Acts 28

1 And we afterwards learned, that the island was called Melita.

Our lives having been thus preserved, we discovered that the island was called Malta.

2 And the barbarians who inhabited it, showed us many kindnesses. And they kindled a fire, and called us all to warm ourselves, because of the great rain and cold at that time.

The strange-speaking natives showed us remarkable kindness, for they lighted a fire and made us all welcome because of the pelting rain and the cold.

3 And Paul took up a bundle of fagots and laid them on the fire: and a viper, driven by the heat, came out of them, and bit his hand.

Now, when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and had thrown them on the fire, a viper, driven by the heat, came out and fastened itself on his hand.

4 And when the barbarians saw it hanging on his hand, they said: Doubtless, this man is a murderer; whom, though delivered from the sea, justice will not suffer to live.

When the natives saw the creature hanging to his hand, they said to one another, "Beyond doubt this man is a murderer, for, though saved from the sea, unerring Justice does not permit him to live."

5 But Paul shook his hand, and threw the viper into the fire: and he received no harm.

He, however, shook the reptile off into the fire and was unhurt.

6 And the barbarians expected, that he would suddenly swell, and fall dead on the ground. And when they had looked a long time, and saw that he received no harm; they changed their language, and said, that he was a god.

They expected him soon to swell with inflammation or suddenly fall down dead; but, after waiting a long time and seeing no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

7 And there were lands in that quarter, belonging to a man named Publius, who was the chief man of the island: and he cheerfully received us at his house three days.

Now in the same part of the island there were estates belonging to the Governor, whose name was Publius. He welcomed us to his house, and for three days generously made us his guests.

8 And the father of Publius was sick with a fever and dysentery. And Paul went in to him, and prayed, and laid his hand on him, and healed him.

It happened, however, that his father was lying ill of dysentery aggravated by attacks of fever; so Paul went to see him, and, after praying, laid his hands on him and cured him.

9 And after this event, others also in the island who were sick, came to him and were healed.

After this, all the other sick people in the island came and were cured.

10 And they honored us with great honors: and when we left the place, they supplied us with necessaries.

They also loaded us with honours, and when at last we sailed they put supplies on board for us.

11 And after three months we departed, sailing in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the island, and which bore the signal of the Twins.

Three months passed before we set sail in an Alexandrian vessel, called the 'Twin Brothers,' which had wintered at the island.

12 And we came to the city of Syracuse; and remained there three days.

At Syracuse we put in and stayed for two days.

13 And from there we made a circuit, and arrived at the city Rhegium. And, after one day, the south wind blew favorably for us, and in two days we came to Puteoli, a city of Italy.

From there we came round and reached Rhegium; and a day later, a south wind sprang up which brought us by the evening of the next day to Puteoli.

14 And there we found brethren; and they invited us, and we remained with them seven days: and then we proceeded towards Rome.

Here we found brethren, who invited us to remain with them for a week; and so we reached Rome.

15 And the brethren there, hearing of our approach, came out to meet us as far as the village called Appii Forum, and as far as the Three Taverns. And when Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God, and was encouraged.

Meanwhile the brethren there, hearing of our movements, came as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Huts to meet us; and when Paul saw them he thanked God and felt encouraged.

16 And we went on to Rome. And the centurion allowed Paul to reside where he pleased, with a soldier who guarded him.

Upon our arrival in Rome, Paul received permission to live by himself, guarded by a soldier.

17 And after three days, Paul sent and called for the principal Jews. And when they were assembled, he said to them: Men, my brethren, although I had in nothing risen up against the people or the law of my fathers, I was at Jerusalem delivered over in bonds to the Romans:

After one complete day he invited the leading men among the Jews to meet him; and, when they were come together, he said to them, "As for me, brethren, although I had done nothing prejudicial to our people or contrary to the customs of our forefathers, I was handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the power of the Romans.

18 and they, when they had examined me, were disposed to release me, because they found in me no offence deserving death.

They, after they had sharply questioned me, were willing to set me at liberty, because they found no offence in me for which I deserve to die.

19 And, as the Jews withstood me, I was compelled to utter an appeal to Caesar; but not because I had any thing of which to accuse the people of my nation.

But, at last, the opposition of the Jews compelled me to appeal to Caesar; not however that I had any charge to bring against my nation.

20 For this reason I sent for you to come, that I might see you, and might state these things to you: for it is on account of the hope of Israel, that I am bound with this chain.

For these reasons, then, I have invited you here, that I might see you and speak to you; for it is for the sake of Him who is the hope of Israel that this chain hangs upon me."

21 They said to him: We have received no epistle from Judaea against thee; and none of the brethren who have come from Jerusalem, have told us any evil thing of thee.

"For our part," they replied, "we have not received any letters from Judaea about you, nor have any of our countrymen come here and reported or stated anything to your disadvantage.

22 But we are desirous to hear from thee what thou thinkest; for this doctrine, we know, is not received by any one.

But we should be glad to hear from you what it is that you believe; for as for this sect all we know is that it is everywhere spoken against."

23 And they appointed him a day; and many assembled, and came to him at his lodgings. And he explained to them respecting the kingdom of God, testifying and persuading them concerning Jesus, out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

So they arranged a day with him and came to him in considerable numbers at the house of the friends who were entertaining him. And then, with solemn earnestness, he explained to them the subject of the Kingdom of God, endeavouring from morning till evening to convince them about Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

24 And some of them assented to his discourses, and others did not assent.

Some were convinced; others refused to believe.

25 And they went out from him, disagreeing among themselves. And Paul addressed to them this speech: Well did the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of Isaiah the prophet, speak concerning your fathers,

Unable to agree among themselves, they at last left him, but not before Paul had spoken a parting word to them, saying, "Right well did the Holy Spirit say to your forefathers through the Prophet Isaiah:

26 saying: Go unto this people, and say to them, Hearing ye will hear, and will not understand; and ye will see, and will not comprehend.

"'Go to this people and tell them, you will hear and hear, and by no means understand; and will look and look, and by no means see.

27 For the heart of this people is stupefied, and their hearing they have made heavy, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and be converted unto me, and I should forgive them.

For this people's mind has grown callous, their hearing has become dull, and their eyes they have closed; to prevent their ever seeing with their eyes, or hearing with their ears, or understanding with their minds, and turning back, so that I might cure them.'

28 Therefore, be this known to you, that to the Gentiles is this redemption of God sent: and, moreover, they will hear it.

"Be fully assured, therefore, that this salvation--God's salvation--has now been sent to the Gentiles, and that they, at any rate, will give heed."

29 And when he had thus said, the Jews retired; and there were great disputations among them.

30 And Paul hired a house, at his own cost, and resided in it two years; and there he received all that came to him.

After this Paul lived for fully two years in a hired house of his own, receiving all who came to see him.

31 And he preached concerning the kingdom of God, and taught boldly concerning our Lord Jesus Messiah, without hinderance. Completion of the Acts of the blessed Legates; that is, their Histories.

He announced the coming of the Kingdom of God, and taught concerning the Lord Jesus Christ without let or hindrance.