1 And when we got safe {to land} we then knew that the island was called Melita.
2 But the barbarians shewed us no common kindness; for, having kindled a fire, they took us all in because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.
3 And Paul having gathered a {certain} quantity of sticks together in a bundle and laid {it} on the fire, a viper coming out from the heat seized his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said to one another, This man is certainly a murderer, whom, {though} saved out of the sea, Nemesis has not allowed to live.
5 *He* however, having shaken off the beast into the fire, felt no harm.
6 But *they* expected that he would have swollen or fallen down suddenly dead. But when they had expected a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, changing their opinion, they said he was a god.
7 Now in the country surrounding that place were the lands belonging to the chief man of the island, by name Publius, who received us and gave {us} hospitality three days in a very friendly way.
8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay ill of fever and dysentery; to whom Paul entered in, and having prayed and laid his hands on him cured him.
9 But this having taken place, the rest also who had sicknesses in the island came and were healed:
10 who also honoured us with many honours, and on our leaving they made presents to us of what should minister to our wants.
11 And after three months we sailed in a ship which had wintered in the island, an Alexandrian, with {the} Dioscuri for its ensign.
12 And having come to Syracuse we remained three days.
13 Whence, going in a circuitous course, we arrived at Rhegium; and after one day, the wind having changed to south, on the second day we came to Puteoli,
14 where, having found brethren, we were begged to stay with them seven days. And thus we went to Rome.
15 And thence the brethren, having heard about us, came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Tres Tabernae, whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage.
16 And when we came to Rome, {the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the praetorian prefect, but} Paul was allowed to remain by himself with the soldier who kept him.
17 And it came to pass after three days, that he called together those who were the chief of the Jews; and when they had come together he said to them, Brethren, *I* having done nothing against the people or the customs of our forefathers, have been delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,
18 who having examined me were minded to let me go, because there was nothing worthy of death in me.
19 But the Jews speaking against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not as having anything to accuse my nation of.
20 For this cause therefore I have called you to {me} to see and to speak to you; for on account of the hope of Israel I have this chain about me.
21 And they said to him, For our part, we have neither received letters from Judaea concerning thee, nor has any one of the brethren who has arrived reported or said anything evil concerning thee.
22 But we beg to hear of thee what thou thinkest, for as concerning this sect it is known to us that it is everywhere spoken against.
23 And having appointed him a day many came to him to the lodging, to whom he expounded, testifying of the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and the prophets, from early morning to evening.
24 And some were persuaded of the things which were said, but some disbelieved.
25 And being disagreed among themselves they left; Paul having spoken one word, Well spoke the Holy Spirit through Esaias the prophet to our fathers,
26 saying, Go to this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear and not understand, and seeing ye shall see and not perceive.
27 For the heart of this people has become fat, and they hear heavily with their ears, and they have closed their eyes; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
28 Be it known to you therefore, that this salvation of God has been sent to the nations; *they* also will hear {it}.
29 {And he having said this, the Jews went away, having great reasoning among themselves.}
30 And he remained two whole years in his own hired lodging, and received all who came to him,
31 preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all freedom unhinderedly.
1 我们脱险之后， 才知道那岛名叫马尔他。
2 当地的人对我们非常友善； 因为下过一场雨， 天气又冷， 他们就生了火来招待我们。
3 保罗拾了一捆干柴， 放在火上的时候， 有一条毒蛇， 受不住热， 爬了出来， 缠住他的手。
4 当地的人看见那条蛇悬在他手上， 就彼此说： "这个人一定是凶手， 虽然从海里脱险， 天理也不容他活着！ "
5 但是保罗却把那条蛇抖在火里， 自己一点也没有受伤。
6 他们等着看他发肿， 或者忽然暴毙。但等了很久， 见他平安无事， 就转念说， 他是个神明。
7 那地附近有些田产， 是岛上的首领部百流所拥有的。他欢迎我们， 善意招待我们三天。
8 那时， 部百流的父亲患了痢疾， 发热卧病在床， 保罗到他那里， 为他祈祷按手， 医好了他。
9 这么一来， 岛上其他有病的都来了， 也都治好了。
10 他们多方面尊敬我们； 到开船的时候， 又把我们所需要的东西送来。
11 过了三个月， 我们上了一艘亚历山太来的船。这船在岛上过冬， 船的名字是"宙斯双子"。
12 到了叙拉古， 我们停留了三天。
13 从那里绕道航行， 来到利基翁。过了一天， 起了南风， 第二天到达部丢利。
14 我们在那里遇见一些弟兄， 他们邀请我们一同住了七天。这样， 我们就来到了罗马。
15 弟兄们听到了我们的消息， 就从罗马出来， 在亚比乌和三馆迎接我们。保罗见了他们， 就感谢 神， 胆子也壮了起来。
16 我们到了罗马， 保罗获准独自与看守他的士兵居住。
17 过了三天， 保罗请犹太人的首领来。他们都到了， 保罗说： "各位弟兄， 我虽然没有作过什么事反对人民或者反对祖先的规例， 却被捆绑起来， 从耶路撒冷交到罗马人的手里。
18 他们审讯之后， 因为在我身上没有什么该死的罪， 就想要释放我。
19 可是犹太人反对， 我迫不得已才上诉凯撒， 并不是有什么事要控告我的国民。
20 因此， 我请你们来见面谈谈。我原是为了以色列的盼望， 才带上这条锁链的。"
21 他们说： "我们没有收到犹太来的信， 是提到你的， 弟兄中也没有人来报告， 或说你什么坏话。
22 但我们觉得应该听听你本人的意见， 因为关于这教派， 我们知道是到处遭人反对的。"
23 他们和保罗约好了一个日子， 到那日有很多人到他的住所来见他。他从早到晚向他们讲解， 为 神的国竭力作见证， 引用摩西的律法和先知的话劝他们信耶稣。
24 他所说的话， 有人信服， 也有人不信。
25 他们彼此不合， 就分散了。未散以前， 保罗说了几句话： "圣灵借以赛亚先知对你们祖先所说的， 一点不错。
26 他说： ‘你去告诉这人民： 你们听是听见了， 总是不明白； 看是看见了， 总是不领悟。
27 因为这人民的心思迟钝， 用不灵的耳朵去听， 又闭上了眼睛； 免得自己眼睛看见， 耳朵听见， 心里明白， 回转过来， 我就医好他们。’
28 所以你们应当知道， 神这救恩， 已经传给外族人， 他们也必听从。"
29 （有些抄本在此有第29节： "他说了这话， 犹太人中间大起争论， 就走了。"）
30 保罗在自己所租的房子里， 住了两年。凡来见他的人， 他都接待，
31 并且放胆地传讲 神的国， 教导有关主耶稣基督的事， 没有受到什么禁止。