在马耳他岛

28 我们安全上岸后,才知道那个岛的名字叫马耳他。 岛上的居民对我们非常友善。因为下雨,天气又冷,他们就生火接待我们。 保罗拿起一捆柴放进火堆里,不料有一条毒蛇经不住热钻了出来,咬住了他的手。 那里的居民看见毒蛇吊在保罗手上,就交头接耳地说:“这人一定是个凶手,虽然侥幸没有淹死,天理却不容他活下去。” 可是保罗把蛇甩进火里,并没有受伤。 他们以为保罗的手一定会肿起来或者他会突然倒毙,但是等了很久,见他还是安然无恙,就改变了态度,说他是个神明。

那个岛的首领名叫部百流,他的田产就在附近。他接待我们,热情款待了我们三天。 当时,部百流的父亲患痢疾,正发热躺在床上。保罗去为他祷告,把手按在他身上治好了他。 这事以后,岛上其他的病人都来了,他们都得了医治。 10 他们处处尊敬我们,在我们启航的时候,又赠送我们途中所需用的物品。

保罗抵达罗马

11 三个月后,我们搭乘一艘停在该岛过冬的船离开。这船叫“双神号”,来自亚历山大。 12 我们先到叙拉古港,在那里停泊三天, 13 然后继续前行,到达利基翁。第二天,起了南风,第三天我们抵达部丢利, 14 在那里遇见几位弟兄姊妹,应邀和他们同住了七天,然后前往罗马。 15 那里的弟兄姊妹听说我们来了,便到亚比乌和三馆迎接我们。保罗见到他们后,就感谢上帝,心中受到鼓励。 16 进了罗马城后,保罗获准在卫兵的看守下自己一个人住。

继续传道

17 三天后,保罗请来当地犹太人的首领,对他们说:“弟兄们,虽然我没有做过任何对不起同胞或违背祖先规矩的事,却在耶路撒冷遭囚禁,又被交到罗马人的手里。 18 罗马官员审讯了我,发现我没有什么该死的罪,想释放我, 19 犹太人却反对,我不得已只好上诉凯撒。我并非有什么事要控告自己的同胞。 20 为此,我才请你们来当面谈,我受捆绑是为了以色列人所盼望的那位。”

21 他们说:“犹太境内的同胞没有给我们写信提及你的事,也没有弟兄到这里说你的坏话。 22 不过,我们倒很想听听你的观点,因为我们知道你们这一派的人到处受人抨击。”

23 于是,他们和保罗约定了会面的日期。那一天,很多人来到保罗住的地方。从早到晚,保罗向他们传扬上帝国的道,引用摩西律法和先知书劝他们相信有关耶稣的事。 24 有些人听后相信了他的话,有些人不相信, 25 他们彼此意见不一。在他们散去之前,保罗说了一句话:“圣灵借以赛亚先知对你们祖先所说的话真是一点不错, 26 祂说,

“‘你去告诉百姓,
你们听了又听,却不明白;
看了又看,却不领悟。
27 因为这百姓心灵麻木,
耳朵发背,眼睛昏花,
以致眼睛看不见,
耳朵听不见,心里不明白,无法回心转意,
得不到我的医治。’

28 所以你们当知道,上帝的救恩已经传给了外族人,他们也必听。”

29 听完保罗的话后,那些犹太人就回去了,他们中间起了激烈的争论。[a]

30 后来,保罗租了一间房子,在那里住了整整两年,接待所有到访的人。 31 他勇敢地传讲上帝的国,教导有关主耶稣基督的事,没有受到任何拦阻。

Footnotes

  1. 28:29 有古卷无“听完保罗的话后,那些犹太人就回去了,他们中间起了激烈的争论。”

