International Standard Version | Berean Study Bible |
1When we were safely on shore, we learned that the island was called Malta. | 1Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. |
2The people who lived there were unusually kind to us. It had started to rain and was cold, so they started a bonfire and invited us to join them around it. | 2The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold. |
3Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and put it on the fire. A poisonous snake was forced out by the heat and attached itself to Paul's hand. | 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. |
4When the people who lived there saw the snake hanging from his hand, they told one another, "This man must be a murderer! He may have escaped from the sea, but Justice won't let him live." | 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.” |
5But he shook the snake into the fire and wasn't harmed. | 5But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. |
6They 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. | 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. |
7The governor of the island, whose name was Publius, owned estates in that part of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us with great hospitality for three days. | 7Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. |
8The father of Publius happened to be sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, prayed, and healed him by placing his hands on him. | 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. |
9After that had happened, the rest of the sick people on the island went to him and were healed. | 9After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well. |
10The islanders honored us in many ways, and when we were about to sail again, they supplied us with everything we needed. | 10The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail. |
11Three months later, we continued our sailing onboard an Alexandrian ship that had spent the winter at the island. It had the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. | 11After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead. |
12We stopped at Syracuse and stayed there for three days. | 12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. |
13Then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. A day later, a south wind began to blow, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. | 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. |
14There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. After this, we arrived in Rome. | 14There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome. |
15The brothers there heard about us and came as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and felt encouraged. | 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. |
16When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who was guarding him. | 16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him. |
17Three days later, Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. When they assembled, he told them, "Brothers, although I haven't done anything against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. | 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. |
18They examined me and wanted to let me go because there was no reason for me to receive the death penalty in my case. | 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. |
19But the Jews objected and forced me to appeal to the emperor, even though I have no countercharge to bring against my own people. | 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation. |
20That's why I asked to see you and speak with you, since it is for the hope of Israel that I'm wearing this chain." | 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.” |
21The Jewish leaders told him, "We haven't received any letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or mentioned anything bad about you. | 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. |
22However, we'd like to hear from you what you believe, because people are talking against this sect everywhere." | 22But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.” |
23So they set a day to meet with Paul and came out in large numbers to see him where he was staying. From morning until evening, he continued to explain the kingdom of God to them, trying to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. | 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. |
24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others wouldn't believe. | 24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. |
25They disagreed with one another as they were leaving, so Paul added this statement: "The Holy Spirit was so right when he spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah! | 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: |
26He said, 'Go to this people and say, "You will listen and listen but never understand, and you will look and look but never see! | 26‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” |
27For this people's minds have become stupid, and their ears can barely hear, and they have shut their eyes so that they may never see with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn and let me heal them."' | 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.’ |
28You must understand that this message about God's salvation has been sent to the gentiles, and they will listen." | 28Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” |
30For two whole years Paul lived in his own rented place and welcomed everyone who came to him. | 30Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him. |
31He continued to preach about the kingdom of God and to teach boldly and freely about the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. | 31Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. |
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