1 And when we were safe, we made the discovery that the island was named Melita.
2 And the simple people living there were uncommonly kind to us, for they made a fire for us, and took us in, because it was raining and cold.
3 But when Paul had got some sticks together and put them on the fire, a snake came out, because of the heat, and gave him a bite on the hand.
4 And when the people saw it hanging on his hand, they said to one another, Without doubt this man has put someone to death, and though he has got safely away from the sea, God will not let him go on living.
5 But shaking off the beast into the fire, he got no damage.
6 But they had the idea that they would see him becoming ill, or suddenly falling down dead; but after waiting a long time, and seeing that no damage came to him, changing their opinion, they said he was a god.
7 Now near that place there was some land, the property of the chief man of the island, who was named Publius; who very kindly took us into his house as his guests for three days.
8 And the father of Publius was ill, with a disease of the stomach; to whom Paul went, and put his hands on him, with prayer, and made him well.
9 And when this took place, all the others in the island who had diseases came and were made well.
10 Then they gave us great honour, and, when we went away, they put into the ship whatever things we were in need of.
11 And after three months we went to sea in a ship of Alexandria sailing under the sign of the Dioscuri, which had been at the island for the winter.
12 And going into the harbour at Syracuse, we were waiting there for three days.
13 And from there, going about in a curve, we came to Rhegium: and after one day a south wind came up and on the day after we came to Puteoli:
14 Where we came across some of the brothers, who kept us with them for seven days; and so we came to Rome.
15 And the brothers, when they had news of us, came out from town as far as Appii Forum and the Three Taverns to have a meeting with us: and Paul, seeing them, gave praise to God and took heart.
16 And when we came into Rome, they let Paul have a house for himself and the armed man who kept watch over him.
17 Then after three days he sent for the chief men of the Jews: and when they had come together, he said to them, My brothers, though I had done nothing against the people or the ways of our fathers, I was given, a prisoner from Jerusalem, into the hands of the Romans.
18 Who, when they had put questions to me, were ready to let me go free, because there was no cause of death in me.
19 But when the Jews made protest against it, I had to put my cause into Caesar's hands; not because I have anything to say against my nation.
20 But for this reason I sent for you, to see and have talk with you: for because of the hope of Israel I am in these chains.
21 And they said to him, We have not had letters from Judaea about you, and no one of the brothers has come to us here to give an account or say any evil about you.
22 But we have a desire to give hearing to your opinion: for as to this form of religion, we have knowledge that in all places it is attacked.
23 And when a day had been fixed, they came to his house in great numbers; and he gave them teaching, giving witness to the kingdom of God, and having discussions with them about Jesus, from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening.
24 And some were in agreement with what he said, but some had doubts.
25 And they went away, for there was a division among them after Paul had said this one thing: Well did the Holy Spirit say by the prophet Isaiah to your fathers,
26 Go to this people and say, Though you give ear, you will not get knowledge; and seeing, you will see, but the sense will not be clear to you:
27 For the heart of this people has become fat and their ears are slow in hearing and their eyes are shut; for fear that they might see with their eyes and give hearing with their ears and become wise in their hearts and be turned again to me, so that I might make them well.
28 Be certain, then, that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will give hearing.
29 []
30 And for the space of two years, Paul was living in the house of which he had the use, and had talk with all those who went in to see him,
31 Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ without fear, and no orders were given that he was not to do so.
1 Em breve soubemos que estávamos na ilha de Malta. O povo da ilha tratou-nos com muita bondade, acendendo uma fogueira na praia para nos dar as boas-vindas e nos aquecer da chuva e do frio.
3 Estava Paulo a apanhar um braçado de gravetos para pôr no fogo quando se lhe agarrou à mão uma cobra venenosa que fugia do calor. O povo da ilha, ao ver a cobra assim pendurada, disse entre si: É assassino, não há dúvida! Escapou ao mar, mas o destinonão o deixa viver! Paulo, porém, sacudiu a cobra para dentro do lume e não lhe aconteceu nada.
