Acts of the Apostles 28

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Once we had come safely through, we discovered that the island was cal ed 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 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 For they refreshed us all by kindling a fire, because rain was imminent and because of the 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 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 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 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 However, he shook the creature off into the fire and came to no harm,	5 But shaking off the creature into the fire, he indeed suffered no ill effects.
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 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 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 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 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 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 When this happened, the other sick people on the island also came and were cured;	9 When this had been done, all who had diseases on the island approached and were cured.
10 they honoured us with many marks of respect, and when we sailed they put on board the provisionswe 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 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 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 spent three days there;	12 And when we had arrived at Syracuse, we were delayed there for 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 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 where we found some brothers and had the great encouragement of staying a week with them. Andso 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 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 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 On our arrival in Rome Paul was al owed to stay in lodgings of his own with the soldier who guardedhim.	16 And when we had arrived at Rome, Paul was given permission to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard 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 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 They examined me and would have set me free, since they found me guilty of nothing involving thedeath 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 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 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 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 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, '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 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 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 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 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 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 and some were convinced by what he said, while the rest were sceptical.	24 And some believed the things that he was saying, yet 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 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 and say to this people: Listen and listen but never understand! Look and look but never perceive!	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 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 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 'You must realise, then, that this salvation of God has been sent to the gentiles;they wil listen to it.'	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 spent the whole of the two years in his own rented lodging. He welcomed all who came to visithim,	30 Then he remained for two whole years in his own rented lodgings. And he received all who went in 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 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which are from the Lord Jesus Christ, with all faithfulness, without prohibition.