1 A fter we were safe on the island, we knew and recognized that it was called Malta.

Estando já salvos, soubemos então que a ilha se chamava Malta.

2 A nd the natives showed us unusual and remarkable kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed and received us all, since it had begun to rain and was cold.

Os indígenas usaram conosco de não pouca humanidade; pois acenderam uma fogueira e nos recolheram a todos por causa da chuva que caía, e por causa do frio.

3 N ow Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and he was laying them on the fire when a viper crawled out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.

Ora havendo Paulo ajuntado e posto sobre o fogo um feixe de gravetos, uma víbora, fugindo do calor, apegou-se-lhe ã mão.

4 W hen the natives saw the little animal hanging from his hand, they said to one another, Doubtless this man is a murderer, for though he has been saved from the sea, Justice '> the goddess of avenging] has not permitted that he should live.

Quando os indígenas viram o réptil pendente da mão dele, diziam uns aos outros: Certamente este homem é homicida, pois, embora salvo do mar, a Justiça não o deixa viver.

5 T hen shook off the small creature into the fire and suffered no evil effects.

Mas ele, sacudindo o réptil no fogo, não sofreu mal nenhum.

6 H owever, they were waiting, expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead; but when they had watched him a long time and saw nothing fatal or harmful come to him, they changed their minds and kept saying over and over that he was a god.

Eles, porém, esperavam que Paulo viesse a inchar ou a cair morto de repente; mas tendo esperado muito tempo e vendo que nada de anormal lhe sucedia, mudaram de parecer e diziam que era um deus.

7 I n the vicinity of that place there were estates belonging to the head man of the island, named Publius, who accepted and welcomed and entertained us with hearty hospitality for three days.

Ora, nos arredores daquele lugar havia umas terras que pertenciam ao homem principal da ilha, por nome Públio, o qual nos recebeu e hospedou bondosamente por três dias.

8 A nd it happened that the father of Publius was sick in bed with recurring attacks of fever and dysentery; and Paul went to see him, and after praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.

Aconteceu estar de cama, enfermo de febre e disenteria, o pai de Públio; Paulo foi visitá-lo, e havendo orado, impôs-lhe as mãos, e o curou.

9 A fter this had occurred, the other people on the island who had diseases also kept coming and were cured.

Feito isto, vinham também os demais enfermos da ilha, e eram curados;

10 T hey showed us every respect and presented many gifts to us, honoring us with many honors; and when we sailed, they provided and put on everything we needed.

e estes nos distinguiram com muitas honras; e, ao embarcarmos, puseram a bordo as coisas que nos eram necessárias.

11 I t was after three months’ stay there that we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead.

Passados três meses, partimos em um navio de Alexandria que invernara na ilha, o qual tinha por insígnia Castor e Pólux.

12 W e landed at Syracuse and remained there three days,

E chegando a Siracusa, ficamos ali três dias;

13 A nd from there we made a circuit and reached Rhegium; and one day later a south wind sprang up, and the next day we arrived at Puteoli.

donde, costeando, viemos a Régio; e, soprando no dia seguinte o vento sul, chegamos em dois dias a Putéoli,

14 T here we found some brethren and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.

onde, achando alguns irmãos, fomos convidados a ficar com eles sete dias; e depois nos dirigimos a Roma.

15 A nd the brethren there, having had news of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and received new courage.

Ora, os irmãos da lá, havendo recebido notícias nossas, vieram ao nosso encontro até a praça de Ápio e

16 W hen we arrived at Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was permitted to live by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

Quando chegamos a Roma, a Paulo se lhe permitiu morar ã parte, com o soldado que o guardava.

17 T hree days after, he called together the leading local Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, Brethren, though I have done nothing against the people or against the customs of our forefathers, yet I was turned over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

Passados três dias, ele convocou os principais dentre os judeus; e reunidos eles, disse-lhes: Varões irmãos, não havendo eu feito nada contra o povo, ou contra os ritos paternos, vim contudo preso desde Jerusalém, entregue nas mãos dos romanos;

18 A fter they had examined me, they were ready to release me because I was innocent of any offense deserving the death penalty.

os quais, havendo-me interrogado, queriam soltar-me, por não haver em mim crime algum que merecesse a morte.

19 B ut when the Jews protested, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, though it was not because I had any charge to make against my nation.

Mas opondo-se a isso os judeus, vi-me obrigado a apelar para César, não tendo, contudo, nada de que acusar a minha nação.

20 T his is the reason therefore why I have begged to see you and to talk with you, since it is because of the Hope of Israel (the Messiah) that I am bound with this chain.

Por esta causa, pois, vos convidei, para vos ver e falar; porque pela esperança de Israel estou preso com esta cadeia.

21 A nd they answered him, We have not received any letters about you from Judea, and none of the brethren coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you.

Mas eles lhe disseram: Nem recebemos da Judéia cartas a teu respeito, nem veio aqui irmão algum que contasse ou dissesse mal de ti.

22 B ut we think it fitting and are eager to hear from you what it is that you have in mind and believe and what your opinion is, for with regard to this sect it is known to all of us that it is everywhere denounced.

No entanto bem quiséramos ouvir de ti o que pensas; porque, quanto a esta seita, notório nos é que em toda parte é impugnada.

23 S o when they had set a day with him, they came in large numbers to his lodging. And he fully set forth and explained the matter to them from morning until night, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

Havendo-lhe eles marcado um dia, muitos foram ter com ele ã sua morada, aos quais desde a manhã até a noite explicava com bom testemunho o reino de Deus e procurava persuadí-los acerca de Jesus, tanto pela lei de Moisés como pelos profetas.

24 A nd some were convinced and believed what he said, and others did not believe.

Uns criam nas suas palavras, mas outros as rejeitavam.

25 A nd as they disagreed among themselves, they began to leave, Paul had added one statement: The Holy Spirit was right in saying through Isaiah the prophet to your forefathers:

E estando discordes entre si, retiraram-se, havendo Paulo dito esta palavra: Bem falou o Espírito Santo aos vossos pais pelo profeta Isaías,

26 G o to this people and say to them, You will indeed hear and hear with your ears but will not understand, and you will indeed look and look with your eyes but will not see.

dizendo: Vai a este povo e dize: Ouvindo, ouvireis, e de maneira nenhuma entendereis; e vendo, vereis, e de maneira nenhuma percebereis.

27 F or the heart (the understanding, the soul) of this people has grown dull (stupid, hardened, and calloused), and their ears are heavy and hard of hearing and they have shut tight their eyes, so that they may not perceive and have knowledge and become acquainted with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their souls and turn, that I may heal them.

Porque o coração deste povo se endureceu, e com os ouvidos ouviram tardamente, e fecharam os olhos; para que não vejam com os olhos, nem ouçam com os ouvidos, nem entendam com o coração nem se convertam e eu os cure.

28 S o let it be understood by you then that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!

Seja-vos pois notório que esta salvação de Deus é enviada aos gentios, e eles ouvirão.

29 A nd when he had said these things, the Jews went away, arguing and disputing among themselves.

30 A fter this Paul lived there for two entire years in his own rented lodging, and he welcomed all who came to him,

E morou dois anos inteiros na casa que alugara, e recebia a todos os que o visitavam,

31 P reaching to them the kingdom of God and teaching them about the Lord Jesus Christ with boldness and quite openly, and without being molested or hindered.

pregando o reino de Deus e ensinando as coisas concernentes ao Senhor Jesus Cristo, com toda a liberdade, sem impedimento algum.