Acts 28

₁We all were safe on the beach and they told us that the name of the island was Malta. ₂The people on the island were very friendly. It was cold and it started to rain, so they made a fire for us. ₃Paul got some dry wood to put onto the fire. There was a snake in the wood and the snake came out because it was hot and it bit Paul on his hand. ₄The people from the island saw the snake hanging from Paul's hand. They said to each other: ‘This man is a murderer. The gods want to punish him because he has done something wrong. He did not drown in the sea but now they have sent a snake to kill him.’

₅But Paul took the snake off his hand and he threw it into the fire, and nothing happened to Paul. ₆The people were looking at Paul. They waited for his hand to swell up and for him to fall down and die. They waited and when nothing happened to Paul, they started to think that Paul was a god. ₇The name of the leader of the people on the island was Publius. He had a field not far from where we were. He was friendly and he gave us a place to stay for 3 days. ₈Publius' father was sick. He had a fever and stomach trouble. Paul went to him and he prayed for him. Paul put his hands on him and he healed the man. ₉After Paul had healed Publius' father, all the other sick people on the island came to Paul and Paul healed them. ₁₀The people gave us many gifts and when we sailed away in another boat, they gave us everything that we needed.

₁₁After 3 months we sailed in a boat from the Island of Malta. The boat came from the city of Alexandria and it had waited on the island for the winter to pass. The name of the boat was Dioskuri. ₁₂We sailed to the town of Syracuse and we stayed there for 3 days. ₁₃Then we sailed from Syracuse to the town of Rhegium. The next day a southern wind started to blow and we sailed for 2 days and came to the town of Puteoli. ₁₄There were some people who believed in Jesus and they asked us to stay with them for one week and then we went to the city of Rome. ₁₅Someone told the believers who lived in Rome that we were coming and they came to greet us. Some of them greeted us at the Market of Appius and some of them greeted us at the Three Guest Houses. When Paul saw all the believers of Rome, he prayed and thanked God and he was encouraged.

₁₆When we came into Rome, the officer said Paul did not have to stay in jail. He could stay in a house, but a soldier stayed with him to guard him. ₁₇After 3 days Paul asked all the important Jews to come to him and they all came together. Paul said to them: ‘Friends, I have done nothing wrong against our people or against the things that our forefathers told us to do. But the Jews in Jerusalem arrested me and they gave me to the Romans. ₁₈The Roman rulers asked me a lot of questions to find out if I had done something wrong. They wanted to set me free because I had done nothing wrong. I had done nothing that they wanted to punish me for. ₁₉But the Jews in Jerusalem did not want that.

Then I had to ask to come to Rome so that Caesar could judge me. But I did not accuse the Israelites. ₂₀This is why I have asked to see you so I can talk to you. I believe in and hope for the same things that all the Israelites believe in and hope for. This is why I am a prisoner and this is why the soldiers have tied me with chains.’

₂₁The Jews from Rome said to Paul: ‘The Jews in Judea did not give us any letters about you. And not one of them came here to say bad things about you. ₂₂But we want to listen to what you say because we know about this group of people who believe in Jesus, but our people everywhere say that they believe things that are wrong.’

₂₃Then they decided on which day they would come back to Paul. When they came again, there were a lot of Jews who came to Paul's house. He talked to them from early in the morning until that evening. He talked to them and he told them about God who is King. He read from the laws of Moses and the books of the prophets and he showed them that they must believe in Jesus. ₂₄Some of the Jews believed what Paul said, but some did not believe him. ₂₅They started to argue and at the end of the day they went home. Before they went away, Paul said: ‘The Holy_Spirit sent the prophet Isaiah to say something to your fathers, and what the Spirit said is true. ₂₆He said: “You must go to these people and you must tell them:

_28-29Paul said: ‘I want you to know that God is going to send his message to the Gentiles, to say that He wants to save people. The Gentiles will believe his message.’

₃₀Paul stayed for 2 years in the house that he rented. Everyone who wanted to visit him was welcome and they came to him. ₃₁Paul preached to them and he told them about God who is King. He also taught them about the Lord Jesus Christ. He was not afraid to do it and no one tried to stop him.