| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1After we had safely reached shore, we learned that the island was called Malta. | 1Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. |
| 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. | 2The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us. |
| 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. | 3As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. |
| 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!" | 4The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” |
| 5However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. | 5But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. |
| 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. | 6The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god. |
| 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. | 7Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. |
| 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. | 8As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. |
| 9After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed. | 9Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. |
| 10They also bestowed many honors, and when we were preparing to sail, they gave us all the supplies we needed. | 10As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip. Paul Arrives at Rome |
| 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. | 11It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods as its figurehead. |
| 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. | 12Our first stop was Syracuse, where we stayed three days. |
| 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. | 13From there we sailed across to Rhegium. A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli. |
| 14There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. | 14There we found some believers, who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. |
| 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. | 15The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God. |
| 16When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. | 16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier. Paul Preaches at Rome under Guard |
| 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. | 17Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. |
| 18When they had heard my case, they wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. | 18The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. |
| 19But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar--not that I had some charge to bring against my own people. | 19But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. |
| 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." | 20I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.” |
| 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. | 21They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. |
| 22But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know that people everywhere speak against it." | 22But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.” |
| 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. | 23So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. |
| 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. | 24Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. |
| 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 | 25And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, |
| 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. | 26‘Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. |
| 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."' | 27For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ |
| 28"Therefore be advised that this salvation from God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!" | 28So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.” |
| 30Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, | 30For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, |
| 31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction. | 31boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him. |
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