Once on shore, we learned that the island was called Malta. The natives showed us extraordinary kindness by lighting a fire and gathering us all around it, for it had begun to rain and was growing cold. Paul had just fed the fire with a bundle of brushwood he had collected, when a poisonous snake, escaping from the heat, fastened itself on his hand. At the sight of the snake hanging from his hand, the natives said to one another, "This man must really be a murderer if, after his escape from the sea, Justice will not let him live." But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects from the bite. They expected to see him swell up or suddenly fall dead. After waiting for some time, however, and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.
In the vicinity of that place was the estate of Publius, the chief figure on the island. He took us in and gave us kind hospitality for three days. It happened that Publius' father was sick in bed, laid up with chronic fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see the man and, praying, laid his hands on him and cured him. After this happened, the rest of the sick on the island began to come to Paul and they too were healed. They paid us much honor, and when we eventually set sail they brought us provisions for our needs.
Three months later we set sail in a ship which had passed the winter at the island. It was an Alexandrian vessel with the "Heavenly Twins" as its figurehead. We put in at Syracuse and spent three days there. Then we sailed around the toe and arrived at Rhegium. A day later a south wind began to blow which enabled us to reach Puteoli in two days. Here we found some of the brothers, who urged us to stay on with them for a week.
This is how we finally came to Rome. Certain brothers from Rome who heard about us came out as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took fresh courage. Upon our entry into Rome Paul was allowed to take a lodging of his own, although a soldier was assigned to keep guard over him.
Three days later Paul invited the prominent men of the Jewish community to visit him. When they had gathered he said: "My brothers, I have done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs; yet in Jerusalem I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner. The Romans tried my case and wanted to release me because they found nothing against me deserving death. When the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to the emperor, though I had no cause to make accusations against my own people. This is the reason, then, why I have asked to see you and speak with you. I wear these chains solely because I share the hope of Israel."
They replied: "We have had no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers arrived with a report or rumor to your discredit. For our part, we are anxious to hear you present your views. We know very well that this sect is denounced everywhere."
With that, they arranged a day with him and came to his lodgings in great numbers. From morning to evening he laid the case before them, bearing witness to the reign of God among men. He sought to convince them about Jesus by appealing to the law of Moses and the prophets. Some, indeed, were convinced by what he said; others would not believe.