Who, what, why, when, where, and how — read the book introduction
Acts 1–28 available · Reviewed and cleared by the author.
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Learn about the sources and coverage →Once everyone was safely ashore, they learned that the island was called Malta.
And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
Καὶ διασωθέντες, τότε ἐπέγνωσαν ὅτι Μελίτη ἡ νῆσος καλεῖται.
Kai diasōthentes, tote epegnōsan hoti Melitē hē nēsos kaleitai.
The islanders showed us remarkable kindness. Because rain was falling and it was cold, they built a fire and welcomed every one of us.
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.
Οἱ δὲ βάρβαροι παρεῖχον οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν φιλανθρωπίαν ἡμῖν∙ ἀνάψαντες γὰρ πυράν, προσελάβοντο πάντας ἡμᾶς, διὰ τὸν ὑετὸν τὸν ἐφεστῶτα, καὶ διὰ τὸ ψῦχος.
Hoi de barbaroi pareichon ou tēn tychousan philanthrōpian hēmin; anapsantes gar pyran, proselabonto pantas hēmas, dia ton hyeton ton ephestōta, kai dia to psychos.
Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and placed it on the fire. A viper came out because of the heat and fastened onto his hand.
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.
Συστρέψαντος δὲ τοῦ Παύλου φρυγάνων πλῆθος, καὶ ἐπιθέντος ἐπὶ τὴν πυράν, ἔχιδνα ἐκ τῆς θέρμης διεξελθοῦσα καθῆψεν τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ.
Systrepsantos de tou Paulou phryganōn plēthos, kai epithentos epi tēn pyran, echidna ek tēs thermēs diexelthousa kathēpsen tēs cheiros autou.
When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man must be a murderer. He escaped the sea, but Justice will not let him live.”
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.
Ὡς δὲ εἶδον οἱ βάρβαροι κρεμάμενον τὸ θηρίον ἐκ τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ, ἔλεγον πρὸς ἀλλήλους, Πάντως φονεύς ἐστιν ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος, ὃν διασωθέντα ἐκ τῆς θαλάσσης ἡ Δίκη ζῇν οὐκ εἴασεν.
Hōs de eidon hoi barbaroi kremamenon to thērion ek tēs cheiros autou, elegon pros allēlous, Pantōs phoneus estin ho anthrōpos houtos, hon diasōthenta ek tēs thalassēs hē Dikē zēn ouk eiasen.
Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm.
And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Ὁ μὲν οὖν, ἀποτινάξας τὸ θηρίον εἰς τὸ πῦρ, ἔπαθεν οὐδὲν κακόν.
Ho men oun, apotinaxas to thērion eis to pyr, epathen ouden kakon.
They expected him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after watching for a long time and seeing nothing wrong happen, they changed their minds and began saying he was a god.
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.
Οἱ δὲ προσεδόκων αὐτὸν μέλλειν πίμπρασθαι ἢ καταπίπτειν ἄφνω νεκρόν∙ ἐπὶ πολὺ δὲ αὐτῶν προσδοκώντων, καὶ θεωρούντων μηδὲν ἄτοπον εἰς αὐτὸν γινόμενον, μεταβαλλόμενοι ἔλεγον θεὸν αὐτὸν εἶναι.
Hoi de prosedokōn auton mellein pimprasthai ē katapiptein aphnō nekron; epi poly de autōn prosdokōntōn, kai theōrountōn mēden atopon eis auton ginomenon, metaballomenoi elegon theon auton einai.
Nearby were estates belonging to Publius, the island’s leading official. He welcomed us and generously hosted us for three days.
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.
Ἐν δὲ τοῖς περὶ τὸν τόπον ἐκεῖνον ὑπῆρχεν χωρία τῷ πρώτῳ τῆς νήσου, ὀνόματι Ποπλίῳ, ὃς ἀναδεξάμενος ἡμᾶς τρεῖς ἡμέρας φιλοφρόνως ἐξένισεν.
En de tois peri ton topon ekeinon hypērchen chōria tō prōtō tēs nēsou, onomati Popliō, hos anadexamenos hēmas treis hēmeras philophronōs exenisen.
Publius’s father was in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, prayed, laid his hands on him, and healed him.
