Paul on the Island of Malta
Study note
The shipwreck survivors learn they have landed on the island of Malta, where the local people show them remarkable kindness, building a fire in the rain and cold. While Paul gathers firewood, a poisonous snake bites his hand. The islanders expect him to die, assuming he is a murderer receiving divine justice. When Paul shakes off the snake unharmed, they change their minds and decide he must be a god. Paul then heals the father of Publius, the island's chief official, who is suffering from fever and dysentery. After this, all the sick on the island come to Paul and are healed, and the people honor the travelers generously.
1 Once we were safe on dry ground, we found out the island was called Melita. And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 The islanders were exceedingly kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a bonfire and made all of us feel welcome. And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 Paul was gathering sticks for the fire when a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, latched onto his hand. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 The islanders saw the snake dangling from Paul's hand and whispered to each other, "He must be a murderer. He survived the sea, but fate caught up with him anyway." And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and was perfectly fine. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 Everyone stood around waiting for his hand to swell up or for him to drop dead. After a long time passed and nothing happened to him, they completely changed their minds and decided he must be a god. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
7 There was an estate nearby owned by Publius, the island's chief official. He took us in and treated us as honored guests for three days. In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
8 It happened that Publius's father was bedridden with a fever and a nasty stomach illness. Paul went in, prayed, placed his hands on him, and healed him. And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9 Once word of this got out, all the other sick people on the island came to Paul and were healed too. So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
10 The islanders honored us generously. When the time came for us to leave, they loaded us up with everything we would need for the voyage. Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
The Journey from Malta to Rome
Study note
After three months on Malta, they set sail on an Alexandrian ship that wintered at the island. They stop at Syracuse for three days, then Rhegium, and finally reach Puteoli where they find believers and stay a week. As they approach Rome, believers travel as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet Paul, and he thanks God and takes courage at the sight of them. In Rome, Paul is allowed to live by himself with a soldier guarding him, a form of house arrest that permits him considerable freedom.
11 Three months later, we set sail on an Alexandrian ship that had waited out the winter at the island. The ship had the twin gods Castor and Pollux as its figurehead. And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
12 We stopped at Syracuse and stayed for three days. And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13 From there we sailed to Rhegium. The next day, a south wind picked up, and the day after that we arrived at Puteoli. And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
14 We found some believers there who invited us to spend a week with them. And then, at last, we made it to Rome. Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
15 The believers in Rome had heard we were coming and walked out to meet us as far away as the Forum of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and felt a fresh wave of courage. And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
16 After we arrived in Rome, the centurion turned the prisoners over to the captain of the guard. Paul, however, was given permission to live on his own with just one soldier to watch him. And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
Paul Meets with the Jewish Leaders in Rome
Study note
Three days after arriving, Paul calls the Jewish leaders together and explains his situation. He has done nothing against the Jewish people or their customs but was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner. The Romans found him innocent and wanted to release him, but Jewish opposition forced him to appeal to Caesar. He emphasizes that he has no charge against his own nation and that he is bound because of 'the hope of Israel.' The Jewish leaders say they have received no official communication about Paul but are curious to hear his views, noting that this sect is spoken against everywhere.
17 Three days later, Paul invited the local Jewish leaders to come see him. When they gathered, he said, "Brothers, I did nothing against our people or our ancestors' customs. But I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans." And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18 "The Romans looked into my case. They were ready to let me go because I had done nothing that deserved death." Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
19 "But when the Jewish leaders objected, I had no choice except to appeal to Caesar. I am not here to bring any charges against my own people." But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
20 "Therefore I wanted to meet with you and talk. The truth is, I am wearing this chain because of Israel's hope -- the hope of the Messiah." For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
21 The Jewish leaders replied, "We have not gotten any letters from Judaea about you. None of the brothers who arrived from there have brought any reports or said anything negative about you." And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judæa concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
22 "But we are very interested in hearing your perspective. What we do know is that people everywhere are speaking against this movement." But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
Paul Preaches the Kingdom of God in Rome
Study note
On an appointed day, a large group comes to Paul's lodging. From morning to evening he explains and testifies about the kingdom of God, trying to persuade them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. Some are convinced, but others refuse to believe. As they leave disagreeing among themselves, Paul delivers a final word, quoting Isaiah's prophecy about the people hearing but never understanding, seeing but never perceiving, because their hearts have grown dull. Paul declares that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, who will listen. For two full years, Paul lives in a rented house, welcoming everyone who comes to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without hindrance.
23 They picked a day and came back -- this time in even larger numbers -- to the place Paul was staying. From sunrise to sunset, Paul laid out his case for the kingdom of God. He used both the Law of Moses and the writings of the Prophets to show them the truth about Jesus. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
24 Some were persuaded by what he said. Others flat-out refused to believe. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
25 They could not agree among themselves and started filing out. But Paul got in one final word: "The Holy Spirit was right when he spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah:" And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26 "'Go to this people and tell them: No matter how much you listen, you will never truly understand. No matter how much you look, you will never truly see.'" Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 "'These people's hearts have become stubborn and hard. Their ears have become dull, and they have shut their eyes tight. If they did not do this, they might see and hear and understand, and they might turn back to me, and I would heal them.'" For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
28 "So understand this: God's salvation has now been offered to the Gentiles, and they will listen!" Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29 After Paul said this, the Jewish leaders left, still arguing heatedly with each other. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
30 For two full years, Paul lived in a house he rented himself. He welcomed every person who came to visit him. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31 No one stopped him. He boldly preached about God's kingdom and taught people about the Lord Jesus Christ with total freedom. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.