Paul Ashore on Malta
1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 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 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.” 5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 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.
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. 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. 9When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
Paul’s Arrival at Rome
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. 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 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 brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 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 got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard
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. 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 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. 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 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. 22But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”
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 convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 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:
26“ ‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
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.’28:27 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)
28“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” 2928:29 Some manuscripts include here After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.
30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
在马耳他岛
1我们安全上岸后，才知道那个岛的名字叫马耳他。 2岛上的居民对我们非常友善。因为下雨，天气又冷，他们就生火接待我们。 3保罗拿起一捆柴放进火堆里，不料有一条毒蛇经不住热钻了出来，咬住了他的手。 4那里的居民看见毒蛇吊在保罗手上，就交头接耳地说：“这人一定是个凶手，虽然侥幸没有淹死，天理却不容他活下去。” 5可是保罗把蛇甩进火里，并没有受伤。 6他们以为保罗的手一定会肿起来或者他会突然倒毙，但是等了很久，见他还是安然无恙，就改变了态度，说他是个神明。
7那个岛的首领名叫部百流，他的田产就在附近。他接待我们，热情款待了我们三天。 8当时，部百流的父亲患痢疾，正发热躺在床上。保罗去为他祷告，把手按在他身上治好了他。 9这事以后，岛上其他的病人都来了，他们都得了医治。 10他们处处尊敬我们，在我们启航的时候，又赠送我们途中所需用的物品。
保罗抵达罗马
11三个月后，我们搭乘一艘停在该岛过冬的船离开。这船叫“双神号”，来自亚历山大。 12我们先到叙拉古港，在那里停泊三天， 13然后继续前行，到达利基翁。第二天，起了南风，第三天我们抵达部丢利， 14在那里遇见几位弟兄姊妹，应邀和他们同住了七天，然后前往罗马。 15那里的弟兄姊妹听说我们来了，便到亚比乌和三馆迎接我们。保罗见到他们后，就感谢上帝，心中受到鼓励。 16进了罗马城后，保罗获准在卫兵的看守下自己一个人住。
继续传道
17三天后，保罗请来当地犹太人的首领，对他们说：“弟兄们，虽然我没有做过任何对不起同胞或违背祖先规矩的事，却在耶路撒冷遭囚禁，又被交到罗马人的手里。 18罗马官员审讯了我，发现我没有什么该死的罪，想释放我， 19犹太人却反对，我不得已只好上诉凯撒。我并非有什么事要控告自己的同胞。 20为此，我才请你们来当面谈，我受捆绑是为了以色列人所盼望的那位。”
21他们说：“犹太境内的同胞没有给我们写信提及你的事，也没有弟兄到这里说你的坏话。 22不过，我们倒很想听听你的观点，因为我们知道你们这一派的人到处受人抨击。”
23于是，他们和保罗约定了会面的日期。那一天，很多人来到保罗住的地方。从早到晚，保罗向他们传扬上帝国的道，引用摩西律法和先知书劝他们相信有关耶稣的事。 24有些人听后相信了他的话，有些人不相信， 25他们彼此意见不一。在他们散去之前，保罗说了一句话：“圣灵借以赛亚先知对你们祖先所说的话真是一点不错， 26祂说，
“‘你去告诉百姓，
你们听了又听，却不明白；
看了又看，却不领悟。
27因为这百姓心灵麻木，
耳朵发背，眼睛昏花，
以致眼睛看不见，
耳朵听不见，心里不明白，无法回心转意，
得不到我的医治。’
28所以你们当知道，上帝的救恩已经传给了外族人，他们也必听。”
29听完保罗的话后，那些犹太人就回去了，他们中间起了激烈的争论。28:29 有古卷无“听完保罗的话后，那些犹太人就回去了，他们中间起了激烈的争论。”
30后来，保罗租了一间房子，在那里住了整整两年，接待所有到访的人。 31他勇敢地传讲上帝的国，教导有关主耶稣基督的事，没有受到任何拦阻。
