1 Kui me olime tervelt maale pääsenud, saime teda, et saart hüütakse Maltaks. 2 Saare elanikud osutasid meile ebatavalist lahkust. Nad süütasid lõkke ja võtsid meid selle äärde, sest sadas vihma ja oli külm. 3 Paulus korjas hunniku hagu, ja kui ta selle tulle pani, tuli kuumusest välja rästik, kes ta kätte kinni hakkas. 4 Kui saare elanikud nägid ussi tema käe küljes rippumas, ütlesid nad üksteisele: „See mees peab küll mõrtsukas olema! Õiguse jumalanna ei luba tal siin elada, kuigi ta on merest pääsenud." 5 Paulus aga viskas ussi tulle ja tal ei juhtunud mingit häda. 6 Rahvas ootas, et ta paistetab üles või kukub surnult maha, aga kui nad nägid, et Paulusega ei juhtu midagi ebatavalist, mõtlesid nad ümber ja ütlesid, et ta on jumal.

7 Selle paiga lähedal oli mõis, mis kuulus saare valitsejale Publiusele. Tema võttis meid vastu ja võõrustas meid heldelt kolm päeva. 8 Publiuse isa lamas aga palaviku ja kõhutõvega voodis. Paulus läks tema juurde ja pani palvetades käed tema peale ning tegi ta terveks. 9 Kui see oli sündinud, tulid sinna ka teised saarel olevad haiged, ja said terveks. 10 Ja nemad austasid meid mitmel viisil, ja kui me olime valmis merele minema, andsid nad meile teekonna jaoks kõik vajaliku.

11 Kolme kuu pärast me läksime sealt merele Aleksandria laevaga, mis oli saarel olnud ületalve ja mille tunnuseks oli Dioskuuride kuju. 12 Me randusime Sürakuusas ja jäime sinna kolmeks päevaks. 13 Sealt me sõitsime edasi ja saabusime Reegiumi. Ja kui järgmisel päeval tõusis lõunatuul, jõudsime teisel päeval Puteolisse. 14 Sealt me leidsime vendi ja õdesid, kelle kutsel jäime nende juurde seitsmeks päevaks. Ja nii me tulime Rooma. 15 Ja kui sealsed vennad ja õed meist kuulda said, tulid nad meile vastu Appiuse Foorumini ja Tres Tabernani. Neid inimesi nähes tänas Paulus Jumalat ning sai julgustust. 16 Kui me olime saabunud Rooma, lubati Paulusel omaette elada ühe sõduri valve all.

17 Kolm päeva hiljem kutsus Paulus kokku juutide juhid. Kui need olid kogunenud, ütles Paulus neile: „Mu vennad, kuigi mina ei ole teinud midagi meie rahva ja esivanemate kommete vastu, vahistati mind Jeruusalemmas ja anti üle roomlaste kätte. 18 Ja kui need mind üle kuulasid, tahtsid nad mind vabaks lasta, sest mul ei olnud ühtki surmasüüd. 19 Aga kui juudid olid selle vastu, olin ma sunnitud pöörduma keisri poole. Mul polnud mingit kavatsust oma rahva vastu süüdistust esitada. 20 Sel põhjusel palusin teid näha ja teiega rääkida. Iisraeli lootuse pärast ma olen kinni ahelates."

21 Aga nemad vastasid: „Me ei ole saanud Juudamaalt ühtegi kirja sinu kohta ega ole tulnud siia ühtegi inimest, kes sinust oleks midagi paha teatanud või rääkinud. 22 Aga me tahame siiski sinu käest kuulda, mida sa mõtled, sest me teame, et selle lahkusu vastu räägitakse kõikjal."

23 Nad korraldasid ühel päeval Paulusega kokkusaamise ja siis tuli veel rohkem inimesi sinna, kus ta viibis. Neile ta tunnistas ja seletas hommikust õhtuni Jumala riigist ning veenis Moosese Seaduse ja Prohvetite põhjal uskuma Jeesusesse. 24 Mõned lasksid end öeldust veenda, teised aga ei suutnud uskuda. 25 Jõudmata ühisele nõule, lahkusid nad pärast seda, kui Paulus oli öelnud oma viimase sõna: „Püha Vaim rääkis tõtt prohvet Jesaja kaudu teie esivanematele:

26 „Mine selle rahva juurde ja ütle:

„Te küll kuulate, aga ei mõista,

te küll vaatate, aga ei näe."

27 Selle rahva süda on kalestunud

ja nende kõrvakuulmine on nüri

ja nad on sulgenud oma silmad.

Muidu nad näeksid oma silmadega

ja kuuleksid oma kõrvadega

ja mõistaksid südamega

ning pöörduksid, ja ma teeksin nad terveks."

28 Siis olgu teile teada, et see Jumala pääste on läkitatud teistele rahvastele ja nemad võtavad seda kuulda!" 29 Kui ta seda oli öelnud, läksid juudid ära omavahel ägedalt vaieldes.

30 Paulus jäi kaheks aastaks oma üürimajja ja võttis vastu kõiki, kes tema juurde tulid. 31 Ta kuulutas Jumala riiki ning õpetas Issandast Jeesusest Kristusest julgelt ja takistusteta!

1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. 8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. 9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: 10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. 12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. 13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli: 14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. 15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. 16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. 19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. 20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. 21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judæa concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. 22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. 23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.