| New American Standard Bible 1995 | New International Version |
| 1When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. | 1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. |
| 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. | 2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| 5However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. | 5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 9After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. | 9When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. |
| 10They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed. | 10They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 12After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. | 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 14There we found some brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome. | 14There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 16When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. | 16When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 18"And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death. | 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. |
| 19"But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. | 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 22But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 24Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. | 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. |
| 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, | 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: |
| 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; | 26"'Go to this people and say, "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving." |
| 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."' | 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.' |
| 28"Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen." | 28"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!" |
| 29When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves. | 29 |
| 30And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, | 30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. |
| 31preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered. | 31He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ--with all boldness and without hindrance! |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | 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. |
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