Acts 28
1 After we [(exc)] had arrived safely [on the shore], we learned that it was an island called Malta.
And we afterwards learned, that the island was 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 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.
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 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.
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.”
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.
5 But Paul simply shook the snake off into the fire, and nothing happened to him.
But Paul shook his hand, and threw the viper into the fire: and he received no harm.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
9 After Paul had done that, the other people on the island who were sick came [to him] and [he] healed them, too.
And after this event, others also in the island who were sick, came to him and were 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].
And they honored us with great honors: and when we left the place, they supplied us with necessaries.
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 departed, sailing in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the island, and which bore the signal of the Twins.
12 We [sailed from the island and] arrived at Syracuse [city on Sicily island] and stayed there three days.
And we came to the city of Syracuse; and remained there 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].
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.
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.
And there we found brethren; and they invited us, and we remained with them seven days: and then we proceeded towards 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 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.
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 we went on to Rome. And the centurion allowed Paul to reside where he pleased, with a soldier who guarded 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 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:
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}.
and they, when they had examined me, were disposed to release me, because they found in me no offence deserving death.
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, 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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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 are desirous to hear from thee what thou thinkest; for this doctrine, we know, is not received by any one.
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 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.
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 assented to his discourses, and others did not assent.
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 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,
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].
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.
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 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.
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, be this known to you, that to the Gentiles is this redemption of God sent: and, moreover, they will hear it.
And when he had thus said, the Jews retired; and there were great disputations among them.
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 Paul hired a house, at his own cost, and resided in it two years; and there he received all that came 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.
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.
