Study Desk

Once ashore, we^(a) then learned that the island was called Malta.^(b)

The local people^(c) showed us extraordinary kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold.

As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself to his hand.

When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "This man is probably a murderer, and though he has escaped the sea, Justice^[a] does not allow him to live!"^(d)

However, he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.^(e)

They expected that he would swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.^(f)

Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

Publius's father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.^(g)

After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.

So they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed.

After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Brothers^[b] as its figurehead.

Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed three days.

From there, after making a circuit along the coast,^[c] we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli.

There we found believers^[d](h) and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.

Now the believers^[e] from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

When we entered Rome,^[f] Paul was permitted to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.⁽ⁱ⁾