1 W hen we had escaped, then they learned that the island was called Malta.

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

2 T he natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, 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 B ut when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened 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 creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice 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 owever he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn’t harmed.

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 dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds, and said 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 N ow in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and courteously entertained us 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 T he father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, 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 T hen when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came, and were cured.

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

10 T hey also honored us with many honors, and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed.

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

11 A fter three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was “The Twin Brothers.”

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 T ouching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

We came to Syracuse and stayed there three days.

13 F rom there we circled around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and 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 we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. 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 F rom there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, 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 W hen we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay 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 A fter three days Paul called together those who were the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, “I, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, still was delivered 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, when they had examined me, desired to set me free, because there was no cause 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 when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything about which to accuse 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 F or this cause therefore I asked to see you and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel 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 T hey said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers come here and report or speak any evil of 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 desire to hear from you what you think. For, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is 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 W hen they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until 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 S ome believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.

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

25 W hen they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah, 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, in hearing, you will hear, but will in no way understand. In seeing, you will see, but will in no way perceive.

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

27 F or this people’s heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would 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 “ Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the nations. They will also 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 W hen he had said these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.

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

30 P aul stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who were coming 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 God’s Kingdom, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.

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