Acts of the Apostles 28

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Once we had reached safety we learned that the island was called Malta.	1 And after we had escaped, we then realized that the island was called Malta. Yet truly, the natives offered us no small amount of humane treatment.
2 The natives showed us extraordinary hospitality; they lit a fire and welcomed all of us because it had begun to rain and was cold.	2 For they refreshed us all by kindling a fire, because rain was imminent and because of the cold.
3 Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire when a viper, escaping from the heat, fastened on his hand.	3 But when Paul had gathered together a bundle of twigs, and had placed them on the fire, a viper, which had been drawn to the heat, fastened itself to his hand.
4 When the natives saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "This man must certainly be a murderer; though he escaped the sea, Justice has not let him remain alive."	4 And truly, when the natives saw the beast hanging from his hand, they were saying to one another: “Certainly, this man must be a murderer, for though he escaped from the sea, vengeance will not permit him to live.”
5 But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm.	5 But shaking off the creature into the fire, he indeed suffered no ill effects.
6 They were expecting him to swell up or suddenly to fall down dead but, after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.	6 But they were supposing that he would soon swell up, and then would suddenly fall down and die. But having waited a long time, and seeing no ill effects in him, they changed their minds and were saying that he was a god.
7 In the vicinity of that place were lands belonging to a man named Publius, the chief of the island. He welcomed us and received us cordially as his guests for three days.	7 Now among these places were estates owned by the ruler of the island, named Publius. And he, taking us in, showed us kind hospitality for three days.
8 It so happened that the father of Publius was sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, after praying, laid his hands on him and healed him.	8 Then it happened that the father of Publius lay ill with a fever and with dysentery. Paul entered to him, and when he had prayed and had laid his hands on him, he saved him.
9 After this had taken place, the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul and were cured.	9 When this had been done, all who had diseases on the island approached and were cured.
10 They paid us great honor and when we eventually set sail they brought us the provisions we needed.	10 And then they also presented us with many honors. And when we were ready to set sail, they gave us whatever we needed.
11 Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the Dioscuri as its figurehead.	11 And so, after three months, we sailed in a ship from Alexandria, whose name was ‘the Castors,’ and which had wintered at the island.
12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days,	12 And when we had arrived at Syracuse, we were delayed there for three days.
13 and from there we sailed round the coast and arrived at Rhegium. After a day, a south wind came up and in two days we reached Puteoli.	13 From there, sailing close to the shore, we arrived at Rhegium. And after one day, with the south wind blowing, we arrived on the second day at Puteoli.
14 There we found some brothers and were urged to stay with them for seven days. And thus we came to Rome.	14 There, after locating the brothers, we were asked to remain with them for seven days. And then we went on to Rome.
15 The brothers from there heard about us and came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul gave thanks to God and took courage.	15 And there, when the brothers had heard of us, they went to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. And when Paul had seen them, giving thanks to God, he took courage.
16 When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.	16 And when we had arrived at Rome, Paul was given permission to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
17 Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, "My brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.	17 And after the third day, he called together the leaders of the Jews. And when they had convened, he said to them: “Noble brothers, I have done nothing against the people, nor against the customs of the fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18 After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me, because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty.	18 And after they held a hearing about me, they would have released me, because there was no case for death against me.
19 But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation.	19 But with the Jews speaking against me, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, though it was not as if I had any kind of accusation against my own nation.
20 This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains."	20 And so, because of this, I requested to see you and to speak to you. For it is because of the hope of Israel that I am encircled with this chain.”
21 They answered him, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor has any of the brothers arrived with a damaging report or rumor about you.	21 But they said to him: “We have not received letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the other new arrivals among the brothers reported or spoken anything evil against you.
22 But we should like to hear you present your views, for we know that this sect is denounced everywhere."	22 But we are asking to hear your opinions from you, for concerning this sect, we know that it is being spoken against everywhere.”
23 So they arranged a day with him and came to his lodgings in great numbers. From early morning until evening, he expounded his position to them, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets.	23 And when they had appointed a day for him, very many persons went to him at his guest quarters. And he discoursed, testifying to the kingdom of God, and persuading them about Jesus, using the law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning until evening.
24 Some were convinced by what he had said, while others did not believe.	24 And some believed the things that he was saying, yet others did not believe.
25 Without reaching any agreement among themselves they began to leave; then Paul made one final statement. "Well did the holy Spirit speak to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, saying:	25 And when they could not agree among themselves, they departed, while Paul was speaking this one word: “How well did the Holy Spirit speak to our fathers through the prophet Isaiah,
26 'Go to this people and say: You shall indeed hear but not understand. You shall indeed look but never see.	26 saying: ‘Go to this people and say to them: Hearing, you shall hear and not understand, and seeing, you shall see and not perceive.
27 Gross is the heart of this people; they will not hear with their ears; they have closed their eyes, so they may not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.'	27 For the heart of this people has grown dull, and they have listened with reluctant ears, and they have closed their eyes tightly, lest perhaps they might see with the eyes, and hear with the ears, and understand with the heart, and so be converted, and I would heal them.’
28 Let it be known to you that this salvation of 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, and they shall listen to it.”
29	29 And when he had said these things, the Jews went away from him, though they still had many questions among themselves.
30 He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him,	30 Then he remained for two whole years in his own rented lodgings. And he received all who went in to him,
31 and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.	31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which are from the Lord Jesus Christ, with all faithfulness, without prohibition.