1AND when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judæa concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

1And when they were escaped, then they knew that the Iland was called Melita.

2And the barbarous people shewed vs no little kindnesse: for they kindled a fire, and receiued vs euery one because of the present raine, and because of the cold.

3And when Paul had gathered a bundle of stickes, and layde them on the fire, there came a Uiper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

4And when the Barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they saide among themselues, No doubt this man is a murtherer, whom though hee hath escaped the Sea, yet Uengeance suffereth not to liue.

5And hee shooke off the beast into the fire, and felt no harme.

6Howbeit, they looked when hee should haue swollen, or fallen downe dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harme come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a God.

7In the same quarters were possessions of the chiefe man of the Iland, whose name was Publius, who receiued vs, and lodged vs three dayes courteously.

8And it came to passe that the father of Publius lay sicke of a feuer, and of a bloody-flixe, to whom Paul entred in, and prayed, and layed his hands on him, and healed him.

9So when this was done, others also which had diseases in the Iland, came, and were healed:

10Who also honoured vs with many honours, and when wee departed, they laded vs with such things as were necessary.

11And after three moneths wee departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the Ile, whose signe was Castor and Pollux.

12And landing at Syracuse wee taried there three dayes.

13And from thence wee fet a compasse, and came to Rhegium, and after one day the South winde blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:

14Where wee found brethren, and were desired to tary with them seuen dayes: and so we went toward Rome.

15And from thence, when the brethren heard of vs, they came to meet vs as farre as Appii forum, and the three Tauernes: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and tooke courage.

16And when we came to Rome, the Centurion deliuered the prisoners to the Captaine of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himselfe, with a souldier that kept him.

17And it came to passe, that after three dayes, Paul called the chiefe of the Iewes together. And when they were come together, he said vnto them, Men and brethren, though I haue committed nothing against the people, or customes of our fathers, yet was I deliuered prisoner from Hierusalem into the hands of the Romanes.

18Who when they had examined me, would haue let me goe, because there was no cause of death in me.

19But when the Iewes spake against it, I was constrained to appeale vnto Cesar, not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

20For this cause therefore haue I called for you, to see you, and to speake with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chaine.

21And they saide vnto him, Wee neither receiued letters out of Iudea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came, shewed or spake any harme of thee.

22But we desire to heare of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that euery where it is spoken against.

23And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging, to whom he expounded and testified the kingdome of God, perswading them concerning Iesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the Prophets, from morning till euening.

24And some beleeued the things which were spoken, and some beleeued not.

25And when they agreed not among themselues, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet, vnto our fathers,

26Saying, Goe vnto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall heare, and shall not vnderstand, and seeing ye shall see, and not perceiue.

27For the heart of this people is waxed grosse, and their eares are dull of hearing, and their eyes haue they closed, lest they should with their eyes, and heare with their eares, and vnderstand with their heart, and should bee conuerted, and I should heale them.

28Be it knowen therfore vnto you, that the saluation of God is sent vnto the Gentiles, and that they wil heare it.

29And when hee had saide these words, the Iewes departed, and had great reasoning among themselues.

30And Paul dwelt two whole yeeres in his owne hired house, and receiued all that came in vnto him,

31Preaching the kingdome of God, and teaching those things which concerne the Lord Iesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

 

1 Once we had reached safety we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us extraordinary hospitality; they lit a fire and welcomed all of us because it had begun to rain and was cold. 3 Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire when a viper, escaping from the heat, fastened on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "This man must certainly be a murderer; though he escaped the sea, Justice has not let him remain alive." 5 But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were expecting him to swell up or suddenly to fall down dead but, after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god. 7 In the vicinity of that place were lands belonging to a man named Publius, the chief of the island. He welcomed us and received us cordially as his guests for three days. 8 It so happened that the father of Publius was sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, after praying, laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 After this had taken place, the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul and were cured. 10 They paid us great honor and when we eventually set sail they brought us the provisions we needed. 11 Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the Dioscuri as its figurehead. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days, 13 and from there we sailed round the coast and arrived at Rhegium. After a day, a south wind came up and in two days we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and were urged to stay with them for seven days. And thus we came to Rome. 15 The brothers from there heard about us and came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul gave thanks to God and took courage. 16 When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. 17 Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, "My brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. 18 After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me, because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation. 20 This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains." 21 They answered him, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor has any of the brothers arrived with a damaging report or rumor about you. 22 But we should like to hear you present your views, for we know that this sect is denounced everywhere." 23 So they arranged a day with him and came to his lodgings in great numbers. From early morning until evening, he expounded his position to them, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he had said, while others did not believe. 25 Without reaching any agreement among themselves they began to leave; then Paul made one final statement. "Well did the holy Spirit speak to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, saying: 26 'Go to this people and say: You shall indeed hear but not understand. You shall indeed look but never see. 27 Gross is the heart of this people; they will not hear with their ears; they have closed their eyes, so they may not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.' 28 Let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen."

