{"book":"Acts","slug":"acts","ch":28,"genre":"prose","sub":"The Acts of the Apostles","prev":"acts/27","next":"romans/1","verses":[{"v":1,"t":"[Once] we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.","f":[],"h":"Ashore on Malta","style":"reg"},{"v":2,"t":"The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire [and] welcomed all of us because [it was] raining and cold.","f":[]},{"v":3,"t":"Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid [them] on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened [itself] to his hand.","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":4,"t":"When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another,“ Surely this man is a murderer. [Although he] was saved from the sea, Justice {has} not allowed [him] to live.”","f":["Greek Dike; that is, the Greek goddess of justice"]},{"v":5,"t":"But [Paul] shook the creature {off} into the fire [and] suffered no ill effects.","f":[]},{"v":6,"t":"[The islanders] were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds [and] said he was a god.","f":[]},{"v":7,"t":"Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, [the] chief official of the island. [He] welcomed us [and] entertained [us] hospitably [for] three days.","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":8,"t":"The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to [see] [him], and after praying [and] placing [his] hands on him, he healed [the man].","f":[]},{"v":9,"t":"[After] this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.","f":[]},{"v":10,"t":"[The islanders] honored us in many ways and supplied [our] needs [when we were ready] to sail.","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":11,"t":"After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead.","f":["Greek Dioscuri; that is, the Greek gods Castor and Pollux"],"h":"Paul Arrives in Italy","style":"reg"},{"v":12,"t":"Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.","f":[]},{"v":13,"t":"From [there] we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day, a south wind came up, [and] on the second day we arrived at Puteoli.","f":[]},{"v":14,"t":"[There] we found [some] brothers who invited us to spend [the] week with them. And so we came to Rome.","f":[]},{"v":15,"t":"The brothers there had heard about us [and] traveled as far as [the] Forum of Appius and [the] Three Taverns to meet us. [When] Paul saw [them], he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.","f":["The Forum of Appius was about 43 miles or 70 kilometers from Rome.","The Three Taverns was about 35 miles or 57 kilometers from Rome."],"style":"reg"},{"v":16,"t":"When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.","f":["BYZ and TR include the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the captain of the barrack, but."],"h":"Paul Preaches at Rome","style":"reg"},{"v":17,"t":"After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. [When] they had gathered, he said to them,“ Brothers, [although] I have done nothing against [our] people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem [and] handed over to the Romans.","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":18,"t":"[They] examined me [and] wanted to release [me], because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.","f":[]},{"v":19,"t":"But [when] the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, [even though] I have no [charge] to bring against my nation.","f":[]},{"v":20,"t":"So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with [you]. [It is] because of the hope of Israel [that] I am bound with this chain.”","f":[]},{"v":21,"t":"[The leaders] replied,“ We have not received [any] letters about you from Judea, nor {have} any of the brothers [from there] reported or even mentioned anything bad about you.","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":22,"t":"But we consider your views {worth} hearing, because we know that [people] everywhere are speaking against this sect.”","f":[]},{"v":23,"t":"So they set a day to [meet with Paul], [and] many [people] came to [the place] he was staying. He expounded to [them] from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":24,"t":"Some [of them] were convinced by what he said, but [others] refused to believe.","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":25,"t":"They disagreed among [themselves] [and] began to leave [after] Paul had made [this final] statement:“ The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:","f":[]},{"v":26,"t":"‘ Go to this people and say,“ You will be ever hearing [but] never understanding; you will be ever seeing [but] never perceiving.”","f":[],"lines":[{"style":"indent1stline","t":"‘ Go to this people and say,"},{"style":"indent2","t":"“ You will be ever hearing [but] never understanding;"},{"style":"indent2","t":"you will be ever seeing [but] never perceiving.”"}],"style":"indent1stline"},{"v":27,"t":"For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with [their] ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with [their] eyes, hear with [their] ears, understand with [their] hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’","f":["Isaiah 6:9–10 (see also LXX)"],"lines":[{"style":"indent1","t":"For this people’s heart has grown callous;"},{"style":"indent2","t":"they hardly hear with [their] ears,"},{"style":"indent2","t":"and they have closed their eyes."},{"style":"indent1","t":"Otherwise they might see with [their] eyes,"},{"style":"indent2","t":"hear with [their] ears,"},{"style":"indent2","t":"understand with [their] hearts,"},{"style":"indent1","t":"and turn, and I would heal them.’"}],"style":"indent1"},{"v":28,"t":"Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”","f":["BYZ and TR include 29When he had said this, the Jews went away, disputing sharply among themselves."],"style":"reg"},{"v":29,"t":"","f":[]},{"v":30,"t":"[Paul] stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to [visit] him.","f":[],"style":"reg"},{"v":31,"t":"Boldly [and] freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.","f":[]}]}