New International Version | New Living Translation |
1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. | 1Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. |
2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and 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. |
3Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, 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 islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice 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.” |
5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. | 5But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. |
6The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall 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 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. |
7There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality 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. |
8His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, 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. |
9When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. | 9Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. |
10They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with 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 a ship that had wintered in the island--it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. | 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 set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached 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 sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so 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 and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. | 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 got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard 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 |
17Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over 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. |
18They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. | 18The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. |
19The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge 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. |
20For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain." | 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 not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has 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 want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect." | 22But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.” |
23They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. | 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 would not believe. | 24Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. |
25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: | 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, |
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 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 this people's heart has become calloused; 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 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 I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and 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.” |
30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. | 30For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, |
31He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ--with all boldness and without hindrance! | 31boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him. |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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