1 E, havendo escapado, então souberam que a ilha se chamava Malta.

2 E os bárbaros usaram conosco de não pouca humanidade; porque, acendendo uma grande fogueira, nos recolheram a todos por causa da chuva que caía, e por causa do frio.

3 E, havendo Paulo ajuntado uma quantidade de vides, e pondo-as no fogo, uma víbora, fugindo do calor, lhe acometeu a mão.

4 E os bárbaros, vendo-lhe a víbora pendurada na mão, diziam uns aos outros: Certamente este homem é homicida, visto como, escapando do mar, a justiça não o deixa viver.

5 Mas, sacudindo ele a víbora no fogo, não sofreu nenhum mal.

6 E eles esperavam que viesse a inchar ou a cair morto de repente; mas tendo esperado já muito, e vendo que nenhum incômodo lhe sobrevinha, mudando de parecer, diziam que era um deus.

7 E ali, próximo daquele lugar, havia umas herdades que pertenciam ao principal da ilha, por nome Públio, o qual nos recebeu e hospedou benignamente por três dias.

8 E aconteceu estar de cama enfermo de febre e disenteria o pai de Públio, que Paulo foi ver, e, havendo orado, pôs as mãos sobre ele, e o curou.

9 Feito, pois, isto, vieram também ter com ele os demais que na ilha tinham enfermidades, e sararam.

10 Os quais nos distinguiram também com muitas honras; e, havendo de navegar, nos proveram das coisas necessárias.

11 E três meses depois partimos num navio de Alexandria que invernara na ilha, o qual tinha por insígnia Castor e Pólux.

12 E, chegando a Siracusa, ficamos ali três dias.

13 De onde, indo costeando, viemos a Régio; e soprando, um dia depois, um vento do sul, chegamos no segundo dia a Potéoli.

14 Onde, achando alguns irmãos, nos rogaram que por sete dias ficássemos com eles; e depois nos dirigimos a Roma.

15 E de lá, ouvindo os irmãos novas de nós, nos saíram ao encontro à Praça de Ápio e às Três Vendas, e Paulo, vendo-os, deu graças a Deus e tomou ânimo.

16 E, logo que chegamos a Roma, o centurião entregou os presos ao capitão da guarda; mas a Paulo se lhe permitiu morar por conta própria, com o soldado que o guardava.

17 E aconteceu que, três dias depois, Paulo convocou os principais dos judeus e, juntos eles, lhes disse: Homens irmãos, não havendo eu feito nada contra o povo, ou contra os ritos paternos, vim contudo preso desde Jerusalém, entregue nas mãos dos romanos;

18 Os quais, havendo-me examinado, queriam soltar-me, por não haver em mim crime algum de morte.

19 Mas, opondo-se os judeus, foi-me forçoso apelar para César, não tendo, contudo, de que acusar a minha nação.

20 Por esta causa vos chamei, para vos ver e falar; porque pela esperança de Israel estou com esta cadeia.

21 Então eles lhe disseram: Nós não recebemos acerca de ti carta alguma da Judeia, nem veio aqui algum dos irmãos, que nos anunciasse ou dissesse de ti mal algum.

22 No entanto bem quiséramos ouvir de ti o que sentes; porque, quanto a esta seita, notório nos é que em toda a parte se fala contra ela.

23 E, havendo-lhe eles assinalado um dia, muitos foram ter com ele à pousada, aos quais declarava com bom testemunho o reino de Deus, e procurava persuadi-los à fé em Jesus, tanto pela lei de Moisés como pelos profetas, desde a manhã até à tarde.

24 E alguns criam no que se dizia; mas outros não criam.

25 E, como ficaram entre si discordes, despediram-se, dizendo Paulo esta palavra: Bem falou o Espírito Santo a nossos pais pelo profeta Isaías,

26 Dizendo: Vai a este povo, e dize: De ouvido ouvireis, e de maneira nenhuma entendereis; e, vendo vereis, e de maneira nenhuma percebereis.

27 Porquanto o coração deste povo está endurecido, e com os ouvidos ouviram pesadamente, e fecharam os olhos, para que nunca com os olhos vejam, nem com os ouvidos ouçam, nem do coração entendam, e se convertam, e eu os cure.

