| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Once ashore, we then learned that the island was called Malta. | 1After we had safely reached shore, we learned that the island was called Malta. |
| 2The local people showed us extraordinary kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold. | 2The local inhabitants showed us extraordinary kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain and was cold. |
| 3As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself to his hand. | 3When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. |
| 4When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "This man is probably a murderer, and though he has escaped the sea, Justice does not allow him to live!" | 4When the local people saw the creature hanging from Paul's hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself has not allowed him to live!" |
| 5However, he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. | 5However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. |
| 6They expected that he would swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. | 6But they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. |
| 7Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. | 7Now in the region around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. |
| 8Publius's father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him. | 8The father of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and after praying, placed his hands on him and healed him. |
| 9After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. | 9After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed. |
| 10So they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed. | 10They also bestowed many honors, and when we were preparing to sail, they gave us all the supplies we needed. |
| 11After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. | 11After three months we put out to sea in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the "Heavenly Twins" as its figurehead. |
| 12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed three days. | 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. |
| 13From there, after making a circuit along the coast, we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli. | 13From there we cast off 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 believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. | 14There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. |
| 15Now the believers from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. | 15The brothers from there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. When he saw them, Paul thanked God and took courage. |
| 16When we entered Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him. | 16When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live 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 ancestors, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. | 17After three days Paul called the local Jewish leaders together. When they had assembled, he said to them, "Brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, from Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. |
| 18After they examined me, they wanted to release me, since I had not committed a capital offense. | 18When they had heard my case, they wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. |
| 19Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar; it was not as though I had any accusation against my nation. | 19But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar--not that I had some charge to bring against my own people. |
| 20For this reason I've asked to see you and speak to you. In fact, it is for the hope of Israel that I'm wearing this chain." | 20So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel." |
| 21Then they said to him, "We haven't received any letters about you from Judea. None of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you. | 21They replied, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there and reported or said anything bad about you. |
| 22But we would like to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, we are aware that it is spoken against everywhere." | 22But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know that people everywhere speak against it." |
| 23After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and witnessed about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. | 23They set a day to meet with him, and they came to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. |
| 24Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe. | 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. |
| 25Disagreeing among themselves, they began to leave after Paul made one statement: "The Holy Spirit correctly spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors | 25So they began to leave, unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah |
| 26when He said, Go to these people and say: You will listen and listen, yet never understand; and you will look and look, yet never perceive. | 26when he said, 'Go to this people and say, "You will keep on hearing, but will never understand, and you will keep on looking, but will never perceive. |
| 27For the hearts of these people have grown callous, their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted, and I would heal them. | 27For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them."' |
| 28Therefore, let it be known to you that this saving work of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!" | 28"Therefore be advised that this salvation from God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!" |
| 29After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a prolonged debate among themselves. | 29 |
| 30Then he stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, | 30Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, |
| 31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with full boldness and without hindrance. | 31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction. |
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