在馬爾他島

28 我們安全上岸後,才知道那個島的名字叫馬爾他。 島上的居民對我們非常友善。因為下雨,天氣又冷,他們就生火接待我們。 保羅拿起一捆柴放進火堆裡,不料有一條毒蛇經不住熱鑽了出來,咬住了他的手。 那裡的居民看見毒蛇吊在保羅手上,就交頭接耳地說:「這人一定是個兇手,雖然僥倖沒有淹死,天理卻不容他活下去。」 可是保羅把蛇甩進火裡,並沒有受傷。 他們以為保羅的手一定會腫起來或者他會突然倒斃,但是等了很久,見他還是安然無恙,就改變了態度,說他是個神明。

那個島的首領名叫部百流,他的田產就在附近。他接待我們,熱情款待了我們三天。 當時,部百流的父親患痢疾,正發熱躺在床上。保羅去為他禱告,把手按在他身上治好了他。 這事以後,島上其他的病人都來了,他們都得了醫治。 10 他們處處尊敬我們,在我們啟航的時候,又贈送我們途中所需用的物品。

保羅抵達羅馬

11 三個月後,我們搭乘一艘停在該島過冬的船離開。這船叫「雙神號」,來自亞歷山大。 12 我們先到敘拉古港,在那裡停泊三天, 13 然後繼續前行,到達利基翁。第二天,起了南風,第三天我們抵達部丟利, 14 在那裡遇見幾位弟兄姊妹,應邀和他們同住了七天,然後前往羅馬。 15 那裡的弟兄姊妹聽說我們來了,便到亞比烏和三館迎接我們。保羅見到他們後,就感謝上帝,心中受到鼓勵。 16 進了羅馬城後,保羅獲准在衛兵的看守下自己一個人住。

繼續傳道

17 三天後,保羅請來當地猶太人的首領,對他們說:「弟兄們,雖然我沒有做過任何對不起同胞或違背祖先規矩的事,卻在耶路撒冷遭囚禁,又被交到羅馬人的手裡。 18 羅馬官員審訊了我,發現我沒有什麼該死的罪,想釋放我, 19 猶太人卻反對,我不得已只好上訴凱撒。我並非有什麼事要控告自己的同胞。 20 為此,我才請你們來當面談,我受捆綁是為了以色列人所盼望的那位。」

21 他們說:「猶太境內的同胞沒有給我們寫信提及你的事,也沒有弟兄到這裡說你的壞話。 22 不過,我們倒很想聽聽你的觀點,因為我們知道你們這一派的人到處受人抨擊。」

23 於是,他們和保羅約定了會面的日期。那一天,很多人來到保羅住的地方。從早到晚,保羅向他們傳揚上帝國的道,引用摩西律法和先知書勸他們相信有關耶穌的事。 24 有些人聽後相信了他的話,有些人不相信, 25 他們彼此意見不一。在他們散去之前,保羅說了一句話:「聖靈藉以賽亞先知對你們祖先所說的話真是一點不錯, 26 祂說,

『你去告訴百姓,
你們聽了又聽,卻不明白;
看了又看,卻不領悟。
27 因為這百姓心靈麻木,
耳朵發背,眼睛昏花,
以致眼睛看不見,
耳朵聽不見,心裡不明白,無法回心轉意,
得不到我的醫治。』

28 所以你們當知道,上帝的救恩已經傳給了外族人,他們也必聽。」

29 聽完保羅的話後,那些猶太人就回去了,他們中間起了激烈的爭論。[a]

