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

After we were safe on the island, we knew that it was 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.

The people on the island were very kind to us. It was raining and cold. They made a fire so we could get warm.

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.

Paul had gathered some wood. As he laid it on the fire, a snake came out because of the heat. It held fast to Paul’s hand.

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.

When the people of the island saw the snake holding to his hand, they said to each other, “This man is a killer. He was saved from the sea and yet it is not right for him to live.”

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

Paul shook off the snake into the fire. He was not hurt in any way.

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.

The people waited. They thought his hand would get large and he would fall over dead. After watching for a long time, they saw nothing happen to him. Then they changed their minds and said that Paul was a god. The Father of Publius Is Healed

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.

Publius was the head man of the island. He owned land around there. For three days he took us in and gave us everything we needed.

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.

The father of Publius was sick with a stomach sickness. Paul went to see him. He prayed and laid his hands on him and the man was healed.

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

Because of this, other people of the island who were sick came to Paul and were healed.

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.

They had great respect for us. When we got into a ship to leave, they gave us everything we needed.

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.

We had stayed on the island three months. Then we left on a ship that had stayed there during the winter. It was from the city of Alexandria. This ship was called the Twin Brothers.

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

We came to Syracuse and stayed there three days.

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.

From there we went by ship around to the city of Rhegium. After a day a south wind started to blow. On the second day we came to the city of Puteoli.

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

We found some Christians there, and they asked us to stay with them. We were there seven days and then went on to the city of Rome.

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.

When the Christians heard of our coming, they came to meet us. They came as far as the town of Appius and to a place to stay called the Three Stores. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. Paul Tells Why and How He Has Come

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.

When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live where he wanted to. But a soldier was always by his side to watch him.

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.

Three days later Paul asked the leaders of the Jews to come to him. When they had gathered together, he said, “Brothers, I have done nothing against our people or the way our early fathers lived. And yet, I was tied with chains in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.

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

I was put on trial, but they found no reason to put me to death. They would have let me go free.

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.

But the Jews did not like this. So I had to ask to be sent to Caesar. It was not because I had anything against my people.

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.

The reason I have asked you to come is to tell you this. It is because of the hope of the Jewish nation that I am tied in these chains.”

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.

They said to Paul, “We have had no letters from Judea about you. No Jew who has come here has ever said anything bad about you.

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.

We would like to hear from you what you believe. As for this new religion, all we know is that everyone is talking against it.”

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.

They planned to meet him on a certain day. Many people came to the place where he stayed. He preached to them about the holy nation of God. He tried to get them to put their trust in Jesus Christ by preaching from the Law of Moses and from the writings of the early preachers. From morning until night he spoke to them.

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

Some of them believed his teaching. Others did not believe.

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:

As they left, they did not agree with each other. Then Paul said, “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your early fathers through the early preacher Isaiah.

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.

He said, ‘Go to these people and say, “You will hear and never understand, you will look and never see,

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.

because these people have hearts that have become fat. They do not hear well with their ears. They have closed their eyes so their eyes do not see and their ears do not hear and their minds do not understand and they do not turn to Me and let Me heal them.”’

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!

“I want you to know that the Good News of God of knowing how to be saved from the punishment of sin has been sent to the people who are not Jews. And they will listen to it!”

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

After he had said these things, the Jews went away and argued with each other.

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

Paul paid money to live in a house by himself for two years. He was happy for all who came to see him.

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.

He kept on preaching about the holy nation of God. He taught about the Lord Jesus Christ without fear. No one stopped him.