1 A nd when we got safe we then knew that the island was called Melita.

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

2 B ut the barbarians shewed us no common kindness; for, having kindled a fire, they took us all in because of the rain that was falling and because of the 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 A nd Paul having gathered a quantity of sticks together in a bundle and laid on the fire, a viper coming out from the heat seized 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 A nd when the barbarians saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said to one another, This man is certainly a murderer, whom, saved out of the sea, Nemesis has not allowed to 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 H e however, having shaken off the beast into the fire, felt no harm.

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

6 B ut they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down suddenly dead. But when they had expected a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, changing their opinion, they said 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 N ow in the country surrounding that place were the lands belonging to the chief man of the island, by name Publius, who received us and gave hospitality three days in a very friendly way.

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 lay ill of fever and dysentery; to whom Paul entered in, and having prayed and laid his hands on him cured 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 B ut this having taken place, the rest also who had sicknesses in the island came and were healed:

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

10 w ho also honoured us with many honours, and on our leaving they made presents to us of what should minister to our wants.

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

11 A nd after three months we sailed in a ship which had wintered in the island, an Alexandrian, with Dioscuri for its ensign.

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 A nd having come to Syracuse we remained three days.

We came to Syracuse and stayed there three days.

13 W hence, going in a circuitous course, we arrived at Rhegium; and after one day, the wind having changed to south, on the second day we came to 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 w here, having found brethren, we were begged to stay with them seven days. And thus we went 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 thence the brethren, having heard about us, came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Tres Tabernae, whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and took 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 A nd when we came to Rome, Paul was allowed to remain by himself with the soldier who kept 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 A nd it came to pass after three days, that he called together those who were the chief of the Jews; and when they had come together he said to them, Brethren, I having done nothing against the people or the customs of our forefathers, have been delivered 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 w ho having examined me were minded to let me go, because there was nothing worthy of death in me.

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 the Jews speaking against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not as having anything to accuse my nation of.

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 F or this cause therefore I have called you to to see and to speak to you; for on account of the hope of Israel I have this chain about me.

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 said to him, For our part, we have neither received letters from Judaea concerning thee, nor has any one of the brethren who has arrived reported or said anything evil concerning thee.

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 beg to hear of thee what thou thinkest, for as concerning this sect it is known to us that it is everywhere spoken against.

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 A nd having appointed him a day many came to him to the lodging, to whom he expounded, testifying of the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and the prophets, from early morning to evening.

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 persuaded of the things which were said, but some disbelieved.

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

25 A nd being disagreed among themselves they left; Paul having spoken one word, Well spoke the Holy Spirit through Esaias the prophet to our fathers,

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 s aying, Go to this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear and not understand, and seeing ye shall see and not perceive.

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 of this people has become fat, and they hear heavily with their ears, and they have closed their eyes; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should 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 B e it known to you therefore, that this salvation of God has been sent to the nations; they also will hear.

“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

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

30 A nd he remained two whole years in his own hired lodging, and received 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 the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all freedom unhinderedly.

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