Thematic Bible




Acts 28:1 (show verse)

It was only after our escape that we found out the island was called Malta.

Acts 28:2 (show verse)

The natives showed us uncommon kindness, for they lit a fire and welcomed us all to it, as the rain had come on and it was chilly.

Acts 28:3 (show verse)

Now Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, when a viper crawled out with the heat and fastened on his hand.

Acts 28:4 (show verse)

When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer! He has escaped the sea, but Justice will not let him live."

Acts 28:5 (show verse)

However, he shook off the creature into the fire and was not a whit the worse.

Acts 28:6 (show verse)

The natives waited for him to swell up or drop down dead in a moment, but after waiting a long while and observing that no harm had befallen him, they changed their minds and declared he was a god.

Acts 28:7 (show verse)

There was an estate in the neighbourhood which belonged to a man called Publius, the governor of the island; he welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

Acts 28:8 (show verse)

His father, it so happened, was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in to see him and after prayer laid his hands on him and cured him.

Acts 28:9 (show verse)

When this had happened, the rest of the sick folk in the island also came and got cured;

Acts 28:10 (show verse)

they made us rich presents and furnished us, when we set sail, with all we needed.

Acts 28:11 (show verse)

We set sail, after three months, in an Alexandrian ship, with the Dioscuri on her figure-head, which had wintered at the island.

Acts 28:12 (show verse)

We put in at Syracuse and stayed for three days.

Acts 28:13 (show verse)

Then tacking round we reached Rhegium; next day a south wind sprang up which brought us in a day to Puteoli,

Acts 28:14 (show verse)

where we came across some of the brotherhood, who invited us to stay a week with them. In this way we reached Rome.

Acts 28:15 (show verse)

As the local brothers had heard about us, they came out to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Tres Tabernae, and when Paul saw them he thanked God and took courage.

Acts 28:16 (show verse)

When we did reach Rome, Paul got permission to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

Acts 28:17 (show verse)

Three days later, he called the leading Jews together, and when they met he said to them, "Brothers, although I have done nothing against the People or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.

Acts 28:18 (show verse)

They meant to release me after examination, as I was innocent of any crime that deserved death.

Acts 28:19 (show verse)

But the Jews objected, and so I was obliged to appeal to Caesar ??not that I had any charge to bring against my own nation.

Acts 28:20 (show verse)

This is my reason for asking to see you and have a word with you. I am wearing this chain because I share Israel's hope."

Acts 28:21 (show verse)

They replied, "We have had no letters about you from Judaea, and no brother has come here with any bad report or story about you.

Acts 28:22 (show verse)

We think it only right to let you tell your own story; but as regards this sect, we are well aware that there are objections to it on all hands."

Acts 28:23 (show verse)

So they fixed a day and came to him at his quarters in large numbers. From morning to evening he explained the Reign of God to them from personal testimony, and tried to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets.

Acts 28:24 (show verse)

Some were convinced by what he said, but the others would not believe.

Acts 28:25 (show verse)

As they could not agree among themselves, they were turning to go away, when Paul added this one word: "It was an apt word that the holy Spirit spoke by the prophet Isaiah to your fathers,

Acts 28:26 (show verse)

when he said, Go and tell this people, 'You will hear and hear but never understand, you will see and see but never perceive.'

Acts 28:27 (show verse)

For the heart at this people is obtuse, their ears are heavy at hearing, their eyes they have closed, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they understand with their heart and turn again, and I cure them.

Acts 28:28 (show verse)

Be sure of this, then, that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen to it."

Acts 28:29 (show verse)

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Acts 28:30 (show verse)

For two full years he remained in his private lodging, welcoming anyone who came to visit him;

Acts 28:31 (show verse)

he preached the Reign of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unmolested.