NET Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1After we had safely reached 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 local inhabitants showed us extraordinary kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain and was cold.

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.

3When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his 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 local people saw the creature hanging from Paul's hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself has not allowed him to 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."

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

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

6But they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited a long time and had seen 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.

7Now in the region around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests 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 lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and after praying, placed his hands on him and healed 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 this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick also came 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.

10They also bestowed many honors, and when we were preparing to sail, they gave us all the supplies we needed.

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

11After three months we put out to sea in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the "Heavenly Twins" 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 put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days.

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

13From there we cast off and arrived at Rhegium, and after one day a south wind sprang up 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 seven days. And in this way we came to Rome.

14There we found some brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome.

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

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 entered 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.

17After three days Paul called the local Jewish leaders together. When they had assembled, he said to them, "Brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, from Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner 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.

18When they had heard my case, they wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.

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

19But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar--not that I had some charge 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.

20So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel."

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."

21They replied, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there and reported or said 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.

22But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know that people everywhere speak against it."

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."

23They set a day to meet with him, and they came to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both 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 were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.

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

25So they began to leave, unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly 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,

26when he said, 'Go to this people and say, "You will keep on hearing, but will never understand, and you will keep on looking, but will never perceive.

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 the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would 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."'

28"Therefore be advised that this salvation from God has been sent to the Gentiles; 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.

30Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him,

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

31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction.

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

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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