1 After we were brought safely through,l[ch. 27:39] we then learned thatmch. 27:26 the island was called Malta. 2 nver. 4; Rom. 1:14; 1 Cor. 14:11; Col. 3:11 The native people showed us unusualoch. 27:3 kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 Whenpver. 2 the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another,q[Job 4:7; Luke 13:2, 4; John 9:2] “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea,r[Num. 32:23; Amos 5:19; 9:3] Justice1Or justice has not allowed him to live. ” 5 He, however,sMark 16:18; Luke 10:19 shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him,t[ch. 14:11, 19] they changed their minds andu[ch. 8:10; 14:11] said that he was a god.
7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him andvch. 9:40; [James 5:14, 15] prayed, andwSee Mark 5:23 putting his hands on him healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.
11 After three months we set sail inxch. 27:6 a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. 12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we foundySee John 21:23 brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 Andy[See ver. 14 above] the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them,z[Rom. 1:9-12] Paul thanked God and took courage. 16 And when we came into Rome,a[ch. 24:23; 27:3] Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.
17 After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers,b[ch. 25:8] though I had done nothing against our people orcch. 6:14; 15:1; 21:21 the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 When they had examined me, theydch. 26:31, 32 wished to set me at liberty,eSee ch. 23:29 because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. 19 But because the Jews objected, I was compelledfch. 25:11; 26:32 to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring againstgch. 24:17; 26:4 my nation. 20 For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it ishSee ch. 23:6 because ofi[Luke 2:25] the hope of Israel that I am wearingjch. 26:29 thiskEph. 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:16; See ch. 21:33; Phil. 1:7 chain. ” 21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none oflch. 22:5 the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to thismSee ch. 24:5 sect we know that everywherenLuke 2:34; [1 Pet. 2:12; 3:16; 4:14, 16] it is spoken against. ”
23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till eveningo[ch. 17:2, 3] he expounded to them, testifying topver. 31 the kingdom of God andq[ch. 19:8] trying to convince them about Jesusrch. 8:35; 24:14; 26:22 both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 Ands[ch. 14:4; 17:4, 5; 19:9; 23:7] some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. 25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement:tMatt. 15:7 “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
26 uCited from Isa. 6:9, 10 ‘Go to this people, and say,
vMatt. 13:14, 15; Mark 4:12; [Luke 8:10] You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.
27 w[John 12:40; Rom. 11:8] For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
andxSee Luke 22:32 turn, and I would heal them. ’
28 Therefore let it be known to you thatych. 13:26 thiszPs. 67:2; Isa. 40:5; Luke 2:30; 3:6; [Rom. 11:11] salvation of GodaSee ch. 13:46 has been sent to the Gentiles;bJohn 10:16; [ch. 13:48; Matt. 8:11; 21:43] they will listen. ”
30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense,1Or in his own hired dwelling andc[Phil. 1:13] welcomed all who came to him, 31 d[ch. 8:12; 20:25] proclaimingever. 23; See Matt. 12:28; 13:19 the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus ChristfSee ch. 4:29 with all boldness andg[Phil. 1:12, 13; 2 Tim. 2:9] without hindrance.