1)

³⁰ And Paul lived there for two full years at his own expense in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him,^31 (C1)preaching and proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ ^(C2)with all openness and boldness, unhindered and unrestrained.