When ^athey had been brought safely through, ^bthen we found out that ^cthe island was called ¹Malta. 2 ^aThe ¹natives showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and ^btook 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 ¹because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When ^athe ¹natives 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, ²justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 However, ^1aPaul 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 ^abegan to say that he was a god.

7 Now in the neighboring parts of that place were lands belonging to the ¹leading 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 ^aprayed, he ^blaid 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 ¹supplied us with ²everything we needed.

11 After three months we set sail on ^aan Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had ¹the 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 ¹There we found some ^abrothers 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 ^abrothers and sisters, when they heard about us, came as far as the ¹Market of Appius and the ²Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

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

17 After three days ¹Paul called together those who were ^athe leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “^bBrothers, ^cthough I had done nothing against our people or ^dthe customs of our ²fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. 18 And when they had ^aexamined me, they ^bwere willing to release me because there were ^cno grounds ¹for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews ¹objected, I was forced to ^aappeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. 20 For this reason, therefore, I ¹requested to see you and to speak with you, since I am wearing ^athis chain for ^bthe sake of the hope of Israel.” 21 They said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor has any of ^athe brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what ¹your views are; for regarding this ^asect, it is known to us that ^bit is spoken against everywhere.”

23 When they had set a day for ¹Paul, people came to him at ^ahis lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly ^btestifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, ^cfrom both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. 24 ^aSome 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,‘^aGO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY,“^1bYOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, AND WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;AND ²YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, AND WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

28 Therefore, let it be known to you that ^athis salvation of God has been sent ^bto the Gentiles; they will also listen.”¹

30 Now Paul stayed two full years ¹in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, 31 ^1apreaching the kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ ^bwith all openness, unhindered.