Acts of the Apostles 28

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Once we had reached safety we learned that the island was called Malta.	1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 The natives showed us extraordinary hospitality; they lit a fire and welcomed all of us because it had begun to rain and was cold.	2 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 had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire when a viper, escaping from the heat, fastened on his hand.	3 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 When the natives saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "This man must certainly be a murderer; though he escaped the sea, Justice has not let him remain alive."	4 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 he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm.	5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 They were expecting him to swell up or suddenly to fall down dead but, after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.	6 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 In the vicinity of that place were lands belonging to a man named Publius, the chief of the island. He welcomed us and received us cordially as his guests for three days.	7 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 so happened that the father of Publius was sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, after praying, laid his hands on him and healed him.	8 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 After this had taken place, the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul and were cured.	9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
10 They paid us great honor and when we eventually set sail they brought us the provisions we needed.	10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
11 Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the Dioscuri as its figurehead.	11 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 put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days,	12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13 and from there we sailed round the coast and arrived at Rhegium. After a day, a south wind came up and in two days we reached Puteoli.	13 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 There we found some brothers and were urged to stay with them for seven days. And thus we came to Rome.	14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
15 The brothers from there heard about us and came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul gave thanks to God and took courage.	15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appiiforum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
16 When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.	16 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.
17 Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, "My brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.	17 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 After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me, because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty.	18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
19 But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation.	19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
20 This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains."	20 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 They answered him, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor has any of the brothers arrived with a damaging report or rumor about you.	21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
22 But we should like to hear you present your views, for we know that this sect is denounced everywhere."	22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
23 So they arranged a day with him and came to his lodgings in great numbers. From early morning until evening, he expounded his position to them, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets.	23 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 convinced by what he had said, while others did not believe.	24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
25 Without reaching any agreement among themselves they began to leave; then Paul made one final statement. "Well did the holy Spirit speak to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, saying:	25 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 say: You shall indeed hear but not understand. You shall indeed look but never see.	26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 Gross is the heart of this people; they will not hear with their ears; they have closed their eyes, so they may not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.'	27 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 Let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen."	28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29	29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
30 He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him,	30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31 and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.	31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.