28 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that athe island was called Malta. 2 And the bnatives 1showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and csuffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and dsaid that he was a god.
7 In that region there was an estate of the 2leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and eprayed, and fhe laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 They also honored us in many gways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were hnecessary.
11 After three months we sailed in ian Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the 3Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. 12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, 14 where we found jbrethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. 15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but kPaul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
17 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, lthough I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet mI was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, nwhen they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19 But when the 4Jews spoke against it, oI was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because pfor the hope of Israel I am bound with qthis chain.”
21 Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that rit is spoken against everywhere.”
23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, sto whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus tfrom both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And usome were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to 5our fathers, 26 saying,
v‘Go to this people and say:
“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.” ’
28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent wto the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” 29 6And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31 xpreaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, acalled to be an apostle, bseparated to the gospel of God 2 cwhich He promised before dthrough His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who 1was eborn of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and fdeclared to be the Son of God with power according gto the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him hwe have received grace and apostleship for iobedience to the faith among all nations jfor His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, kcalled to be saints:
lGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, mI thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that nyour faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For oGod is my witness, pwhom I serve 2with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that qwithout ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that rI may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by sthe mutual faith both of you and me.
13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but twas hindered until now), that I might have some ufruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
16 For vI am not ashamed of the gospel 3of Christ, for wit is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, xfor the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For yin it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, z“The just shall live by faith.”
God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness
18 aFor the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and bunrighteousness of men, who 4suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because cwhat may be known of God is 5manifest 6in them, for dGod has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world eHis invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and 7Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but fbecame futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 gProfessing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the hincorruptible iGod into an image made like 8corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 jTherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, kto dishonor their bodies lamong themselves, 25 who exchanged mthe truth of God nfor the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to ovile passions. For even their 9women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the 1men, leaving the natural use of the 2woman, burned in their lust for one another, 1men with 1men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things pwhich are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, 3sexual immorality, wickedness, 4covetousness, 5maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 6undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, 7unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, qknowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things rare deserving of death, not only do the same but also sapprove of those who practice them.
2 Therefore you are ainexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, bfor in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise cthe riches of His goodness, dforbearance, and elongsuffering, fnot knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your 1impenitent heart gyou are 2treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who h“will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and ido not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew jfirst and also of the 3Greek; 10 kbut glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For lthere is no partiality with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for mnot the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the nwork of the law written in their hearts, their oconscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 pin the day when God will judge the secrets of men qby Jesus Christ, raccording to my gospel.
The Jews Guilty as the Gentiles
17 4Indeed syou are called a Jew, and trest 5on the law, uand make your boast in God, 18 and vknow His will, and wapprove the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and xare confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, yhaving the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 21 zYou, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, ado you rob temples? 23 You who bmake your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For c“the name of God is dblasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
25 eFor circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, fif an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, gjudge you who, even with your 6written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28 For hhe is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew iwho is one inwardly; and jcircumcision is that of the heart, kin the Spirit, not in the letter; lwhose 7praise is not from men but from God.
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