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

Una vez a salvo, supimos que la isla se llamaba Malta.

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

Allí los habitantes nos trataron con mucha amabilidad. Como estaba lloviendo y hacía mucho frío, nos recibieron a todos con una fogata que hicieron.

3 P aul 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.

Pablo fue entonces a recoger algunas ramas secas para echarlas al fuego, pero una víbora que huía del calor se le prendió de la mano.

4 W hen 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.”

Cuando los lugareños vieron que la víbora pendía de su mano, se dijeron unos a otros: «Con toda seguridad este hombre es un homicida, pues logró escapar del mar, pero la justicia lo ha alcanzado y no lo dejará vivir.»

5 P aul shook off the snake into the fire. He was not hurt in any way.

Pero Pablo se sacudió la víbora y ésta cayó en el fuego, sin que Pablo sufriera ningún daño.

6 T he 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

La gente esperaba que Pablo se hinchara o cayera muerto; pero como después de mucho esperar vieron que no le pasaba nada, cambiaron de parecer y lo consideraban un dios.

7 P ublius 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.

En aquella isla las propiedades eran de un hombre importante llamado Publio, quien nos recibió y amablemente nos hospedó durante tres días.

8 T he 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.

Y resultó que el padre de Publio estaba enfermo. Tenía fiebre y disentería, y estaba en cama. Pero Pablo fue a verlo y, luego de orar por él, le impuso las manos y lo sanó.

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

Cuando se supo lo que Pablo había hecho, otros de la isla con distintas enfermedades vinieron a él, y también fueron sanados.

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

En agradecimiento, nos trataron con mucha amabilidad, y cuando zarpamos nos llenaron de todas las provisiones necesarias. Pablo llega a Roma

11 W e 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.

Después de haber estado tres meses en la isla, nos hicimos a la mar en una nave alejandrina que había pasado el invierno allí, y que tenía por insignia a los dioses Cástor y Pólux.

12 W e came to Syracuse and stayed there three days.

Llegamos a Siracusa, y allí nos quedamos tres días.

13 F rom 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.

Luego seguimos la costa y llegamos a Regio; un día después tuvimos viento del sur, y al segundo día llegamos a Puteoli,

14 W e 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.

donde hallamos algunos hermanos, los cuales nos pidieron quedarnos con ellos siete días; luego fuimos a Roma.

15 W hen 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

Cuando los hermanos supieron de nosotros, salieron a recibirnos hasta el Foro de Apio y las Tres Tabernas. Al verlos, Pablo dio gracias a Dios y recuperó el ánimo.

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

Al llegar a Roma, el centurión entregó los presos al prefecto militar, pero a Pablo se le permitió vivir aparte, bajo la vigilancia de un soldado. Pablo predica en Roma

17 T hree 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.

Tres días después, Pablo convocó a los judíos más importantes, y cuando todos estuvieron reunidos, les dijo: «Hermanos míos, yo no he cometido ningún mal contra el pueblo ni contra las costumbres de nuestros padres; sin embargo, me aprehendieron en Jerusalén y me entregaron al poder de los romanos.

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

Éstos examinaron mi caso y quisieron ponerme en libertad, pues no hallaron ninguna razón para condenarme a muerte.

19 B ut 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.

Pero como los judíos se opusieron, me vi obligado a apelar al emperador, aun cuando no tengo nada en contra de mi pueblo.

20 T he 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.”

Por esta razón los he llamado, pues quería verlos y hablar con ustedes. ¡Me encuentro encadenado por creer en la esperanza de Israel!

21 T hey 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.

Ellos le dijeron: «Nosotros no hemos recibido de Judea ninguna carta en relación contigo, ni ha venido ninguno de los hermanos a denunciarte o a decir algo malo acerca de ti.

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

Pero nos gustaría que nos dijeras lo que piensas, pues sabemos que por todas partes se habla en contra de esta secta.»

23 T hey 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.

Pablo les señaló un día para reunirse, y muchos acudieron al lugar donde se hospedaba, y desde la mañana hasta la tarde les habló del reino de Dios, citando tanto la ley de Moisés como a los profetas para convencerlos acerca de Jesús.

24 S ome of them believed his teaching. Others did not believe.

Algunos concordaban con lo que Pablo decía, pero otros no creían.

25 A s 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.

Y como no se pusieron de acuerdo, al retirarse Pablo les dijo: «Bien habló el Espíritu Santo a nuestros padres por medio del profeta Isaías, cuando dijo:

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

»“Ve a este pueblo, y dile: Ustedes oirán, pero no entenderán; Verán, pero no percibirán.

27 b ecause 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.”’

Porque su corazón se ha endurecido, Y sus oídos son incapaces de oír. Han cerrado sus ojos, para no ver ni oír, ni entender bien; para que no se conviertan y yo los sane.”

28 “ 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!”

»Por lo tanto, deben saber que a los no judíos se les envía esta salvación de Dios, y ellos sí oirán.»

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

Al oír esto los judíos, se fueron luego de discutir largamente entre ellos.

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

Pablo permaneció dos años enteros en una casa alquilada, y allí recibía a todos los que iban a verlo;

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

y sin ningún temor ni impedimento les predicaba acerca del reino de Dios y les enseñaba acerca del Señor Jesucristo.