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!
Paulo Kisiwani Malta
128:1 Mdo 16:10; 27:26, 39Baada ya kufika nchi kavu salama, ndipo tukafahamu kwamba jina la kile kisiwa ni Malta. 228:2 Mdo 27:3; 2Kor 11:27Wenyeji wa kile kisiwa wakatufanyia ukarimu usio wa kawaida. Waliwasha moto na kutukaribisha sisi sote kwa sababu mvua ilikuwa inanyesha na kulikuwa na baridi. 3Paulo alikuwa amekusanya mzigo wa kuni na alipokuwa anaweka kwenye moto kwa ajili ya joto, nyoka mwenye sumu akatoka humo na kujisokotea mkononi mwake. 428:4 Mk 16:18; Lk 13:2, 4Wale wenyeji wa kile kisiwa walipomwona yule nyoka akiningʼinia mkononi mwa Paulo, wakaambiana, “Huyu mtu lazima awe ni muuaji, ingawa ameokoka kutoka baharini, haki haijamwacha aishi.” 528:5 Lk 10:19Lakini Paulo akamkungʼutia yule nyoka ndani ya moto wala yeye hakupata madhara yoyote. 628:6 Mdo 14:11Watu walikuwa wanangoja avimbe au aanguke ghafula na kufa. Lakini baada ya kungoja kwa muda mrefu na kuona kwamba hakuna chochote kisicho cha kawaida kilichomtokea, wakabadili mawazo yao na kuanza kusema kwamba yeye ni mungu.
7Basi karibu na sehemu ile, palikuwa na shamba kubwa la mtu mmoja kiongozi wa kile kisiwa, aliyeitwa Publio. Alitupokea na akatuhudumia kwa ukarimu mkubwa kwa muda wa siku tatu. 828:8 Yak 5:14, 15; Mdo 9:40Baba yake Publio alikuwa mgonjwa kitandani, akiwa anaumwa homa na kuhara damu. Paulo akaingia ndani ili kumwona na baada ya maombi, akaweka mikono juu yake na kumponya. 9Jambo hili lilipotukia, watu wote wa kisiwa kile waliokuwa wagonjwa wakaja, nao wakaponywa. 1028:10 Mt 15:6; 1Tim 5:17; Za 15:4Wakatupa heshima nyingi, nasi tulipokuwa tayari kusafiri kwa njia ya bahari, wakapakia melini vitu vyote tulivyokuwa tunavihitaji.
Paulo Awasili Rumi
1128:11 Mdo 27:6Miezi mitatu baadaye tukaanza safari kwa meli iliyokuwa imetia nanga kwenye kisiwa hicho kwa ajili ya majira ya baridi. Hii ilikuwa meli ya Iskanderia yenye alama ya miungu pacha waitwao Kasta na Poluksi. 12Kituo chetu cha kwanza kilikuwa Sirakusa na tukakaa huko siku tatu. 13Kisha tukangʼoa nanga, tukafika Regio. Siku iliyofuata, upepo mkali wa kusi ukavuma, na siku ya pili yake tukafika Puteoli. 1428:14 Mdo 1:16Huko tukawakuta ndugu, nasi tukakaribishwa tukae nao kwa siku saba. Hivyo tukaendelea na safari mpaka Rumi. 1528:15 Mdo 1:16Ndugu wa huko Rumi waliposikia habari zetu, walikuja mpaka Soko la Apio na mahali paitwapo Mikahawa Mitatu kutulaki. Paulo alipowaona, alimshukuru Mungu akatiwa moyo. 1628:16 Mdo 24:23; 27:3Tulipofika Rumi, Paulo aliruhusiwa kuishi peke yake akiwa na askari wa kumlinda.
