Acts 28 - Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition（CEVDCI）

On the Island of Malta

1When we came ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.

2The local people were very friendly, and they welcomed us by building a fire, because it was rainy and cold.

3After Paul had gathered some wood and had put it on the fire, the heat caused a snake to crawl out, and it bit him on the hand.

4When the local people saw the snake hanging from Paul's hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He didn't drown in the sea, but the goddess of justice will kill him anyway.”

5Paul shook the snake off into the fire and wasn't harmed.

6The people kept thinking that Paul would either swell up or suddenly drop dead. They watched him for a long time, and when nothing happened to him, they changed their minds and said, “This man is a god.”

7The governor of the island was named Publius, and he owned some of the land around there. Publius was very friendly and welcomed us into his home for three days.

8His father was in bed, sick with fever and stomach trouble, and Paul went to visit him. Paul healed the man by praying and placing his hands on him.

9After this happened, everyone on the island brought their sick people to Paul, and they were all healed.

10The people were very respectful to us, and when we sailed, they gave us everything we needed.

From Malta to Rome

11Three months later we sailed in a ship that had been docked at Malta for the winter. The ship was from Alexandria in Egypt and was known as “The Twin Gods.”

12We arrived in Syracuse and stayed for three days.

13From there we sailed to Rhegium. The next day a south wind began to blow, and two days later we arrived in Puteoli.

14There we found some of the Lord's followers, who begged us to stay with them. A week later we left for the city of Rome.

15Some of the followers in Rome heard about us and came to meet us at the Market of Appius and at the Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was encouraged.

Paul in Rome

16We arrived in Rome, and Paul was allowed to live in a house by himself with a soldier to guard him.

17Three days after we got there, Paul called together some of the Jewish leaders and said:

My friends, I have never done anything to hurt our people, and I have never gone against the customs of our ancestors. But in Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans.

18They looked into the charges against me and wanted to release me. They found that I had not done anything deserving death.

19 to try to win them over to Jesus.

24Some of the leaders agreed with what Paul said, but others did not.

25Since they could not agree among themselves, they started leaving. But Paul said, “The Holy Spirit said the right thing when he sent Isaiah the prophet

26

30For two years Paul stayed in a rented house and welcomed everyone who came to see him.

31He bravely preached about God's kingdom and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ, and no one tried to stop him.