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

Uma vez em terra, descobrimos 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 habitantes da ilha mostraram extraordinária bondade para conosco. Fizeram uma fogueira e receberam bem a todos nós, pois estava chovendo e fazia 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.

Paulo ajuntou um monte de gravetos; quando os colocava no fogo, uma víbora, fugindo do calor, prendeu-se à sua 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 habitantes da ilha viram a cobra agarrada na mão de Paulo, disseram uns aos outros: “Certamente este homem é assassino, pois, tendo escapado do mar, a Justiça não lhe permite viver”.

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

Mas Paulo, sacudindo a cobra 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 ele começasse a inchar ou que caísse morto de repente, mas, tendo esperado muito tempo e vendo que nada de estranho lhe sucedia, mudaram de idéia e passaram a dizer que ele 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.

Próximo dali havia uma propriedade pertencente a Públio, o homem principal da ilha. Ele nos convidou a ficar em sua casa e, por três dias, bondosamente nos recebeu e nos hospedou.

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.

Seu pai estava doente, acamado, sofrendo de febre e disenteria. Paulo entrou para vê-lo e, depois de orar, 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.

Tendo acontecido isso, os outros doentes da ilha vieram e foram 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.

Eles nos prestaram muitas honras e, quando estávamos para embarcar, forneceram-nos os suprimentos de que necessitávamos. A Chegada a Roma

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, embarcamos num navio que tinha passado o inverno na ilha; era um navio alexandrino, que tinha por emblema os deuses gêmeos Cástor e Pólux.

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

Aportando em 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.

Dali partimos e chegamos a Régio. No dia seguinte, soprando o vento sul, prosseguimos, chegando a Potéoli no segundo dia.

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

Ali encontramos alguns irmãos que nos convidaram a passar uma semana com eles. E depois fomos para 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.

Os irmãos dali tinham ouvido falar que estávamos chegando e vieram até a praça de Ápio e às Três Vendas para nos encontrar. Vendo-os, Paulo deu graças a Deus e sentiu-se encorajado.

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, Paulo recebeu permissão para morar por conta própria, sob a custódia de um soldado. A Pregação de Paulo em Roma

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.

Três dias depois, ele convocou os líderes dos judeus. Quando estes se reuniram, Paulo lhes disse: “Meus irmãos, embora eu não tenha feito nada contra o nosso povo nem contra os costumes dos nossos antepassados, fui preso em Jerusalém e entregue aos 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.

Eles me interrogaram e queriam me soltar, porque eu não era culpado de crime algum que merecesse pena de 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.

Todavia, tendo os judeus feito objeção, fui obrigado a apelar para César, não porém, por ter alguma acusação contra o meu próprio povo.

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 essa razão pedi para vê-los e conversar com vocês. Por causa da esperança de Israel é que estou preso com estas algemas”.

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.

Eles responderam: “Não recebemos nenhuma carta da Judéia a seu respeito, e nenhum dos irmãos que vieram de lá relatou ou disse qualquer coisa de mal contra você.

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.

Todavia, queremos ouvir de sua parte o que você pensa, pois sabemos que por todo lugar há gente falando contra esta seita”.

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.

Assim combinaram encontrar-se com Paulo em dia determinado, indo em grupo ainda mais numeroso ao lugar onde ele estava. Desde a manhã até a tarde ele lhes deu explicações e lhes testemunhou do Reino de Deus, procurando convencê-los a respeito de Jesus, com base na Lei de Moisés e nos Profetas.

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

Alguns foram convencidos pelo que ele dizia, mas outros não creram.

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:

Discordaram entre si mesmos e começaram a ir embora, depois de Paulo ter feito esta declaração final: “Bem que o Espírito Santo falou aos seus antepassados, por meio do 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.

“‘Vá a este povo e diga: Ainda que estejam sempre ouvindo, vocês nunca entenderão; ainda que estejam sempre vendo, jamais perceberão.

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.

Pois o coração deste povo se tornou insensível; de má vontade ouviram com os seus ouvidos, e fecharam os seus olhos. Se assim não fosse, poderiam ver com os olhos, ouvir com os ouvidos, entender com o coração e converter-se, e eu os curaria’.

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!

“Portanto, quero que saibam que esta salvação de Deus é enviada aos gentios; eles a ouvirão!”

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

Depois que ele disse isto, os judeus se retiraram, discutindo intensamente entre si.

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

Por dois anos inteiros Paulo permaneceu na casa que havia alugado, e recebia a todos os que iam vê-lo.

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.

Pregava o Reino de Deus e ensinava a respeito do Senhor Jesus Cristo, abertamente e sem impedimento algum.