29 After reviewing found manuscripts twenty nine was removed.

30 He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him, 31 and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.  

 

v1-6. They escaped to the island of Melita, or Malta, 60 miles south of Sicily. The people were barbarian, at this date not rude and crude, but simply not knowing either the Jewish or the Greek language. They were of Phoenician background. They kindled a fire and Paul helped carry wood. When he was bitten by a venomous snake they thought he was a murderer, but when he didn’t die they thought he was  a god.
v7-10. A leader took Paul’s group in for three days and Paul healed his father of fever and dysentery, some think Malta fever. He healed many others, and in gratitude they supplied the whole group with necessities when they left.
v11. After three months, probably February or March, they were able to leave on another Alexandrian (grain) ship that had wintered there. The gods on the figurehead were supposed to be an omen of good luck to heathen mariners.
v12-16. The route is described to Syracuse on Sicily, then fetching a compass, or making a circuit following the coast, came to Regium on the toe of Italy. Next was Puteoli a, major port and grain receiving center 152 miles south of Rome where they disembarked and found other believers. Had the centurion gone on to Rome and left Paul under the watch of one of the soldiers or was the entire group detained in Puteoli on other business as a result of the shipwreck?  Otherwise the centurion was very generous to let them stay a week before continuing on foot to the market town Forum of Appius 43 miles from Rome and 10 miles farther on to Three Taverns (Inns).  They were met in both places by believers, from Rome.  Arriving at Rome, Paul was kept chained to one soldier in his own hired house, v30. The guard willingly or unwillingly heard much gospel teaching.
v17-20. Not having access to the synagogue, Paul called together the chief Jews to explain why it is he is a prisoner on trial. He declared four things: his innocence of violating Jewish customs, he was not worthy of death in the eyes of the Romans, he had been forced to appeal to Caesar, and it was not because of any accusation he wanted to bring against his people.
v21,22. They claimed to have heard nothing about his situation, but may have discreetly withheld some of their knowledge due to the supremacy of Rome in the entire matter. They had heard some about Christianity which they thought was a sect and was spoken against everywhere, but they wanted to hear more about it from a direct and active source.
v23,24. On a day appointed they came to Paul’s house and he spent the whole day explaining the O.T. prophecies about Jesus. This would have included the death and resurrection of Jesus and a future establishment of the Messianic Kingdom. Of course some believed or were beginning to believe, others not. This was the typical Jewish response even to Christ.
v25-29. He quoted from Isa. 6:9,10 how that the Jews as a whole would reject this truth so the Word of God would be given to Gentiles. This is the last time the focus of the gospel has been  turned to the Gentiles, and it will be so until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. The Gentiles not only surpass in the acceptance of the Gospel but in the proclamation of it also. As always, this challenge brought forth great dispute among the Jews.
v30,31. For two years Paul apparently was not brought to trial, probably because the Jews felt it was useless to pursue these charges in Rome, but people came to his house to hear him tell about Christ. He was under the care of the Roman government so no one rose up against him. Except for his chains, he had more liberty to preach the gospel without conflict than in most of his ministry. It was during this time that he wrote Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians. It is speculated that Paul returned to the provinces of earlier missionary journeys and to Spain. Then probably returned to the Aegean area where he was taken as a prisoner to Rome and executed.
The steps toward the fulfillment of God’s promise to get Paul to Rome were:
ROME
Shipwreck
Injustice
Imprisonment
Arrest
Jewish Hatred