28 Seja-vos, pois, notório que esta salvação de Deus é enviada aos gentios, e eles a ouvirão.

29 E, havendo ele dito estas palavras, partiram os judeus, tendo entre si grande contenda.

30 E Paulo ficou dois anos inteiros na sua própria habitação que alugara, e recebia todos quantos vinham vê-lo;

31 Pregando o reino de Deus, e ensinando com toda a liberdade as coisas pertencentes ao Senhor Jesus Cristo, sem impedimento algum.

1 And having been saved, then they knew that the island is called Melita,

2 and the foreigners were shewing us no ordinary kindness, for having kindled a fire, they received us all, because of the pressing rain, and because of the cold;

3 but Paul having gathered together a quantity of sticks, and having laid [them] upon the fire, a viper -- out of the heat having come -- did fasten on his hand.

4 And when the foreigners saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said unto one another, `Certainly this man is a murderer, whom, having been saved out of the sea, the justice did not suffer to live;`

5 he then, indeed, having shaken off the beast into the fire, suffered no evil,

6 and they were expecting him to be about to be inflamed, or to fall down suddenly dead, and they, expecting [it] a long time, and seeing nothing uncommon happening to him, changing [their] minds, said he was a god.

7 And in the neighbourhood of that place were lands of the principal man of the island, by name Publius, who, having received us, three days did courteously lodge [us];

8 and it came to pass, the father of Publius with feverish heats and dysentery pressed, was laid, unto whom Paul having entered, and having prayed, having laid [his] hands on him, healed him;

9 this, therefore, being done, the others also in the island having infirmities were coming and were healed;

10 who also with many honours did honour us, and we setting sail -- they were lading [us] with the things that were necessary.

11 And after three months, we set sail in a ship (that had wintered in the isle) of Alexandria, with the sign Dioscuri,

12 and having landed at Syracuse, we remained three days,

13 thence having gone round, we came to Rhegium, and after one day, a south wind having sprung up, the second [day] we came to Puteoli;

14 where, having found brethren, we were called upon to remain with them seven days, and thus to Rome we came;

15 and thence, the brethren having heard the things concerning us, came forth to meet us, unto Appii Forum, and Three Taverns -- whom Paul having seen, having given thanks to God, took courage.

16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the captain of the barrack, but Paul was suffered to remain by himself, with the soldier guarding him.

17 And it came to pass after three days, Paul called together those who are the principal men of the Jews, and they having come together, he said unto them: `Men, brethren, I -- having done nothing contrary to the people, or to the customs of the fathers -- a prisoner from Jerusalem, was delivered up to the hands of the Romans;

18 who, having examined me, were wishing to release [me], because of their being no cause of death in me,

19 and the Jews having spoken against [it], I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar -- not as having anything to accuse my nation of;

20 for this cause, therefore, I called for you to see and to speak with [you], for because of the hope of Israel with this chain I am bound.`

21 And they said unto him, `We did neither receive letters concerning thee from Judea, nor did any one who came of the brethren declare or speak any evil concerning thee,

22 and we think it good from thee to hear what thou dost think, for, indeed, concerning this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against;`

23 and having appointed him a day, they came, more of them unto him, to the lodging, to whom he was expounding, testifying fully the reign of God, persuading them also of the things concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and the prophets, from morning till evening,

24 and, some, indeed, were believing the things spoken, and some were not believing.

25 And not being agreed with one another, they were going away, Paul having spoken one word -- `Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers,

26 saying, Go on unto this people and say, With hearing ye shall hear, and ye shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and ye shall not perceive,

27 for made gross was the heart of this people, and with the ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they did close, lest they may see with the eyes, and with the heart may understand, and be turned back, and I may heal them.

28 `Be it known, therefore, to you, that to the nations was sent the salvation of God, these also will hear it;`

29 and he having said these things, the Jews went away, having much disputation among themselves;

30 and Paul remained an entire two years in his own hired [house], and was receiving all those coming in unto him,

31 preaching the reign of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness -- unforbidden.