30 後來,保羅租了一間房子,在那裡住了整整兩年,接待所有到訪的人。 31 他勇敢地傳講上帝的國,教導有關主耶穌基督的事,沒有受到任何攔阻。

Footnotes

  1. 28·29 有古卷無「聽完保羅的話後,那些猶太人就回去了,他們中間起了激烈的爭論。」

Paul on the island of Malta

28 So then we were on the shore and we were all safe. We discovered that the island was called Malta. The people who lived on the island were very kind to us. Rain was falling and the weather was cold. So the people lit a fire and they helped all of us. Paul picked up some small branches to put on the fire. When he did this, a dangerous snake came out from among the sticks. It had felt the heat from the fire. The snake bit Paul's hand and it held on to it. The people who lived on the island saw the snake. They saw that it was hanging from Paul's hand. So they said to each other, ‘We know now that this man murdered someone. He did not die in the sea but now the snake will kill him. The god who punishes people for the bad things that they do will not let him live.’ Then Paul waved his hand about so that the snake fell off into the fire. The snake had not hurt Paul in any way. So the people watched Paul carefully. They thought that his body would become very sick. They thought that he might die suddenly. They waited for a long time. But they did not see anything bad happen to Paul. So then they thought something different about Paul. They said, ‘This man is certainly a god!’

There was an important officer who ruled the island. He was called Publius. He had some fields near to the shore where we had made the fire. He was very kind to us. He asked us to stay in his house. We stayed there for three days. Publius's father was lying in bed because he was ill. His body was hot and he was very sick. Paul went into his room to see him. Paul prayed for him and he put his hands on the man's head. As a result, the man became well again. After Paul did this, the other sick people on the island came to him. He caused them also to become well again. 10 The people gave us many gifts. Later, we got ready to leave the island on another ship. They gave us the things that we needed for the journey.

11 When we left Malta, we had been there for three months. We got on a ship that was called ‘The Twin Gods’.[a] It had come from Alexandria and it had stayed in Malta during the winter.

12 We sailed across the sea and we arrived at the city of Syracuse. We stayed there for three days.[b]

13 We left Syracuse and we sailed to the city of Rhegium. The next day, the wind began to blow from the south, so we sailed more quickly. The day after that, we arrived at the town of Puteoli.[c]

14 We found some believers there. They asked us to stay with them for one week. After this we travelled to Rome. 15 The believers in Rome had heard about us. So they came out of the city to meet us at ‘The Market of Appius’ and ‘The Three Hotels’.[d] When Paul saw the believers, he thanked God for them. He was very happy that they had come to meet him.

16 When we arrived in Rome, the Roman officer said to Paul, ‘You may live in a house by yourself, but a soldier will guard you there.’

17 After three days, Paul asked the leaders of the Jews in Rome to meet with him. When they met together, Paul said to them, ‘Friends, I am a Jew as you are. I tell you that I have never done anything bad against our people. I have always obeyed the rules that our ancestors gave to us. But the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem took hold of me. They gave me to the Roman rulers so that they would judge me. 18 The Roman rulers asked me questions about what I had done. They discovered that I had not done anything wrong. There was no reason that they should kill me. So they wanted to let me go free. 19 But the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem did not agree with that. So then I asked the Roman rulers to send me here to Rome. I wanted Caesar himself to judge me. That was the only thing that I could do. I did not want to say anything bad against my own people. 20 That is why I want to talk with you now. I want to tell you why I am a prisoner here. It is because I believe in the one that God promised to send to us who are Jews.’

21 The Jewish leaders said to Paul, ‘We have not received any letters about you from Judea. Our Jewish friends who have come here from Judea have not told us this news. They have not said anything bad about you. 22 But we know that people everywhere are saying bad things about your new group. So we would like you to tell us your ideas.’

23 So the Jewish leaders in Rome chose a day to meet again with Paul. When that day arrived, a large number of Jews came to the house where Paul was staying. Paul talked to them from the morning until the evening. He explained his message about the kingdom of God. He showed them what Moses and the other prophets had written in the Bible. He tried to show them that Jesus was God's special Messiah. 24 Some of them believed that Paul's message was true. But other Jews who were there would not believe him. 25 They argued about it with each other. When they began to leave the house, Paul said, ‘The Holy Spirit spoke a true message to your ancestors. He gave this message to Isaiah, the prophet:

26 “Go and say to this people,
    ‘You will listen and listen. But you will not understand.
    You will look and look. But you will not see anything.’
27 These people do not really want to understand.
    They are like people who have shut their ears.
    They are like people who have shut their eyes.
    If they did want to look, then they would really see.
    If they did want to listen, then they would really hear.
    They would understand my message.
    They would turn back to me and they would obey me.
    Then I would forgive them and I would make them well.” ’

28 Paul then said to the Jews there, ‘You do not want to listen to God's message. But the Gentiles will listen! They will understand how God will save them.’