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.
Ἐγένετο δὲ τὸν πατέρα τοῦ Ποπλίου πυρετοῖς καὶ δυσεντερίᾳ συνεχόμενον κατακεῖσθαι∙ πρὸς ὃν ὁ Παῦλος εἰσελθών, καὶ προσευξάμενος, ἐπιθεὶς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῷ, ἰάσατο αὐτόν.
Egeneto de ton patera tou Popliou pyretois kai dysenteria synechomenon katakeisthai; pros hon ho Paulos eiselthōn, kai proseuxamenos, epitheis tas cheiras autō, iasato auton.
After this, the other sick people on the island came and were healed as well.
So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
Τούτου οὖν γενομένου, καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ ἔχοντες ἀσθενείας ἐν τῇ νήσῳ προσήρχοντο καὶ ἐθεραπεύοντο∙
Toutou oun genomenou, kai hoi loipoi hoi echontes astheneias en tē nēsō prosērchonto kai etherapeuonto;
They showed us great honor, and when we sailed, they supplied us with what we needed.
Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
οἳ καὶ πολλαῖς τιμαῖς ἐτίμησαν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἀναγομένοις ἐπέθεντο τὰ πρὸς τὴν χρείαν.
hoi kai pollais timais etimēsan hēmas, kai anagomenois epethento ta pros tēn chreian.
Three months later we set sail on an Alexandrian ship that had spent the winter at the island. Its figurehead was the Twin Brothers, Castor and Pollux.
And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
Μετὰ δὲ τρεῖς μῆνας ἤχθημεν ἐν πλοίῳ παρακεχειμακότι ἐν τῇ νήσῳ, Ἀλεξανδρίνῳ, παρασήμῳ Διοσκούροις.
Meta de treis mēnas ēchthēmen en ploiō parakecheimakoti en tē nēsō, Alexandrinō, parasēmō Dioskourois.
We put in at Syracuse and stayed for three days.
And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
Καὶ καταχθέντες εἰς Συρακούσας ἐπεμείναμεν ἡμέρας τρεῖς∙
Kai katachthentes eis Syrakousas epemeinamen hēmeras treis;
From there we sailed around to Rhegium. A day later a south wind came up, and on the second day we reached Puteoli.
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:
ὅθεν περιελθόντες κατηντήσαμεν εἰς Ῥήγιον, καὶ μετὰ μίαν ἡμέραν ἐπιγενομένου νότου, δευτεραῖοι ἤλθομεν εἰς Ποτιόλους∙
hothen perielthontes katēntēsamen eis Rhēgion, kai meta mian hēmeran epigenomenou notou, deuteraioi ēlthomen eis Potiolous;
There we found fellow believers who invited us to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.
Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
οὗ εὑρόντες ἀδελφούς, παρεκλήθημεν ἐπ’ αὐτοῖς ἐπιμεῖναι ἡμέρας ἑπτά∙ καὶ οὕτως εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην ἤλθομεν.
hou heurontes adelphous, pareklēthēmen ep’ autois epimeinai hēmeras hepta; kai houtōs eis tēn Rhōmēn ēlthomen.
The believers there had heard about us and came out to meet us, some as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and found fresh courage.
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.
Κἀκεῖθεν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ἀκούσαντες τὰ περὶ ἡμῶν, ἐξῆλθον εἰς ἀπάντησιν ἡμῖν ἄχρι Ἀππίου Φόρου καὶ Τριῶν Ταβερνῶν∙ οὓς ἰδὼν ὁ Παῦλος, εὐχαριστήσας τῷ θεῷ, ἔλαβεν θάρσος.
Kakeithen hoi adelphoi akousantes ta peri hēmōn, exēlthon eis apantēsin hēmin achri Appiou Phorou kai Triōn Tabernōn; hous idōn ho Paulos, eucharistēsas tō theō, elaben tharsos.
When we arrived in Rome, the centurion handed the prisoners over to the commander of the guard. Paul, however, was allowed to live separately, with a soldier guarding him.
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.
