Acts 28

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

When we were all safe, we found 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 natives showed us marked kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all under shelter, because it had come on to rain and was 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 had gathered a quantity of dry sticks and laid them on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, 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 natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another: “Evidently this man is a murderer, for though he has been saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”

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

However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and took 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 natives were expecting inflammation to set in, or that he would suddenly fall dead; but, after waiting for a long time, and seeing that there was nothing amiss with 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;

In that neighbourhood there was an estate belonging to the Governor of the island, whose name was Publius. He took us up to his house, and for three days entertained us most courteously.

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;

It happened that the father of Publius was lying ill of fever and dysentery. So Paul went to see him; and, after praying, he placed his hands on him and cured him.

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

After this, all the people in the island who had any illness came to Paul, and were cured.

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

They also presented us with many gifts, and when we set sail they put supplies of necessaries on board.

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 a ship that had wintered in the island. She was an Alexandrian vessel, and had the Twin Sons of Zeus for her figure-head.

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

We put in at Syracuse and stayed there 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,

and from there we worked to windward and so got to Rhegium. A day later a south wind sprang up and took us to Puteoli in two days.

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 of the Brethren, and were urged to stay a week with them; after which we went on 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.

The Brethren there had heard about us, and came out as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At sight of them Paul thanked God and was much cheered.

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.

On our reaching Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, except for the soldier who was in charge of 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;

Three days after our arrival, Paul invited the leading Jews to meet him; and, when they came, he spoke to them as follows: “Brothers, although I had done nothing hostile to the interests of our nation or to our ancestral customs, yet I was sent from Jerusalem as a prisoner, and handed over to the Romans.

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

The Romans, when they had examined me, were ready to release me, because there was nothing in my conduct deserving death.

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, as the Jews opposed my release, I was compelled to appeal to the Emperor — not, indeed, that I had any charge 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.”

This, then, is my reason for urging you to come to see me and talk with me; because it is for the sake of the Hope of Israel that I am here in chains.”

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,

“We,” was their reply, “have not had any letter about you from Judea, nor have any of our fellow-Jews come and reported or said anything bad about you.

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 shall be glad to hear from you what your views are, for, with regard to this sect, we are well aware that it is spoken against on all sides.”

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,

They then fixed a day with him, and came to the place where he was staying, in even larger numbers, when Paul proceeded to lay the subject before them. He bore his testimony to the Kingdom of God, and tried to convince them about Jesus, by arguments drawn from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets — speaking from morning till evening.

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

Some were inclined to accept what he said; others, however, rejected it.

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, as they disagreed among themselves, they began to disperse, Paul adding only — “True, indeed, was the declaration made by the Holy Spirit, through the Prophet Isaiah to your ancestors —

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 nation and say — “You will hear with your ears without ever understanding, And, though you have eyes, you will see without ever perceiving.”

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 mind of this nation has grown dense, And their ears are dull of hearing, Their eyes also have they closed; Lest some day they should see with their eyes, And with their ears they should hear, And in their mind they should understand, and should turn — And I should heal them.’

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

Understand, then, that this Salvation of God was sent for the Gentiles; and they will listen.”

29 [[and he having said these things, the Jews went away, having much debate 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 a house which he rented for himself, welcoming all who came to see him,

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

proclaiming the Kingdom of God, and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ, with perfect fearlessness, unmolested.