Universalism in the New Testament
BooK of Acts of the First Believers
(Paraphrased)
1 - After we were brought safely through (the weeks long storm at sea and the shipwreck) we then learned the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they welcomed us all, and because it had begun to rain and was cold, they built up a fire. 3 When Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 However, he shook it off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or to suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long while and saw no misfortune come upon him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7 Now in the neighborhood of where we were, there was much land belonging to the chief man of the island, a man named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 Then it happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. So Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases or infirmity also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they supplied us with everything we needed.
11 It was after three months that we set sail in a ship that had wintered on the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. [The twin gods were Castor and Pollux, who were considered divine figures in Greek and Roman mythology. They were believed to be the sons of Zeus (Jupiter) and Leda, and were associated with protection of sailors and ships.]
12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days, 13 and from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. On the next day a south wind rose, and on the second day to Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them for a week. After which we came to Rome,15 and the believers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. And upon seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
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An ‘Enter the Story’ Reading & Study
