Acts 28
1 After we [(exc)] had arrived safely [on the shore], we learned that it was an island called Malta.
And having been saved, we recognized that the island is called Melita.
2 The people who lived there received us kindly. They lit a fire and invited us to come and warm ourselves, because it was raining and it was cold.
And the barbarians extended no small philanthropy to us: for, having kindled a fire, they received us all to it, on account of the recent rain and cold.
3 Paul gathered some sticks and put them on the fire. But [among those sticks was] a snake that had come out [from the fire to escape] from the heat, and it fastened itself on Paul’s hand.
And Paul having gathered up a certain bundle of sticks, and placed it on the fire, a viper, having come out from the heat, fastened on his hand.
4 [The islanders knew that the snake was poisonous, so] when they saw it hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to each other, “Probably this man has murdered someone. Although he has escaped from being drowned, [the god] ([who] pays [people back/who punishes people]) for their [MTY] sins will cause him to die.”
But when the barbarians saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said to one another, Surely this man is a murderer, whom, having been saved from the sea, justice did not permit to live.
5 But Paul simply shook the snake off into the fire, and nothing happened to him.
Then indeed, having shaken off the beast into the fire, he suffered no injury:
6 The people were expecting that Paul’s body would soon swell up or that he would suddenly fall down and die. But after they had waited a long time, they saw [that the snake] had not harmed him [at all]. So then the people changed their minds and said [to one another], “This man is not a murderer! Probably he is a god!”
and they were looking for him to be about to swell up and suddenly fall down dead. But having looked a long time, and seeing nothing out of place come to him, changing their minds, they said that he was a god.
7 Near where the people had made the fire, there were some fields that belonged to a man whose name was Publius. He was the chief official on the island. He invited us to [come and stay in] his home. He took care of us for three days.
But in the regions around about that place there were farms belonging to the chief man of the island, by name Publius: who, having received us, entertained us courteously three days.
8 [At that time] Publius’ father had a fever and dysentery, and he was lying [in bed]. So Paul visited him and prayed [for him. Then] Paul placed his hands on him and healed him.
And it came to pass, that the father of Publius was lying prostrate with fevers and dysentery: to whom Paul having come in, and prayed, laying hands on him, healed him.
9 After Paul had done that, the other people on the island who were sick came [to him] and [he] healed them, too.
And this taking place, the rest also, on the island having diseases, continued to come to him, and be healed;
10 They brought us gifts and [showed in other ways that] they greatly respected us. When we were [ready] to leave [three months later], they brought us food and other things that we would need [for the trip].
who also honored us with many honors; and conferred on us, departing, those things appertaining to use.
11 After [we had stayed there] three months, we [got on] a ship [that was going to Italy and] sailed away. The ship had been in [a harbor on] the island during the months when there are many storms. It had come from Alexandria [city]. On the front of the ship there were carved images of the twin gods [whose names were Castor and Pollux].
And after three months we embarked in an Alexandrian ship, having spent the winter in the island, dedicated to the sons of Jupiter.
12 We [sailed from the island and] arrived at Syracuse [city on Sicily island] and stayed there three days.
And having disembarked into Syracuse, we remained three days;
13 Then we traveled on by ship and arrived at Rhegium [port in Italy]. The next day, the wind was blowing from behind us, [so we sailed along fast]. The day after that, we reached Puteoli [town, where we left the ship].
thence having come circuitously, we arrived into Rhegium. And after one day there being a south wind, we came the second day to Puteoli,
14 In Puteoli we met some believers who invited us to stay with them for a week. [After visiting them], we [left there and started to travel by land] to Rome.
where having found brethren, we were entreated to remain with them seven days: and thus we came into Rome.
15 [A group of] believers [who lived in Rome] had heard that we [(exc) were coming]. So they came out [from Rome] to meet us. [Some of] them met us at [the town called] ‘The Market on Appian [Road’, ] and others met us at [the town called] ‘The Three Inns’. When Paul saw those believers, he thanked God and was encouraged.
And the brethren, hearing the news concerning us, came thence to meet us at the Appian Forum and Three Taverns: whom Paul, seeing, having given thanks to God, took courage.
16 After we [(exc)] arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted {[a Roman official who was responsible for guarding Paul] permitted Paul} to live [in a house] by himself. But [there was always] a soldier there to guard him.
And when we came into Rome, it was permitted to Paul to remain to himself with the soldier guarding him.
