| Berean Study Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. | 1After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. |
| 2The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold. | 2The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. |
| 3Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. | 3When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. |
| 4When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” | 4When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” |
| 5But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. | 5He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. |
| 6The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. | 6They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. |
| 7Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. | 7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. |
| 8The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man. | 8It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. |
| 9After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well. | 9And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. |
| 10The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail. | 10They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed. |
| 11After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead. | 11After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. |
| 12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. | 12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. |
| 13From there we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day, a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at Puteoli. | 13And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. |
| 14There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome. | 14There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. |
| 15The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God. | 15And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. |
| 16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him. | 16And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him. |
| 17After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. | 17After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. |
| 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. | 18When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. |
| 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation. | 19But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. |
| 20So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” | 20For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” |
| 21The leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you. | 21And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. |
| 22But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.” | 22But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.” |
| 23So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. | 23When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. |
| 24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. | 24And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. |
| 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: | 25And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: |
| 26‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” | 26“‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” |
| 27For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ | 27For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ |
| 28Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” | 28Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” |
| 30Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him. | 30He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, |
| 31Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. | 31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. |
| The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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