Acts 28

1 And having been saved, then they knew that the island is called Malta,

Once they had safely reached shore, they found out that the island was called Malta.

2 and the foreigners were showing us no ordinary kindness, for having kindled a fire, they received us all, because of the pressing rain, and because of the cold;

The native people showed us extraordinary kindness. For they welcomed us all and kindled a fire because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold.

3 but Paul having gathered together a quantity of sticks, and having laid [them] on the fire, a viper—having come out of the heat—fastened on his hand.

Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and when he was putting them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.

4 And when the foreigners saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Certainly this man is a murderer, whom, having been saved out of the sea, the justice did not permit to live”;

When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man is undoubtedly a murderer. Although he has been saved from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”

5 he then, indeed, having shaken off the beast into the fire, suffered no evil,

But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.

6 and they were expecting him to be about to be inflamed, or to suddenly fall down dead, and they, expecting [it] a long time, and seeing nothing uncommon happening to him, changing [their] minds, said he was a god.

The people were expecting that he would soon swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after waiting expectantly for a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

7 And in the neighborhood of that place were lands of the principal man of the island, by name Publius, who, having received us, courteously lodged [us for] three days;

Now in the region around that place were lands that belonged to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and hospitably took care of us as his guests for three days.

8 and it came to pass, the father of Publius was lying, oppressed with fevers and dysentery, to whom Paul, having entered and having prayed, having laid [his] hands on him, healed him;

Now it so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fevers and dysentery. So Paul went in to see him and healed him by praying and laying his hands on him.

9 this, therefore, being done, also the others in the island having sicknesses were coming and were healed;

After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed.

10 who also honored us with many honors, and we setting sail—they were loading [us] with the things that were necessary.

So the people bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to set sail, they provided us with the things we needed.

11 And after three months, we set sail in a ship (that had wintered in the island) of Alexandria, with the sign Dioscuri,

After three months, we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and that had the twin sons of Zeus as its figurehead.

12 and having landed at Syracuse, we remained three days,

Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.

13 there having gone around, we came to Rhegium, and after one day, a south wind having sprung up, the second [day] we came to Puteoli,

From there we took a circuitous course and arrived at Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.

14 where, having found brothers, we were called on to remain with them seven days, and thus we came to Rome;

There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.

15 and there, the brothers having heard the things concerning us, came forth to meet us, as far as [the] Forum of Appius, and Three Taverns—whom Paul having seen, having given thanks to God, took courage.

When the brothers from Rome heard the news about us, they came out as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage.

16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the captain of the barracks, but Paul was permitted to remain by himself, with the soldier guarding him.

When we came into Rome, the centurion transferred the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

17 And it came to pass after three days, Paul called together those who are the principal men of the Jews, and they having come together, he said to them: “Men, brothers, I—having done nothing contrary to the people, or to the customs of the fathers—a prisoner from Jerusalem, was delivered up into the hands of the Romans;

After three days, Paul called together those who were prominent among the Jews. When they had gathered together, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

18 who having examined me, were willing to release [me], because of their being no cause of death in me,

When they examined me, they were willing to release me because there were no grounds for death in my case.

19 and the Jews having spoken against [it], I was constrained to appeal to Caesar—not as having anything to accuse my nation of;

But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation to make against my own nation.

20 for this cause, therefore, I called for you to see and to speak with [you], for because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”

That is why I have asked to see you and speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”

21 And they said to him, “We neither received letters concerning you from Judea, nor did anyone who came of the brothers declare or speak any evil concerning you,

They said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about yoʋ, and none of the brothers who have come here have reported or spoken anything bad about yoʋ.

22 and we think it good from you to hear what you think, for indeed, concerning this sect it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere”;

But we think it would be best to hear what yoʋr views are, for concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”

23 and having appointed him a day, more of them came to him, to the lodging, to whom he was setting [it] forth, testifying fully the Kingdom of God, persuading them also of the things concerning Jesus, both from the Law of Moses, and the Prophets, from morning until evening,

When they had arranged a day to meet with Paul, many more came to him at his lodging. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

24 and some, indeed, were believing the things spoken, and some were not believing.

Some were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.

25 And not being agreed with one another, they were going away, Paul having spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit spoke well through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,

So they were in disagreement with one another and began to leave after Paul made this one final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to our fathers through the prophet Isaiah:

26 saying, Go on to this people and say, With hearing you will hear, and you will not understand, and seeing you will see, and you will not perceive,

‘Go to this people and say, “Although you will hear, you will never understand, and although you will see, you will never perceive.”

27 for the heart of this people was made obtuse, and with the ears they barely heard, and they closed their eyes, lest they may see with the eyes, and may understand with the heart, and should turn, and I may heal them.

For the heart of this people has become calloused; with their ears they have barely heard, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn back, and I would heal them.’

28 Be it known, therefore, to you, that the salvation of God was sent to the nations, these also will hear it”;

Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

29 [[and he having said these things, the Jews went away, having much debate among themselves; ]]

After Paul said these things, the Jews went away and had a great dispute among themselves.

30 and Paul remained an entire two years in his own hired [house], and was receiving all those coming in to him,

For two whole years Paul stayed in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to him,

31 preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness—unforbidden.

preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.