1 Estando já salvos, soubemos então que a ilha se chamava Malta.
2 Os indígenas trataram-nos com muita humanidade, porque, acendendo uma fogueira, acolheram-nos a todos por causa da chuva que caía e por causa do frio.
3 Tendo Paulo ajuntado e posto sobre a fogueira um feixe de gravetos, uma víbora, fugindo por causa do calor, mordeu-lhe a mão.
4 Quando os indígenas viram o réptil pendente da mão de Paulo, diziam uns para os outros: Certamente este homem é homicida, pois embora salvo do mar, a Justiça não o deixou viver.
5 Porém ele, sacudindo o réptil no fogo, não sofreu mal algum;
6 mas eles esperavam que ele viesse a inchar ou a cair morto de repente. Porém tendo esperado muito tempo e vendo que nada de anormal lhe sucedia, mudando de parecer, diziam que era ele um deus.
7 Na vizinhança daquele lugar havia algumas terras pertencentes ao homem principal da ilha, chamado Públio, o qual nos recebeu e hospedou com muita bondade por três dias.
8 Estando doente de cama com febre e disenteria o pai de Públio, Paulo foi visitá-lo e, tendo feito oração, impôs-lhe as mãos e o curou.
9 Feito isto, os outros doentes da ilha vinham também e eram curados,
10 e estes nos distinguiram com muitas honras e, ao partirmos, puseram a bordo o que nos era necessário.
11 No fim de três meses fizemos ao mar em um navio de Alexandria, que havia invernado na ilha, o qual tinha por insígnia Castor e Polux.
12 Tocando em Siracusa, ficamos aí três dias,
13 donde bordejando, chegamos a Régio. No dia seguinte soprou o vento sul, e chegamos em dois dias a Poteoli;
14 onde tendo achado alguns irmãos, estes nos rogaram que ficássemos com eles sete dias; e assim fomos a Roma.
15 Tendo aí os irmãos sabido notícias nossas, vieram ao nosso encontro até a praça de Ápio e às três vendas, e Paulo, quando os viu, deu graças a Deus e cobrou ânimo.
16 Quando chegamos a Roma, permitiu-se a Paulo que ficasse em um aposento particular com o soldado que o guardava.
17 Decorridos três dias, convocou ele os judeus principais; e havendo-se reunido eles, disse-lhes: Eu, irmãos, apesar de nada ter feito contra o nosso povo ou contra o rito de nossos pais, desde Jerusalém fui entregue preso nas mãos dos romanos
18 que, tendo-me interrogado, queriam soltar-me, por não haver em mim crime algum que merecesse morte;
19 mas opondo-se a isso os judeus, fui obrigado a apelar para César, não tendo, contudo, coisa alguma de que acusar a minha nação.
20 Por este motivo mandei chamar-vos, para vos ver e falar; pôs pela esperança de Israel estou preso com esta corrente.
21 Porém eles lhe disseram: Não recebemos carta da Judéia a teu respeito nem veio de lá irmão algum que contasse ou dissesse mal de ti.
22 Mas desejaríamos ouvir de ti o que pensas; pois relativamente a esta seita sabemos que por toda a parte é ela impugnada.
23 Tendo-lhe marcado um dia, foram em grande número ter com ele à sua morada; aos quais desde a manhã até a noite, dando testemunho, expunha o reino de Deus, persuadindo-os acerca de Jesus pela Lei de Moisés e pelos profetas.
24 Uns se deixavam persuadir por suas palavras, e outros permaneciam incrédulos;
25 e não estando entre si concordes, retiravam-se quando Paulo lhes disse estas palavras: Bem falou o Espírito Santo a vossos pais pelo profeta Isaías:
26 Vai a este povo e dize: Certamente ouvireis, e de nenhum modo entendereis; Certamente vereis, e de nenhum modo percebereis.
27 Pois o coração deste povo se fez pesado, E os seus ouvidos se fizeram tardos E eles fecharam os olhos; Para não suceder que vendo com os olhos E ouvindo com os ouvidos, Entendam no coração, e se convertam, E eu os sare.
28 Ficai sabendo, portanto, que esta salvação de Deus é enviada aos gentios; eles também a ouvirão.
29 {E havendo ele dito isto, partiram os judeus, tendo entre si grande contenda.}
30 Durante dois anos inteiros permaneceu no seu aposento alugado, e recebia todos os que vinham ter com ele,
31 pregando o reino de Deus e ensinando as coisas concernentes ao Senhor Jesus Cristo com toda a liberdade e sem impedimento.
1 When we had escaped, then they learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire and received us all, because of the present rain and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live." 5 However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn’t harmed. 6 But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and courteously entertained us for three days. 8 The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. 9 Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came and were cured. 10 They also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed.
11 After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose figurehead was "The Twin Brothers." 12 Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. 13 From there we circled around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli, 14 where we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome. 15 From there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16 When we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
17 After three days Paul called together those who were the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, "I, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers, still was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they had examined me, desired to set me free, because there was no cause of death in me. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything about which to accuse my nation. 20 For this cause therefore I asked to see you and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain."
21 They said to him, "We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers come here and report or speak any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think. For, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against."
23 When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening. 24 Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one message: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying,
‘Go to this people and say,
in hearing, you will hear,
but will in no way understand.
In seeing, you will see,
but will in no way perceive.
27 For this people’s heart has grown callous.
Their ears are dull of hearing.
Their eyes they have closed.
Lest they should see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their heart,
and would turn again,
then I would heal them.’
28 "Be it known therefore to you that the salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will listen."
29 When he had said these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.
30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house and received all who were coming to him, 31 preaching God’s Kingdom and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.