Ὅτε δὲ ἤλθομεν εἰς Ῥώμην, ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος παρέδωκεν τοὺς δεσμίους τῷ στρατοπεδάρχῃ∙ τῷ δὲ Παύλῳ ἐπετράπη μένειν καθ’ ἑαυτόν, σὺν τῷ φυλάσσοντι αὐτὸν στρατιώτῃ.
Hote de ēlthomen eis Rhōmēn, ho hekatontarchos paredōken tous desmious tō stratopedarchē; tō de Paulō epetrapē menein kath’ heauton, syn tō phylassonti auton stratiōtē.
Three days later, Paul called together the local Jewish leaders. When they gathered, he said, “Brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was handed over from Jerusalem to the Romans as a prisoner.
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.
Ἐγένετο δὲ μετὰ ἡμέρας τρεῖς συγκαλέσασθαι τὸν Παῦλον τοὺς ὄντας τῶν Ἰουδαίων πρώτους∙ συνελθόντων δὲ αὐτῶν, ἔλεγεν πρὸς αὐτούς, Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ἐγὼ οὐδὲν ἐναντίον ποιήσας τῷ λαῷ ἢ τοῖς ἔθεσιν τοῖς πατρῴοις, δέσμιος ἐξ Ἱεροσολύμων παρεδόθην εἰς τὰς χεῖρας τῶν Ῥωμαίων∙
Egeneto de meta hēmeras treis synkalesasthai ton Paulon tous ontas tōn Ioudaiōn prōtous; synelthontōn de autōn, elegen pros autous, Andres adelphoi, egō ouden enantion poiēsas tō laō ē tois ethesin tois patrōois, desmios ex Hierosolymōn paredothēn eis tas cheiras tōn Rhōmaiōn;
They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for putting me to death.
Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
οἵτινες ἀνακρίναντές με ἐβούλοντο ἀπολῦσαι, διὰ τὸ μηδεμίαν αἰτίαν θανάτου ὑπάρχειν ἐν ἐμοί.
hoitines anakrinantes me eboulonto apolysai, dia to mēdemian aitian thanatou hyparchein en emoi.
But when the Jewish accusers objected, I had to appeal to Caesar. I did not do this to bring a charge against my own nation.
But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
Ἀντιλεγόντων δὲ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἠναγκάσθην ἐπικαλέσασθαι Καίσαρα, οὐχ ὡς τοῦ ἔθνους μου ἔχων τι κατηγορῆσαι.
Antilegontōn de tōn Ioudaiōn, ēnankasthēn epikalesasthai Kaisara, ouch hōs tou ethnous mou echōn ti katēgorēsai.
That is why I asked to see you and speak with you. I am wearing this chain because of the hope of Israel.”
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.
Διὰ ταύτην οὖν τὴν αἰτίαν παρεκάλεσα ὑμᾶς ἰδεῖν καὶ προσλαλῆσαι∙ ἕνεκεν γὰρ τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ τὴν ἅλυσιν ταύτην περίκειμαι.
Dia tautēn oun tēn aitian parekalesa hymas idein kai proslalēsai; heneken gar tēs elpidos tou Israēl tēn halysin tautēn perikeimai.
They replied, “We have received no letters about you from Judea, and none of our people who have come here has reported or said anything against you.
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.
Οἱ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν εἶπον, Ἡμεῖς οὔτε γράμματα περὶ σοῦ ἐδεξάμεθα ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰουδαίας, οὔτε παραγενόμενός τις τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἀπήγγειλεν ἢ ἐλάλησέν τι περὶ σοῦ πονηρόν.
Hoi de pros auton eipon, Hēmeis oute grammata peri sou edexametha apo tēs Ioudaias, oute paragenomenos tis tōn adelphōn apēngeilen ē elalēsen ti peri sou ponēron.
But we would like to hear your views. We know that this movement is spoken against everywhere.”
But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
Ἀξιοῦμεν δὲ παρὰ σοῦ ἀκοῦσαι ἃ φρονεῖς∙ περὶ μὲν γὰρ τῆς αἱρέσεως ταύτης γνωστόν ἐστιν ἡμῖν ὅτι πανταχοῦ ἀντιλέγεται.
Axioumen de para sou akousai ha phroneis; peri men gar tēs haireseōs tautēs gnōston estin hēmin hoti pantachou antilegetai.
