Berean Study Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.

1When they had been brought safely through, then we found out 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 natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all.

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.

3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself 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 natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, "Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live."

5But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

5However he shook the creature off 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.

6But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say 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 leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously 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.

8And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him.

9After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.

9After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured.

10The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.

10They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all 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.

11At the end of three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead.

12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

12After we put 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.

13From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later 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 some brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus 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 brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

16When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding 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 Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, "Brethren, 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.

18"And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death.

19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.

19"But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation 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.”

20"For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel."

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.

21They said to him, "We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you.

22But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”

22"But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere."

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 set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.

24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.

24Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe.

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 when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,

26‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

26saying, 'GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, "YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT 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 THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM."'

28Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”

28"Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen."

29	29When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.

30Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.

30And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him,

31Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

31preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

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