29 [After Paul had said this, the Jews left. They were still arguing with each other.][e]

30 Paul lived in a house in Rome for two years. He paid money to live in the house. Many people came to visit him there. He was very happy to see them all. 31 He told people clearly about the kingdom of God. He taught them about the Lord Jesus Christ. He was not afraid to speak strongly. Nobody tried to stop him.

Footnotes

  1. 28:11 The ‘Twin Gods’ were two Greek gods called Castor and Pollux. The people from Greece thought that these gods were very powerful.
  2. 28:12 Syracuse was a port on the south-east coast of the island called Sicily.
  3. 28:13 Puteoli was a port near Naples in Italy. People who wanted to go to Rome got off their ships here.
  4. 28:15 The Market of Appius was 50 kilometres from Rome. The Three Hotels was 40 kilometres from Rome.
  5. 28:29 Many copies of the Bible do not have Acts 28:29.

Paul on the Island of Malta

28 When we ·were safe on land [reached safety], we learned that the island was called Malta [C 58 miles southwest of Sicily]. The ·people who lived there [native people; L barbarians; C a term referring to non-Greek speakers] were very ·good [kind] to us. Because it was raining and very cold, they made a fire and welcomed all of us. Paul gathered a pile of ·sticks [brushwood] and was putting them on the fire when a ·poisonous snake [viper] came out because of the heat and ·bit [L fastened itself to] him on the hand. The ·people living on the island [native people; 28:2] saw the ·snake [L creature; animal] hanging from Paul’s hand and said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He ·did not die in [L escaped from] the sea, but Justice [L Dikē; C pronounced di-káy); the goddess of justice] ·does not want [has not allowed] him to live.” But Paul shook the ·snake [L creature; animal] off into the fire and ·was not hurt [suffered no harm]. ·The people [L They] thought that Paul would swell up or fall down dead. They waited and watched him for a long time, but nothing ·bad [L unusual] happened to him. So they changed their minds and said, “He is a god!”

There ·were some fields [or was an estate] around there owned by Publius, ·an important man [or the chief official; governor] on the island. He ·welcomed [received] us into his home and ·was very good to us [provided generous hospitality; treated us as honored guests] for three days. Publius’ father was sick in bed with a fever and dysentery [C a serious illness that includes cramping and severe diarrhea]. Paul went to him, prayed, and ·put [or laid] his hands on the man and healed him. After this, ·all the other [L the rest of the] sick people on the island came to Paul, and he healed them, too. The people on the island gave us many honors. When we were ready to leave, they gave us the ·things [provisions] we needed.

Paul Goes to Rome

After three months we got on a ship from Alexandria [27:6] that had stayed on the island during the winter. On the front of the ship was the sign of the ·twin gods [C Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Zeus; protectors of sailors]. 12 We ·stopped [put in] at Syracuse [C a major city on the island of Sicily] for three days. 13 From there we ·sailed to [L set sail and arrived at] Rhegium [C a port city on the Italian mainland across from Sicily]. The next day a wind began to blow from the south, and ·a day later [L on the second day] we came to Puteoli [C a bit further north on the southwestern coast of Italy]. 14 We found some ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] there who ·asked [invited] us to stay with them for ·a week [L seven days]. ·Finally [L And so in this way], we came to Rome. 15 The ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] in Rome heard that we were there and came out as far as the ·Market [L Forum] of Appius [C about 40 miles from Rome] and the Three Inns [C eight miles toward Rome from the Market of Appius] to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and ·was encouraged [took courage].

