1Once we had escaped, we learned that the island was called Malta.
2The local people showed us extraordinary kindness. Because it was raining and cold, they built a fire and welcomed all of us.
3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, coiled itself around his hand.
4When the local people saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer. Even though he escaped the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."
5However, Paul shook the snake off into the fire and was not harmed.
6They expected him to swell up or suddenly drop dead, but after watching for a long time and seeing nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7Near that place were some estates belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius. He welcomed us and courteously hosted us for three days.
8Publius’s father was sick in bed with a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, prayed, and by placing his hands on him, healed him.
9After this happened, all the other sick people on the island came and were cured.
10They also honored us generously, and when we were ready to sail, they provided us with everything we needed.
11After three months, we set sail on an Alexandrian ship that had spent the winter on the island. Its emblem was "The Twin Brothers."
12We stopped at Syracuse and stayed there for three days.
13From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind started blowing, and on the second day we reached Puteoli.
14where we found fellow believers and were asked to stay with them for seven days. So we continued our journey to Rome.
15When the believers there heard about us, they came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and felt encouraged.
16When we entered Rome, the Roman officer handed the prisoners over to the captain of the guard. However, Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.
17After three days, Paul called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was still handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem to the Romans.
18After they had questioned me, they wanted to set me free because they found no reason to sentence me to death.
19But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not because I had anything to accuse my own nation of.
20For this reason, I asked to see you and speak with you. I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.”
21They replied to him, “We have not received any letters from Judea about you, nor has any of our brothers come here and reported or said anything bad about you.
22But we want to hear from you what you think, because we know that people everywhere speak against this group.”
23They set a day for him, and many people came to his lodging. He explained things to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom and trying to convince them about Jesus, using both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning until evening.
24Some people believed what he said, but others did not.
25Since they disagreed among themselves, they left after Paul said this one thing: “The Holy Spirit spoke correctly through the prophet Isaiah to our ancestors,
26saying, ‘Go to these people and tell them: You will indeed hear, but never understand. You will indeed see, but never perceive.
27For the hearts of these people have become dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn back, and I would heal them.’
28“Therefore, know this: God’s salvation has been sent to the non-Jewish nations, and they will listen.”
29After he said these words, the Jews left, arguing intensely among themselves.
30Paul stayed for two full years in his rented house and welcomed everyone who came to him,
31proclaiming God’s Kingdom and teaching with complete boldness about the Lord Jesus Christ, without any hindrance.