| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. | 1Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. |
| 2The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us. | 2The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold. |
| 3As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. | 3Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. |
| 4The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” | 4When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” |
| 5But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. | 5But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. |
| 6The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god. | 6The islanders 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. |
| 7Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. | 7Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. |
| 8As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. | 8The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man. |
| 9Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. | 9After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well. |
| 10As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip. Paul Arrives at Rome | 10The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail. |
| 11It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods as its figurehead. | 11After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead. |
| 12Our first stop was Syracuse, where we stayed three days. | 12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. |
| 13From there we sailed across to Rhegium. A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli. | 13From there we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day, a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at Puteoli. |
| 14There we found some believers, who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. | 14There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome. |
| 15The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God. | 15The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God. |
| 16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier. Paul Preaches at Rome under Guard | 16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him. |
| 17Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. | 17After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. |
| 18The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. | 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. |
| 19But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. | 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation. |
| 20I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.” | 20So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” |
| 21They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. | 21The leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you. |
| 22But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.” | 22But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.” |
| 23So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. | 23So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. |
| 24Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. | 24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. |
| 25And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, | 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: |
| 26‘Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. | 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 hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ | 27For this people’s heart has grown callous; 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.’ |
| 28So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.” | 28Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” |
| 30For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, | 30Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him. |
| 31boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him. | 31Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. |
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