Acts 28 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Paul on the Island of Malta

Act 28:1Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta.

Act 28:2The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us.

Act 28:3

Act 28:3As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand.

Act 28:4

Act 28:4The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.”

Act 28:5

Act 28:5But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed.

Act 28:6

Act 28:6The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.

Act 28:7

Act 28:7Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days.

Act 28:8

Act 28:8As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him.

Act 28:9

Act 28:9Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed.

Act 28:10

Act 28:10As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.

Paul Arrives at Rome

Act 28:11

Act 28:11It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods[fn] as its figurehead.

Act 28:12

Act 28:12Our first stop was Syracuse,[fn] where we stayed three days.

Act 28:13

Act 28:13From there we sailed across to Rhegium.[fn] A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli.

Act 28:14

Act 28:14There we found some believers,[fn] who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.

Act 28:15

Act 28:15The brothers and sisters[fn] in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum[fn] on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns.[fn] When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.

Act 28:16

Act 28:16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.

Paul Preaches at Rome under Guard

Act 28:17

Act 28:17Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors.

Act 28:18

Act 28:18The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence.

Act 28:19

Act 28:19But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people.

Act 28:20

Act 28:20I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.”

Act 28:21

Act 28:21They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here.

Act 28:22

Act 28:22But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”

Act 28:23

Act 28:23So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening.

Act 28:24

Act 28:24Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.

Act 28:25

Act 28:25And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,

Act 28:26

Act 28:26‘Go and say to this people:
When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.

Act 28:27

Act 28:27For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’[fn]

Act 28:28

Act 28:28So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”[fn]

Act 28:29

Act 28:29 See Footnote

Act 28:30

Act 28:30For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense.[fn] He welcomed all who visited him,

Act 28:31

Act 28:31boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.

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

NLT Footnotes

(28:11)

The twin gods were the Roman gods Castor and Pollux.

(28:12)

Syracuse was on the island of Sicily.

(28:13)

Rhegium was on the southern tip of Italy.

(28:14)

Greek brothers.

(28:15)

Greek brothers.

(28:15)

The Forum was about 43 miles (70 kilometers) from Rome.

(28:15)

The Three Taverns was about 35 miles (57 kilometers) from Rome.

(28:26)

Isa 6:9-10 (Greek version).

(28:27)

Isa 6:9-10 (Greek version).

(28:28)

Some manuscripts add verse 29, And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, greatly disagreeing with each other.

(28:30)

Or in his own rented quarters.

BLB Footnotes

(28:29)

Some Greek manuscripts exclude this verse. The NLT related footnote for 28:28 states:
28:28 Some manuscripts add verse 29, And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, greatly disagreeing with each other.

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