Acts of the Apostles 28

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Once we had come safely through, we discovered that the island was cal ed Malta.	1 Once we had reached safety we learned that the island was called Malta.
2 The inhabitants treated us with unusual kindness. They made us all welcome by lighting a huge firebecause it had started to rain and the weather was cold.	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.
3 Paul had collected a bundle of sticks and was putting them on the fire when a viper brought out by theheat attached itself to his hand.	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.
4 When the inhabitants saw the creature hanging from his hand they said to one another, 'That manmust be a murderer; he may have escaped the sea, but divine justice would not let him live.'	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."
5 However, he shook the creature off into the fire and came to no harm,	5 But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm.
6 although they were expecting him at any moment to swell up or drop dead on the spot. After they hadwaited a long time without seeing anything out of the ordinary happen to him, they changed their minds andbegan to say he was a god.	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.
7 In that neighbourhood there were estates belonging to the chief man of the island, whose name wasPublius. He received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.	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.
8 It happened that Publius' father was in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to seehim, and after a prayer he laid his hands on the man and healed him.	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.
9 When this happened, the other sick people on the island also came and were cured;	9 After this had taken place, the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul and were cured.
10 they honoured us with many marks of respect, and when we sailed they put on board the provisionswe needed.	10 They paid us great honor and when we eventually set sail they brought us the provisions we needed.
11 At the end of three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island; she came fromAlexandria and her figurehead was the Twins.	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.
12 We put in at Syracuse and spent three days there;	12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days,
13 from there we followed the coast up to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up and onthe second day we made Puteoli,	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.
14 where we found some brothers and had the great encouragement of staying a week with them. Andso we came to Rome.	14 There we found some brothers and were urged to stay with them for seven days. And thus we came to Rome.
15 When the brothers there heard about us they came to meet us, as far as the Forum of Appius and theThree Taverns. When Paul saw them he thanked God and took courage.	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.
16 On our arrival in Rome Paul was al owed to stay in lodgings of his own with the soldier who guardedhim.	16 When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
17 After three days he cal ed together the leading Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them,'Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested inJerusalem and handed over to the Romans.	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.
18 They examined me and would have set me free, since they found me guilty of nothing involving thedeath penalty;	18 After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me, because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty.
19 but the Jews lodged an objection, and I was forced to appeal to Caesar, though not because I hadany accusation to make against my own nation.	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.
20 That is why I have urged you to see me and have a discussion with me, for it is on account of thehope of Israel that I wear this chain.'	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."
21 They answered, 'We have received no letters from Judaea about you, nor has any of the brothersarrived here with any report or story of anything to your discredit.	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.
22 We think it would be as wel to hear your own account of your position; al we know about this sect isthat it encounters opposition everywhere.'	22 But we should like to hear you present your views, for we know that this sect is denounced everywhere."
23 So they arranged a day with him and a large number of them visited him at his lodgings. He put hiscase to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them about Jesus, arguing from the Law ofMoses and the prophets from early morning until evening;	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.
24 and some were convinced by what he said, while the rest were sceptical.	24 Some were convinced by what he had said, while others did not believe.
25 So they disagreed among themselves and, as they went away, Paul had one last thing to say to them,'How aptly the Holy Spirit spoke when he told your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah:	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:
26 Go and say to this people: Listen and listen but never understand! Look and look but never perceive!	26 'Go to this people and say: You shall indeed hear but not understand. You shall indeed look but never see.
27 This people's heart is torpid, their ears dul ed, they have shut their eyes tight, to avoid using their eyesto see, their ears to hear, using their heart to understand, changing their ways and being healed by me.	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.'
28 'You must realise, then, that this salvation of God has been sent to the gentiles;they wil listen to it.'	28 Let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen."
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30 He spent the whole of the two years in his own rented lodging. He welcomed all who came to visithim,	30 He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him,
31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with completefearlessness and without any hindrance from anyone.	31 and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.