Thematic Bible
Acts 28:1 (show verse)
When we made it to shore safely we learned that the island was called Malta.
Acts 28:2 (show verse)
The natives there were very friendly to us. It started to rain and was cold, so they built a fire and made us all welcome.
Acts 28:3 (show verse)
Paul gathered an armful of sticks and put them on the fire. A snake came out on account of the heat and fastened itself to his hand.
Acts 28:4 (show verse)
The natives saw the snake hanging on Paul's hand and said to one another: This man must be a murderer, but Fate will not let him live, even though he escaped from the sea.
Acts 28:5 (show verse)
But Paul shook the snake off into the fire without being harmed at all.
Acts 28:6 (show verse)
The people were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. They waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him. They changed their minds and said he was a god.
Acts 28:7 (show verse)
A man named Publius, who was the governor of the island, had property around the area. He welcomed us and treated us kindly. We were his guests for three days.
Acts 28:8 (show verse)
His father was sick in bed. He suffered from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, prayed, placed his hands on him, and made him well.
Acts 28:9 (show verse)
After that happened, other sick people on the island went to Paul and were made well.
Acts 28:10 (show verse)
They honored us with many gifts. When we were going to set sail, they put whatever we needed on board.
Acts 28:11 (show verse)
After three months we sailed on an Alexandrian ship that wintered at the island. The ship had the gods Castor and Pollux carved on its front.
Acts 28:12 (show verse)
We stopped at the city of Syracuse and stayed there three days.
Acts 28:13 (show verse)
We sailed from Syracuse and arrived at the city of Rhegium. The next day a south wind began to blow, and two days later we arrived at the city of Puteoli.
Acts 28:14 (show verse)
We came across some of the brothers, who kept us with them for seven days; and so we arrived at Rome.
Acts 28:15 (show verse)
When the brothers had news for us they came out from town as far as Appius Forum (Market place on the Appian Road) and the Three Taverns to have a meeting with us. Paul saw them and praised God. He was encouraged.
Acts 28:16 (show verse)
When we arrived at Rome they allowed Paul to have a house for himself and the armed man who kept watch over him.
Acts 28:17 (show verse)
Then after three days he sent for the chief men of the Jews. When they assembled, he said to them: My brothers, though I had done nothing against the people or the ways of our fathers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.
Acts 28:18 (show verse)
They questioned me and were ready to set me free, for they found me not guilty of any crime deserving death.
Acts 28:19 (show verse)
When the Jews brought charges against me again I presented my cause to Caesar for I said nothing against my nation.
Acts 28:20 (show verse)
The reason I sent for you is to talk with you. I am in these chains because of the hope of Israel.
Acts 28:21 (show verse)
They said to him: We have not had letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers have come to us to give an account or say any evil about you.
Acts 28:22 (show verse)
We desire to hear your opinion concerning this sect. We have knowledge that it is attacked in all places.
Acts 28:23 (show verse)
So they set a date with Paul. A large number of them came that day to the place where Paul was staying. From morning till night he explained his message about the Kingdom of God to them. He tried to convince them about Jesus by quoting from the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets.
Acts 28:24 (show verse)
Some of them were convinced by his words, but others did not believe.
Acts 28:25 (show verse)
So they left, disagreeing among themselves, after Paul had said this one thing: How well the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors!
Acts 28:26 (show verse)
He said, Go and say to this people, 'You will listen and listen, but not understand. You will look and look, but not see.
Acts 28:27 (show verse)
These people have closed their mind and are hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that their eyes never see. Their ears never hear. Their minds never understand. They never turn to me for healing.'
Acts 28:28 (show verse)
You need to know that God has sent his salvation to people who are not Jews. They will listen.
Acts 28:29 (show verse)
After he said this the Jews left arguing among themselves.
Acts 28:30 (show verse)
Paul rented a place to live for two full years and welcomed everyone who came to him.
Acts 28:31 (show verse)
He spread the message about God's Kingdom and taught boldly about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one stopped him!