International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1When we were safely on shore, we learned that the island was called Malta.

1When they had been brought safely through, then we found out 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 natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all.

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.

3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on 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 natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, "Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live."

5But he shook the snake into the fire and wasn't harmed.

5However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.

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.

6But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that 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.

7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously 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.

8And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him.

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 people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured.

10The islanders honored us in many ways, and when we were about to sail again, they supplied us with everything we needed.

10They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.

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.

11At the end of three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead.

12We stopped at Syracuse and stayed there for three days.

12After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for 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 sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to 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 brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus 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.

15And the brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

16When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.

16When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding 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 Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, "Brethren, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of 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.

18"And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death.

19But the Jews objected and forced me to appeal to the emperor, even though I have no countercharge to bring against my own people.

19"But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation 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."

20"For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel."

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.

21They said to him, "We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you.

22However, we'd like to hear from you what you believe, because people are talking against this sect everywhere."

22"But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere."

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.

23When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.

24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others wouldn't believe.

24Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not 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!

25And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,

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!

26saying, 'GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, "YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

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 THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, 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."

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

29	29When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.

30For two whole years Paul lived in his own rented place and welcomed everyone who came to him.

30And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him,

31He continued to preach about the kingdom of God and to teach boldly and freely about the Lord Jesus, the Messiah.

31preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

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