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Safe at Malta

¹ When ^(C1)they had been brought safely through, ^(C2)then we found out that ^(C3)the island was called ^(F1)Malta.^2 (C1)The ^(F1)natives showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and ^(C2)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 ^(F1)because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.⁴ When ^(C1)the ^(F1)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, ^(F2)justice has not allowed him to live."⁵ However, ^(F1)(C1)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 ^(C1)began to say that he was a god.

⁷ Now in the neighboring parts of that place were lands belonging to the ^(F1)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 ^(C1)prayed, he ^(C2)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 ^(F1)supplied us with ^(F2)everything we needed.

Paul Arrives in Rome

¹¹ After three months we set sail on ^(C1)an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had ^(F1)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 (F1)There we found some ^(C1)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 ^(C1)brothers and sisters, when they heard about us, came as far as the ^(F1)Market of Appius and the ^(F2)Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

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

¹⁷ After three days ^(F1)Paul called together those who were ^(C1)the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, "^(C2)Brothers, ^(C3)though I had done nothing against our people or ^(C4)the customs of our ^(F2)fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.¹⁸ "And when they had ^(C1)examined me, they ^(C2)were willing to release me because there were ^(C3)no grounds ^(F1)for putting me to death.¹⁹ "But when the Jews ^(F1)objected, I was forced to ^(C1)appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation.²⁰ "For this reason, therefore, I ^(F1)requested to see you and to speak with you, since I am wearing ^(C1)this chain for ^(C2)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 ^(C1)the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you.²² "But we desire to hear from you what ^(F1)your views are; for regarding this ^(C1)sect, it is known to us that ^(C2)it is spoken against everywhere."

²³ When they had set a day for ^(F1)Paul, people came to him at ^(C1)his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly ^(C2)testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, ^(C3)from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.^24 (C1)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,

'^(C1)GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY,
"^(F1)(C2)YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, AND WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
AND ^(F2)YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, AND WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

^27 (C1)FOR THE HEARTS OF THIS PEOPLE HAVE BECOME ^(F1)INSENSITIVE,
AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY ^(F2)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."'

³⁰ Now Paul stayed two full years ^(F1)in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him,^31 (F1)(C1)preaching the kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ ^(C2)with all openness, unhindered.