After ^awe were safe on land, ^bwe found out that ^cthe island was called ¹Malta. 2 And ^athe ¹natives showed us extraordinary kindness and hospitality; for they kindled a fire and ^bwelcomed 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 ¹viper crawled out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When ^athe natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “^bUndoubtedly 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 ^aPaul 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 ^abegan 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 ^aprayed, he ^blaid 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.

11 At the end of three months we set sail on a ship which had wintered at the island, ^aan Alexandrian ship with the ¹Twin 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 ¹Puteoli. 14 There we found some ^abelievers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 And the ^abrothers and sisters, having heard news about us, came from as far away as the ¹Forum of Appius and ²Three Inns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was encouraged.

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

17 Three days later he called together ^athe leaders of the Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, “^bKinsmen, ^cthough I have done nothing against our people or against ^dthe customs of our fathers, yet I was turned over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 After they had ^ainterrogated me, they ^bwere ready to release me because I was ^cnot guilty of any offense deserving death. 19 But when the Jews objected to my release, I was forced to ^aappeal 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 ^afor the sake of the hope of Israel (the Messiah, the resurrection) that I am bound with ^bthis chain.” 21 They said to him, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of ^athe 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 ^asect (Christianity) , we are fully aware that ^bit is denounced everywhere.”

23 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to ^ahis lodging in large numbers. And he carefully explained Christianity to them from morning until evening, solemnly ^btestifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, ^cboth from the Law of Moses and from the writings of the Prophets. 24 ^aSome 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 ‘^aGO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY,“^bYOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND,YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

28 Therefore let it be known to you that this message of ^athe salvation of God has been sent ^bto the Gentiles; they indeed will listen!” Ps 67:2 29 [¹And when he had said these things, the Jews left, arguing among themselves.]

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 ^apreaching and proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ ^bwith all openness and boldness, unhindered and unrestrained.