They arranged a day to meet, and even more came to his lodging. From morning until evening, Paul explained and testified about God’s kingdom. Using the Law of Moses and the Prophets, he tried to persuade them about Jesus.
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.
Ταξάμενοι δὲ αὐτῷ ἡμέραν, ἧκον πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν ξενίαν πλείονες∙ οἷς ἐξετίθετο διαμαρτυρόμενος τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ, πείθων τε αὐτοὺς τὰ περὶ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, ἀπό τε τοῦ νόμου Μωϋσέως καὶ τῶν προφητῶν, ἀπὸ πρωῒ ἕως ἑσπέρας.
Taxamenoi de autō hēmeran, hēkon pros auton eis tēn xenian pleiones; hois exetitheto diamartyromenos tēn basileian tou theou, peithōn te autous ta peri tou Iēsou, apo te tou nomou Mōyseōs kai tōn prophētōn, apo prōi heōs hesperas.
Some were convinced by what he said. Others would not believe.
And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
Καὶ οἱ μὲν ἐπείθοντο τοῖς λεγομένοις, οἱ δὲ ἠπίστουν.
Kai hoi men epeithonto tois legomenois, hoi de ēpistoun.
They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to our ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,
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,
Ἀσύμφωνοι δὲ ὄντες πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀπελύοντο, εἰπόντος τοῦ Παύλου ῥῆμα ἕν, ὅτι Καλῶς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ἐλάλησεν διὰ Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν,
Asymphōnoi de ontes pros allēlous apelyonto, eipontos tou Paulou rhēma hen, hoti Kalōs to pneuma to hagion elalēsen dia Ēsaiou tou prophētou pros tous pateras hēmōn,
saying, ‘Go to this people and tell them: You will hear and hear, yet never understand. You will look and look, yet never truly see.
Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
λέγον, Πορεύθητι πρὸς τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον καὶ εἰπόν, Ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε, καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε∙ καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε.
legon, Poreuthēti pros ton laon touton kai eipon, Akoē akousete, kai ou mē synēte; kai blepontes blepsete, kai ou mē idēte.
For this people’s heart has grown dull. Their ears barely hear, and they have shut their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand in their hearts, and turn back—and I would heal them.’
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.
Ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν, καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν∙ μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς, καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν, καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν, καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν, καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς.
Epachynthē gar hē kardia tou laou toutou, kai tois ōsin bareōs ēkousan, kai tous ophthalmous autōn ekammysan; mēpote idōsin tois ophthalmois, kai tois ōsin akousōsin, kai tē kardia synōsin, kai epistrepsōsin, kai iasomai autous.
“So understand this: God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
Γνωστὸν οὖν ἔστω ὑμῖν ὅτι τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἀπεστάλη τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ, αὐτοὶ καὶ ἀκούσονται.
Gnōston oun estō hymin hoti tois ethnesin apestalē to sōtērion tou theou, autoi kai akousontai.
After Paul said this, the Jewish visitors left, arguing intensely among themselves.
And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
Καὶ ταῦτα αὐτοῦ εἰπόντος, ἀπῆλθον οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι, πολλὴν ἔχοντες ἐν ἑαυτοῖς συζήτησιν.
Kai tauta autou eipontos, apēlthon hoi Ioudaioi, pollēn echontes en heautois syzētēsin.
For two full years Paul stayed in his own rented quarters and welcomed everyone who came to see him.
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
Ἔμεινεν δὲ ὁ Παῦλος διετίαν ὅλην ἐν ἰδίῳ μισθώματι, καὶ ἀπεδέχετο πάντας τοὺς εἰσπορευομένους πρὸς αὐτόν,
Emeinen de ho Paulos dietian holēn en idiō misthōmati, kai apedecheto pantas tous eisporeuomenous pros auton,
He proclaimed God’s kingdom and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness, and no one stopped him.
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
κηρύσσων τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ διδάσκων τὰ περὶ τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ, μετὰ πάσης παρρησίας, ἀκωλύτως.
kēryssōn tēn basileian tou theou, kai didaskōn ta peri tou kyriou Iēsou christou, meta pasēs parrēsias, akōlytōs.