Acts, 28

1. And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

1. After being saved, we learned that the island was called Malta.

2. And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

2. The natives were very cordial. They lit a big bonfire and took good care of us all, since it was raining and cold.

3. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid [them] on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

3. Paul gathered a bundle of dried twigs and as he threw them into the fire, a viper suddenly came out because of the heat and entwined itself around his hand.

4. And when the barbarians saw the [venomous] beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

4. When the natives saw the viper hanging from his hand, they said to one another: "Surely this man is a murderer: he has barely escaped from the raging sea, yet divine justice will not allow him to live."

5. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

5. But Paul shook off the viper into the fire and did not suffer any harm. They waited to see him swell and die;

6. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

6. but after observing him for a while they saw that nothing happened to him, so they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

7. In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

7. Near this place was an estate owned by the head of the island, named Publius. For three days this man welcomed us hospitably.

8. And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

8. It so happened that his father was in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul went to see him; he prayed and laid his hands on him and healed him.

9. So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

9. Because of this, the rest of the sick people on the island came to see him and were cured.

10. Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded [us] with such things as were necessary.

10. So they showered us with kindness, and on our departure they provided us with everything we needed.

11. And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.

11. After three months, we boarded a ship which had spent the winter at the island. It belonged to an Alexandrian company and carried the figurehead of Castor and Pollux as insignia.

12. And landing at Syracuse, we tarried [there] three days.

12. We sailed for Syracuse, staying there for three days

13. And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:

13. and, after circling the coast, we arrived at Rhegium. On the following day, a south wind began to blow, and at the end of two days we arrived at Puteoli,

14. Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

14. where we found some of our brothers who invited us to stay with them for a week. And that was how we came to Rome.

15. And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

15. There the brothers and sisters had been informed of our arrival and came out to meet us as far as the Appian Forum and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage.

16. And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

16. Upon our arrival in Rome, the captain turned the prisoners over to the military governor but permitted Paul to lodge in a private house with the soldier who guarded him.

17. And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men [and] brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

17. After three days, Paul called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them: "Brothers, though I have not done anything against our people or against the traditions of our fathers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.

18. Who, when they had examined me, would have let [me] go, because there was no cause of death in me.

18. They examined me and wanted to set me free, for they saw nothing in my case that deserved death.

19. But when the Jews spake against [it], I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

19. But the Jews objected, so I was forced to appeal to Caesar without the least intention of bringing any case against my own people.

20. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see [you], and to speak with [you]: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

20. Therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I bear these chains."

21. And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

21. They answered: "We have not received any letter about you from Judea, and none of the brothers who have come from there have brought any message or said anything against you.

22. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

22. But we wish to hear from you what you think, although we know already that everywhere people speak against this sect that you belong to."

23. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into [his] lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and [out of] the prophets, from morning till evening.

23. They set a day for him and came in great numbers to his lodging. So Paul explained everything he wanted to tell them regarding the Kingdom of God and tried to convince them concerning Jesus, taking the Law of Moses and the Prophets as his starting point. This continued from morning till night.

24. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

24. Some were convinced by his words, others were not.

25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

25. Finally the Jews left, still arguing strongly among themselves; and Paul sent them away with this statement:"What the Holy Spirit said has come true, when he spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah:

26. Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

26. Go to this people and say to them: However much you hear, you will not understand; you will see and see again but not perceive.

27. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

27. The heart of this people has grown hard; they have covered their ears and closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest their spirit understand, and I should heal them.

28. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and [that] they will hear it.

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

29. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

29.

30. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

30. Paul stayed for two whole years in a house he himself rented, where he received without any hindrance all those who came to see him.

31. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

31. He proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught the truth about Jesus Christ, the Lord, quite openly and without any hindrance.