Acts Chapter 28
Showing all 31 verses for Acts Chapter 28.
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"And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. "
"Once they'd all made it safely to shore, they learned that the island was called Malta."
Jesus points out that even in the middle of chaos, small certainties matter - knowing where you stand, literally and figuratively, is the first step to steadying yourself and helping others do the same.
"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. "
"The local people showed them unusual kindness: they lit a fire and welcomed every one of them, because it had started to rain and it was cold."
Jesus says this is what love in action looks like: not grand speeches, but noticing that someone is cold and wet, and doing the practical thing to help them, no questions asked.
"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. "
"Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, and a viper, driven out by the heat, latched onto his hand."
Jesus notes that Paul doesn't consider himself above helping with simple, practical tasks - real character shows itself in the unglamorous moments, not just the dramatic ones.
"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. "
"When the islanders saw the venomous creature hanging from his hand, they said to each other, 'This man must be a murderer - he escaped the sea, but justice won't let him live.'"
Jesus warns against this exact reflex: judging people by their misfortunes, as though pain were always proof of guilt. He asks his followers to withhold that judgement and wait to see the fuller picture.
"And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. "
"But Paul simply shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm at all."
Jesus says fear doesn't have to control your reactions when danger strikes - you can meet a crisis with a clear head, deal with it, and move on, rather than being paralysed or defined by it.
"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. "
"The islanders kept expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead, but after watching for a long time and seeing nothing happen to him, they changed their minds and decided he must be a god."
Jesus reminds his followers not to get swept up in either extreme when people either vilify or idolise them - staying grounded in who you actually are matters more than managing other people's shifting opinions.
"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. "
"Nearby were the estates of the island's chief official, a man named Publius, who welcomed them and hosted them generously for three days."
Jesus highlights that true generosity doesn't calculate what it will get back - Publius has nothing to gain from housing shipwrecked prisoners and travellers, yet does it anyway.
"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. "
"It happened that Publius's father was ill in bed with fever and dysentery; Paul went in to him, prayed, and placed his hands on him, and healed him."
Jesus teaches that gratitude is best shown by giving what you genuinely have to offer, however unexpected - meeting someone's need directly rather than with empty thanks.
"So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: "
"After this happened, the rest of the sick people on the island also came to Paul, and they were healed too."
Jesus points out that good done quietly rarely stays hidden - when people see real compassion in action, it draws others in who are hoping for the same care.
"Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary. "
"The islanders honoured them in many ways, and when they were ready to leave, they loaded them with everything they would need for the journey."
Jesus notes that when people give freely and receive freely, without keeping score, relationships end in genuine goodwill rather than obligation - that's the shape generosity is meant to take.
"And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. "
"After three months they set sail on a ship from Alexandria that had wintered at the island, one with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux."
Jesus doesn't ask his followers to retreat from a world full of different beliefs and symbols - Paul travels comfortably on a ship named for pagan gods, engaging with the world as it is rather than avoiding it.
"And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. "
"They landed at Syracuse and stayed there three days."
Jesus reminds his followers that most of life, even a meaningful journey, is made up of ordinary, unremarkable steps - and that's fine; not every moment has to be a turning point.
"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: "
"From there they sailed round the coast and arrived at Rhegium; after a day, a south wind picked up, and the next day they reached Puteoli."
Jesus points out that seasons of struggle don't last forever - after real hardship, there often comes a stretch where things simply move more easily, and it's worth noticing and being grateful for that shift.
"Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. "
"There they found fellow believers, who invited them to stay for seven days; and so they went on towards Rome."
Jesus says that genuine community travels with you - true belonging isn't about circumstance or status, but about shared purpose, and it shows up even in an unexpected port town.
"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. "
"When the believers in Rome heard he was coming, they travelled out to meet him as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns; seeing them, Paul thanked God and felt his courage renewed."
Jesus teaches that showing up for someone, quite literally walking towards them in their hard moment, is one of the most powerful things you can do - courage is often borrowed from the people who come to stand beside you.
"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. "
"When they reached Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, guarded by a single soldier, rather than being held in a common prison."
Jesus points out that even constrained circumstances can leave room to do meaningful work - the question isn't whether you have total freedom, but what you choose to do with the freedom you do have.
