Acts 28 :: New International Version (NIV)

Paul Ashore on Malta

Act 28:1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.

Act 28:2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.

Act 28:3

Act 28:3Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.

Act 28:4

Act 28:4When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”

Act 28:5

Act 28:5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

Act 28:6

Act 28:6The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

Act 28:7

Act 28:7There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days.

Act 28:8

Act 28:8His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.

Act 28:9

Act 28:9When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.

Act 28:10

Act 28:10They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

Paul’s Arrival at Rome

Act 28:11

Act 28:11After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.

Act 28:12

Act 28:12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days.

Act 28:13

Act 28:13From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli.

Act 28:14

Act 28:14There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.

Act 28:15

Act 28:15The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged.

Act 28:16

Act 28:16When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard

Act 28:17

Act 28:17Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.

Act 28:18

Act 28:18They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.

Act 28:19

Act 28:19The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people.

Act 28:20

Act 28:20For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”

Act 28:21

Act 28:21They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you.

Act 28:22

Act 28:22But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”

Act 28:23

Act 28:23They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus.

Act 28:24

Act 28:24Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.

Act 28:25

Act 28:25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:

Act 28:26

Act 28:26“ ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

Act 28:27

Act 28:27For this people’s heart has become calloused; 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.’[fn]

Act 28:28

Act 28:28“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”[fn]

Act 28:29

Act 28:29 See Footnote

Act 28:30

Act 28:30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.

Act 28:31

Act 28:31He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

See the NIV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NIV Footnotes

(28:27)

Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)

(28:29)

Some manuscripts include here After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.

BLB Footnotes

(28:29)

Some Greek manuscripts exclude this verse. The NIV related footnote for 28:28 states:
Some manuscripts include here After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the NIV Preface.