Verse-Reference
Reference-Verse
Abbreviate Books
Quotes around Verses      |
 Act 28:1 |
Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. |
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Act 28:2 |
The 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 and warm us. |
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Act 28:3 |
As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, fastened itself onto his hand. |
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Act 28:4 |
The people of the island saw it hanging there and said to each other, "A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live." |
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Act 28:5 |
But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. |
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Act 28:6 |
The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and decided he was a god. |
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Act 28:7 |
Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us courteously and fed us for three days. |
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Act 28:8 |
As 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. |
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Act 28:9 |
Then all the other sick people on the island came and were cured. |
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Act 28:10 |
As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people put on board all sorts of things we would need for the trip. |
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Act 28:11 |
It 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. |
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Act 28:12 |
Our first stop was Syracuse, [fn] where we stayed three days. |
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Act 28:13 |
From 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. |
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Act 28:14 |
There we found some believers, [fn] who invited us to stay with them seven days. And so we came to Rome. |
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Act 28:15 |
The 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 thanked God and took courage. |
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Act 28:16 |
When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier. |
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Act 28:17 |
Three 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. |
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Act 28:18 |
The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, for they found no cause for the death sentence. |
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Act 28:19 |
But 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. |
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Act 28:20 |
I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could tell you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel--the Messiah--has already come." |
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Act 28:21 |
They replied, "We have heard nothing against you. We have had no letters from Judea or reports from anyone who has arrived here. |
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Act 28:22 |
But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about these Christians [fn] is that they are denounced everywhere." |
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Act 28:23 |
So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul's house. He told them about the Kingdom of God and taught them about Jesus from the Scriptures--from the five books of Moses and the books of the prophets. He began lecturing in the morning and went on into the evening. |
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Act 28:24 |
Some believed and some didn't. |
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Act 28:25 |
But 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 our ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, |
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Act 28:26 |
`Go and say to my people, You will hear my words, but you will not understand; you will see what I do, but you will not perceive its meaning. |
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Act 28:27 |
For 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] |
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Act 28:28 |
So I want you to realize that this salvation from God is also available to the Gentiles, and they will accept it." [fn] |
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Act 28:29 |
Omitted from the NLT. See the  button or the footnotes for additional information.
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Act 28:30 |
For the next two years, Paul lived in his own rented house. [fn] He welcomed all who visited him, |
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Act 28:31 |
proclaiming the Kingdom of God with all boldness and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him. |
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.
- (28:14-15) 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.
- (28:22) Greek this sect.
- (28:26-27) Isa 6:9-10.
- (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 at his own expense.
