Acts, 28

1. Once we had come safely through, we discovered that the island was called Malta.

1. After we had escaped, we then learned that the island was called Malta.

2. The inhabitants treated us with unusual kindness. They made us all welcome by lighting a huge fire because it had started to rain and the weather was cold.

2. And the natives showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.

3. Paul had collected a bundle of sticks and was putting them on the fire when a viper brought out by the heat attached itself to his hand.

3. Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, when a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.

4. When the inhabitants saw the creature hanging from his hand they said to one another, 'That man must be a murderer; he may have escaped the sea, but divine justice would not let him live.'

4. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live."

5. However, he shook the creature off into the fire and came to no harm,

5. He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.

6. although they were expecting him at any moment to swell up or drop dead on the spot. After they had waited a long time without seeing anything out of the ordinary happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say he was a god.

6. They waited, expecting him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead; but when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

7. In that neighbourhood there were estates belonging to the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius. He received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

7. Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

8. It happened that Publius' father was in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after a prayer he laid his hands on the man and healed him.

8. It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery; and Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him.

9. When this happened, the other sick people on the island also came and were cured;

9. And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.

10. they honoured us with many marks of respect, and when we sailed they put on board the provisions we needed.

10. They presented many gifts to us; and when we sailed, they put on board whatever we needed.

11. At the end of three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island; she came from Alexandria and her figurehead was the Twins.

11. After three months we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the Twin Brothers as figurehead.

12. We put in at Syracuse and spent three days there;

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

13. from there we followed the coast up to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up and on the second day we made Puteoli,

13. And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhe'gium; and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Pute'oli.

14. where we found some brothers and had the great encouragement of staying a week with them. And so we came to Rome.

14. There we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.

15. When the brothers there heard about us they came to meet us, as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them he thanked God and took courage.

15. And the brethren there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Ap'pius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them Paul thanked God and took courage.

16. On our arrival in Rome Paul was allowed to stay in lodgings of his own with the soldier who guarded him.

16. And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.

17. After three days he called together the leading Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, 'Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.

17. After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, "Brethren, though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

18. They examined me and would have set me free, since they found me guilty of nothing involving the death penalty;

18. When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.

19. but the Jews lodged an objection, and I was forced to appeal to Caesar, though not because I had any accusation to make against my own nation.

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

20. That is why I have urged you to see me and have a discussion with me, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear this chain.'

20. For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain."

21. They answered, 'We have received no letters from Judaea about you, nor has any of the brothers arrived here with any report or story of anything to your discredit.

21. And they said to him, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brethren coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you.

22. We think it would be as well to hear your own account of your position; all we know about this sect is that it encounters opposition everywhere.'

22. But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against."

23. So they arranged a day with him and a large number of them visited him at his lodgings. He put his case to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them about Jesus, arguing from the Law of Moses and the prophets from early morning until evening;

23. When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in great numbers. And he expounded the matter to them from morning till evening, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets.

24. and some were convinced by what he said, while the rest were sceptical.

24. And some were convinced by what he said, while others disbelieved.

25. So they disagreed among themselves and, as they went away, Paul had one last thing to say to them, 'How aptly the Holy Spirit spoke when he told your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah:

25. So, as they disagreed among themselves, they departed, after Paul had made one statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

26. Go and say to this people: Listen and listen but never understand! Look and look but never perceive!

26. `Go to this people, and say, You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive.

27. This people's heart is torpid, their ears dulled, they have shut their eyes tight, to avoid using their eyes to see, their ears to hear, using their heart to understand, changing their ways and being healed by me.

27. For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.'

28. 'You must realise, then, that this salvation of God has been sent to the gentiles;they will listen to it.'

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

29.

29.

30. He spent the whole of the two years in his own rented lodging. He welcomed all who came to visit him,

30. And he lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him,

31. proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete fearlessness and without any hindrance from anyone.

31. preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unhindered.