Paulo Ahubiri Rumi Chini Ya Ulinzi
1728:17 Mdo 25:2; 22:5; 25:8; 6:14Siku tatu baadaye Paulo akawaita pamoja viongozi wa Kiyahudi. Walipokwisha kukusanyika akawaambia, “Ndugu zangu, ingawa sikufanya jambo lolote dhidi ya watu wetu au dhidi ya desturi za baba zetu, lakini nilikamatwa huko Yerusalemu nikakabidhiwa kwa Warumi. 1828:18 Mdo 22:24; 26:31, 32; 23:9Wao walipokwisha kunihoji, wakataka kuniachia huru kwa sababu hawakuona kosa lolote nililolifanya linalostahili adhabu ya kifo. 1928:19 Mdo 25:11; 26:32Lakini Wayahudi walipopinga uamuzi huo, nililazimika kukata rufaa kwa Kaisari, ingawa sikuwa na lalamiko lolote juu ya taifa langu. 2028:20 Mdo 26:6, 7; 21:33Basi hii ndiyo sababu nimewatumania, ili niseme nanyi. Kwa kuwa ni kwa ajili ya tumaini la Israeli nimefungwa kwa minyororo.”
2128:21 Mdo 22:5Wakamjibu, “Hatujapokea barua zozote kutoka Uyahudi zinazokuhusu, wala hapana ndugu yeyote aliyekuja hapa ambaye ametoa taarifa au kuzungumza jambo lolote baya juu yako. 2228:22 Mdo 24:5, 14Lakini tungependa kusikia kutoka kwako unalofikiri kwa sababu tunajua kwamba kila mahali watu wanazungumza mabaya kuhusu jamii hii.”
2328:23 Mt 3:2; Mdo 19:8; 17:3; 8:35Baada ya kupanga siku ya kuonana naye, watu wengi wakaja kuanzia asubuhi hadi jioni akawaeleza na kutangaza kuhusu Ufalme wa Mungu akijaribu kuwahadithia juu ya Yesu kutoka Sheria ya Mose na kutoka Manabii. 2428:24 Mdo 14:4Baadhi wakasadiki yale aliyosema, lakini wengine hawakuamini. 25Hivyo hawakukubaliana, nao walipokuwa wanaondoka, Paulo akatoa kauli moja zaidi: “Roho Mtakatifu alinena kweli na baba zenu aliposema mambo yale yaliyomhusu Bwana Yesu kwa kinywa cha nabii Isaya kwamba:
2628:26 Isa 6:9; Yer 5:21; Eze 12:2; Mt 13:14, 15; Mk 4:12; Lk 8:10; Yn 12:40; Rum 11:8“ ‘Nenda kwa watu hawa na useme,
“Hakika mtasikiliza lakini hamtaelewa;
na pia mtatazama, lakini hamtaona.”
2728:27 Za 119:70; Isa 6:9, 10Kwa kuwa mioyo ya watu hawa imekuwa migumu;
hawasikii kwa masikio yao,
na wamefumba macho yao.
Wasije wakaona kwa macho yao,
na wakasikiliza kwa masikio yao,
wakaelewa kwa mioyo yao,
na kugeuka nami nikawaponya.’
2828:28 Lk 2:30; Mdo 13:46“Basi na ijulikane kwenu kwamba, huu wokovu wa Mungu umepelekwa kwa watu wa Mataifa, nao watasikiliza.” [ 29Naye akiisha kusema maneno haya, Wayahudi wakaondoka wakiwa na hoja nyingi miongoni mwao.]
30Kwa miaka miwili mizima Paulo alikaa huko kwa nyumba aliyokuwa amepanga. Akawakaribisha wote waliokwenda kumwona. 3128:31 Mdo 4:29; Mt 4:23; Mdo 4:29; 28:23; Mt 4:23; Mdo 4:23; 4:23; 4:31; Efe 6:19Akahubiri Ufalme wa Mungu na kufundisha mambo yale yaliyomhusu Bwana Yesu Kristo, kwa ujasiri wote na bila kizuizi chochote.