"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. "
"Three days later, Paul called together the leading Jewish figures in Rome. When they gathered, he told them: 'Brothers, though I've done nothing against our people or our traditions, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.'"
Jesus commends going straight to people to explain yourself honestly rather than letting misunderstandings fester - clear, respectful communication defuses far more conflict than silence ever does.
"Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. "
"'After questioning me, they were ready to release me, because there was no charge against me deserving death.'"
Jesus notes the importance of being fair in naming where trouble actually comes from - Paul doesn't blame Rome for what was really driven by a small group's hostility, and that kind of accuracy matters for reconciliation.
"But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. "
"'But when the Jewish leaders objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar - not because I had any charge to bring against my own people.'"
Jesus teaches that standing up for yourself doesn't require tearing others down - Paul defends his own life without turning it into an attack on the people who opposed him.
"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. "
"'That's why I asked to see you and speak with you - because it's for the hope of Israel that I'm bound with this chain.'"
Jesus says that suffering endured for something you genuinely believe in - rather than by accident or misfortune - carries a different kind of dignity, and it's worth being honest with others about what you're actually standing for.
"And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. "
"They replied, 'We haven't received any letters from Judaea about you, and none of our people who've come from there has said anything bad about you.'"
Jesus points out the value of a fresh start - sometimes moving forward means finding people willing to hear you out on your own terms, rather than through the filter of old conflicts.
"But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. "
"'But we'd like to hear directly from you what you believe - because as for this group, we know it's spoken against everywhere.'"
Jesus praises this kind of openness - being willing to hear someone out directly, rather than judging them purely by rumour or reputation, is the beginning of real understanding.
"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. "
"They set a day to meet, and even more people came to his lodging. From morning until evening, Paul explained and testified about the kingdom of God, trying to persuade them about Jesus using the Law of Moses and the Prophets."
Jesus values this kind of patient, respectful persuasion over pressure or shortcuts - real change of mind takes time, honest engagement, and a willingness to keep explaining rather than demanding agreement.
"And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. "
"Some were convinced by what he said, while others refused to believe."
Jesus reminds his followers not to take a mixed reception personally or as failure - people are free, and respecting that freedom, even when it means disagreement, is part of loving them well.
"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, "
"Unable to agree among themselves, they began to leave, but not before Paul said one last thing: 'The Holy Spirit spoke truly through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors...'"
Jesus teaches that when people don't agree with you, it helps to step back and see the larger pattern rather than reacting with anger - understanding why people resist can be more useful than simply being frustrated by it.
"Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: "
"'Go to this people and say: You will keep hearing but never understand; you will keep looking but never truly see.'"
Jesus warns against becoming so fixed in your existing view that you stop actually hearing new evidence - genuine growth requires staying open, even when what you're hearing challenges you.
"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. "
"'For this people's hearts have grown calloused; their ears are slow to hear and their eyes are shut - otherwise they might see, hear, understand and turn back, and be healed.'"
Jesus says the door to change is never actually locked from the outside - it's often people's own defensiveness that keeps it shut, and staying willing to look honestly at yourself is what keeps that door open.
"Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. "
"'So understand this: God's salvation has now been sent to the non-Jewish nations, and they will listen.'"
Jesus makes clear that no one is outside the reach of love and belonging because of where they were born or what group they belong to - this message was never meant to be exclusive, and its whole trajectory has been opening the door wider.
"And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. "
"After Paul said this, the Jewish leaders left, arguing intensely among themselves."
Jesus notes that it's fine for hard conversations to end unresolved - planting a genuine question in someone's mind is often worth more than forcing an immediate conclusion.
"And Paul two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, "
💡 Highlighted words feature Jacobean 1611 tooltips to clarify shifted 17th-century English terms.
"Paul lived for two full years in his own rented accommodation, welcoming everyone who came to see him."
Jesus says that limits on your circumstances don't have to limit your generosity or your welcome - Paul, even chained, keeps his door open to everyone, and that choice is always available regardless of situation.
"Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. "
"He kept preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ, doing so with complete boldness, and no one stopped him."
Jesus leaves his followers with exactly this note: the work doesn't finish with any one person's story - it continues wherever someone keeps speaking the truth with courage and welcoming whoever comes, and no chain can ultimately stop that from spreading.