17 After [Paul had been there] three days, he sent a message to the Jewish leaders [to come and talk with him. So] they came, and Paul said to them, “My fellow Jews, although I have not opposed our people nor spoken against the customs of our ancestors, [our leaders] in Jerusalem [seized] [MTY] [me. But before they could kill me, a Roman commander rescued me and later sent me] to Caesarea for Roman [authorities/officials to put me on trial].
And it came to pass, after three days, he called together those who were first of the Jews; and they having assembled, he said to them, I, men, brethren, having done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, was committed a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans;
18 The Roman authorities/officials questioned me and wanted to release me, because I had not done any [bad] thing for which I should be executed {they should kill me}.
who judging me, were counseling to release me, because there was nothing worthy of death in me:
19 But when the Jewish [leaders] [SYN] there opposed [what the Roman authorities wanted to do], I had to formally request that the Emperor [judge me here in Rome]. But my reason for doing that was not that I wanted to accuse our leaders about anything.
and the Jews speaking against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not having anything for which to accuse my nation.
20 So I have requested you [to come] here so that I can tell you why I am a prisoner. It is because I believe in [MTY] our Messiah, the one [God long ago promised to send] to us [(inc)] Jews.”
Then for this cause I have called you, to see you, and talk to you: for on account of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
21 Then [the Jewish leaders] said, “We [(exc)] have not received any letters from [our fellow Jews] in Judea about you. Also, none of our fellow Jews who have arrived [here from Judea] has said anything bad about you.
And they said to him, Neither have we received letters from Judea concerning you, neither has any one of the brethren coming, proclaimed or spoken anything evil concerning you.
22 But we [(exc)] want to hear what you [(sg)] think about this [Christian] sect/group, because we know that in many places [HYP] bad things are being said {people are saying bad things} about it.”
But we desire to hear from you what you think: for indeed concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is everywhere spoken against.
23 So they [talked with Paul and decided that they would come back on another day to hear him. When that day arrived], those Jews came back to the place where Paul was staying, and they brought more Jews with them. Paul talked to them from morning until evening. He talked to them about how God wants to rule [people’s lives] [MET]. He tried to convince them that Jesus [is the Messiah] by reminding them what Moses and the other prophets had written [MTY].
And having appointed a day with him, many came to him into his hired house, to whom witnessing he expounded the kingdom of God, indeed persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and the prophets, from morning unto evening.
24 Some of those Jews believed that what was said [by Paul] {what [Paul] said} about Jesus [was true], but others did not believe [that it was true].
And some of them indeed believed the things spoken, but others continued to doubt;
25 So they began to argue with one another. [Paul realized that some of them did not want to listen to him, so] when they were about to leave, he said, “The Holy Spirit said something to your/our(incl) ancestors. He spoke these words to Isaiah the prophet, [and what he said is also true about you]:
and they being disharmonious to one another, dispersed, Paul saying one word, that truly the Holy Ghost spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your fathers, saying,
26 Go to your fellow Israelites and tell them, ‘You repeatedly listen [to the message of God], but you never understand [what God is saying]. You repeatedly look at and see [the things that God is doing], but you never understand [what they mean].
Go to this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and may not understand; and seeing you shall see, and may not perceive:
27 God also said to the prophet, These people do not understand, because they have become stubborn. They have ears, but they do not understand what they hear, and they have closed their eyes [because they do not want to see]. If they wanted to obey what I say to them, they might understand what they see [me doing] and what they hear [me saying]. Then they might turn from their sinful behavior and I would save them.’
for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and they heard with their ears heavily, and closed their eyes; lest they may see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I shall heal them.
28 [That is what God said to the prophet Isaiah about our ancestors. But you Jews today do not want to believe God’s message]. Therefore, I am telling you that [God] has sent to the non-Jews this message about how he saves people, and they will listen [and accept it]!”
Therefore let it be known unto you, that this salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear.
30 For two whole years Paul stayed [there] in a house that he rented. Many people came to see him, and he received them all gladly [and talked with them].
And he spent a whole biennium in his own hired house, and received all those coming to him,
31 He preached [and taught people] about how God could rule [their lives] [MET] and taught them about the Lord Jesus Christ. He did that without being afraid, and no one tried to stop him.
preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things concerning the Lord Jesus, with all boldness, uninterruptedly.