6 As pessoas esperavam que ele começasse a inchar ou caísse vitimado por morte repentina; mas quando, depois de esperarem muito tempo, viram que nada lhe sucedia, mudaram de opinião e convenceram-se de que era um deus.
7 Perto da praia onde desembarcámos havia uma herdade que pertencia a Públio, governador da ilha. Este homem acolheu-nos com muita bondade e sustentou-nos durante três dias. Ora, sucedia que o pai de Públio estava doente, com febre e disenteria. Paulo entrou na casa, orou pelo enfermo, colocou as mãos sobre ele e curou-o!
9 Todos os outros doentes que haviam na ilha procuraram Paulo e foram curados. Como resultado, recebemos muitas atenções, e chegada a altura de nos retirarmos, puseram-nos a bordo tudo aquilo de que precisávamos para a viagem.
11 Tinham-se já passado três meses depois do naufrágio quando nos fizemos de novo ao mar, desta vez num barco chamado Os Gémeos, de Alexandria, que invernara na ilha
12 O nosso primeiro porto de paragem foi Siracusa, onde ficámos três dias. Dali, navegámos ao longo da costa até Régio; no dia seguinte começou a soprar o vento do sul, de forma que chegámos a Putéoli no dia imediato. Ali encontrámos alguns crentes, que nos pediram que ficássemos com eles durante os próximos sete dias. Seguidamente, retomámos a viagem até Roma.
15 Os crentes em Roma tinham sabido da nossa próxima chegada e vieram ter connosco à Praça de Ápio, enquanto que os outros se nos juntavam nas Três Tabernas. Ao vê-los, Paulo deu graças a Deus e sentiu-se muito animado.
16 Quando chegámos a Roma, Paulo teve autorização para viver onde quisesse, mas sempre guardado por um soldado. Três dias depois da sua chegada, reuniu os chefes locais dos judeus e disse-lhes: Irmãos, fui preso em Jerusalém e entregue às autoridades romanas, embora não tenha feito mal a ninguém nem ofendido os costumes dos nossos antepassados.
18 Os romanos julgaram-me e queriam libertar-me, pois não viam razão para a sentença de morte exigida pelos chefes judaicos. Mas, quando os judeus protestaram contra esta decisão, vi-me na necessidade de apelar para César, embora sem querer acusar a minha nação.
20 Pedi-lhes que viessem hoje aqui para nos ficarmos a conhecer e para lhes dizer que, se estou preso por esta corrente, é por crer na esperança de Israel.
21 Ao que eles responderam: Nada ouvimos contra ti! Não recebemos quaisquer cartas da Judeia ou informações a teu respeito por parte de algum irmão dizendo mal de ti
22 Mas interessa-nos ouvir quais são as tuas crenças, porque a única coisa que sabemos acerca desses cristãos é que são acusados em toda a parte!
23 Combinaram uma data, e grande número de judeus foi à casa onde Paulo vivia. Paulo falou-lhes no reino de Deus e, baseando-se nos livros de Moisés e nos livros proféticos, procurou convencê-los acerca de Jesus, em conversas que iam da manhã à noite.
24 Alguns acreditavam, e outros não
25 Mas depois de muito discutirem entre si, Paulo disse-lhes antes de se irem embora: O Espírito Santo tinha razão quando disse aos nossos antepassados, por intermédio do profeta Isaías:
28 Quero que compreendam que esta salvação de Deus é também para os gentios, e que eles a aceitarão.
29 E quando disse estas palavras, os judeus retiraram-se, e havia grande dissensão entre eles.
30 Paulo passou os dois anos seguintes na casa que alugara, e recebia todos os que o visitavam, proclamando o reino de Deus com ousadia e ensinando acerca do Senhor Jesus Cristo, sem impedimento algum.