Paul in Rome

16 When we arrived at Rome, Paul was allowed to live alone, with the soldier who guarded him.

17 Three days later ·Paul [L he] sent for the leaders of the ·Jewish community [L Jews] there. When they came together, he said, “[L Men,] Brothers, I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ·ancestors [forefathers; fathers]. But I was ·arrested [made a prisoner] in Jerusalem and given ·to [L into the hands of] the Romans. 18 After they ·asked me many questions [examined me; tried my case], they wanted to let me go free because they could find no reason why I should be ·killed [given the death penalty]. 19 But the Jews there ·argued against that [objected], so I had to ·ask to come to Rome to have my trial before [L appeal to] Caesar. But I have no ·charge [accusation] to bring against my own ·people [nation]. 20 That is why I wanted to see you and talk with you. I am bound with this chain because ·I believe in [L of] the hope of Israel.”

21 They ·answered [said to] Paul, “We have received no letters from Judea about you. None of our Jewish brothers who have come from there brought news or told us anything bad about you. 22 But we ·want to hear [consider it worth hearing] your ideas, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this ·religious group [sect].”

23 Paul and the people ·chose [arranged; appointed] a day for a meeting and on that day ·many more of the Jews [L a great number] met with Paul at the place he was staying. He spoke to them ·all day long [L from morning until evening]. Using the law of Moses and the prophets’ writings [C the whole Old Testament], he explained [L by testifying/bearing witness about] the kingdom of God, and he tried to persuade them to believe these things about Jesus. 24 Some ·believed [L were persuaded by] what Paul said, but others ·did [were] not. 25 So they ·argued [disagreed with each other] and began leaving after Paul said one more thing to them: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ·ancestors [fathers] through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

26 ‘Go to this people and say:
You will ·listen and listen [or certainly listen], but you will not understand.
    You will ·look and look [or certainly look], but you will not ·learn [perceive],
27 because [L the heart of] these people have become ·stubborn [dull].
    They ·don’t hear with their ears [or hardly hear with their ears; are hard of hearing],
    and they have closed their eyes.
    Otherwise, they might see with their eyes
    and hear with their ears.
They might really understand in their ·minds [hearts]
    and come back to me and ·be healed [L I would heal them; Is. 6:9–10].’

28 [L Therefore,] I want you to know that God has also sent his salvation to ·all nations [the Gentiles], and they will listen!” |29 ·After [or When] ·Paul [L he] said this, the Jews left. They were arguing very much with each other.|[a]

30 Paul stayed two full years ·in his own rented house [or at his own expense] and welcomed all people who came to visit him. 31 He ·boldly [confidently] ·preached about [proclaimed] the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ, ·and no one stopped him [freely; without hindrance].

Footnotes

  1. Acts 28:29 After … other. Some Greek copies do not contain the bracketed text.

Paul Ashore on Malta

28 Once safely on shore, we(A) found out that the island(B) was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand,(C) they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”(D) But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.(E) The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.(F)

There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer,(G) placed his hands on him(H) and healed him.(I) When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us(J) in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

Paul’s Arrival at Rome

11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship(K) with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and sisters(L) who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters(M) there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.(N)

Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard

17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders.(O) When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers,(P) although I have done nothing against our people(Q) or against the customs of our ancestors,(R) I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me(S) and wanted to release me,(T) because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.(U) 19 The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar.(V) I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel(W) that I am bound with this chain.”(X)

21 They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people(Y) who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”(Z)

23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God,(AA) and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets(AB) he tried to persuade them about Jesus.(AC) 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.(AD) 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said(AE) through Isaiah the prophet:

26 “‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 For this people’s heart has become calloused;(AF)
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a](AG)

28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation(AH) has been sent to the Gentiles,(AI) and they will listen!” [29] [b]

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God(AJ) and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness(AK) and without hindrance!

Footnotes

  1. Acts 28:27 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)
  2. Acts 28:29 Some manuscripts include here After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.