使徒行传 28
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
保羅在馬爾他島上的經歷
28 我們脫險之後，才知道那島名叫馬爾他。 2 當地的人對我們非常友善；因為下過一場雨，天氣又冷，他們就生了火來招待我們。 3 保羅拾了一捆乾柴，放在火上的時候，有一條毒蛇，受不住熱，爬了出來，纏住他的手。 4 當地的人看見那條蛇懸在他手上，就彼此說：“這個人一定是兇手，雖然從海裡脫險，天理也不容他活著！” 5 但是保羅卻把那條蛇抖在火裡，自己一點也沒有受傷。 6 他們等著看他發腫，或者忽然暴斃。但等了很久，見他平安無事，就轉念說，他是個神明。 7 那地附近有些田產，是島上的首領部百流所擁有的。他歡迎我們，善意招待我們三天。 8 那時，部百流的父親患了痢疾，發熱臥病在床，保羅到他那裡，為他祈禱按手，醫好了他。 9 這麼一來，島上其他有病的都來了，也都治好了。 10 他們多方面尊敬我們；到開船的時候，又把我們所需要的東西送來。
保羅抵達羅馬
11 過了三個月，我們上了一艘亞歷山太來的船。這船在島上過冬，船的名字是“宙斯雙子”。 12 到了敘拉古，我們停留了三天。 13 從那裡繞道航行，來到利基翁。過了一天，起了南風，第二天到達部丟利。 14 我們在那裡遇見一些弟兄，他們邀請我們一同住了七天。這樣，我們就來到了羅馬。 15 弟兄們聽到了我們的消息，就從羅馬出來，在亞比烏和三館迎接我們。保羅見了他們，就感謝 神，膽子也壯了起來。
保羅在羅馬傳道
16 我們到了羅馬，保羅獲准獨自與看守他的士兵居住。 17 過了三天，保羅請猶太人的首領來。他們都到了，保羅說：“各位弟兄，我雖然沒有作過甚麼事反對人民或者反對祖先的規例，卻像囚犯被逮捕，從耶路撒冷交到羅馬人的手裡。 18 他們審訊之後，因為在我身上沒有甚麼該死的罪，就想要釋放我。 19 可是猶太人反對，我迫不得已才上訴凱撒，並不是有甚麼事要控告我的國民。 20 因此，我請你們來見面談談。我原是為了以色列的盼望，才帶上這條鎖鍊的。” 21 他們說：“我們沒有收到猶太來的信，是提到你的，弟兄中也沒有人來報告，或說你甚麼壞話。 22 但我們覺得應該聽聽你本人的意見，因為關於這教派，我們知道是到處遭人反對的。”
23 他們和保羅約好了一個日子，到那日有很多人到他的住所來見他。他從早到晚向他們講解，為 神的國竭力作見證，引用摩西的律法和先知的話勸他們信耶穌。 24 他所說的話，有人信服，也有人不信。 25 他們彼此不合，就分散了。未散以前，保羅說了幾句話：“聖靈藉以賽亞先知對你們祖先所說的，一點不錯。 26 他說：
‘你去告訴這人民：
你們聽是聽見了，總是不明白；
看是看見了，總是不領悟。
27 因為這人民的心思遲鈍，
用不靈的耳朵去聽，
又閉上了眼睛；
免得自己眼睛看見，
耳朵聽見，
心裡明白，回轉過來，
我就醫好他們。’
28 所以你們應當知道， 神這救恩，已經傳給外族人，他們也必聽從。”（有些抄本在此有第29節：“他說了這話，猶太人中間大起爭論，就走了。”）
30 保羅在自己所租的房子裡，住了整整兩年。凡來見他的人，他都接待， 31 並且放膽地傳講 神的國，教導有關主耶穌基督的事，沒有受到甚麼禁止。
Acts 28
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 28
Paul at Malta. 1 Once we had made our way to safety, we learned that the island was called Malta.[a] 2 The natives[b] treated us with unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they lit a bonfire and welcomed all of us around it.
3 Paul had gathered an armful of sticks and put them on the fire when a viper, driven out by the heat, attached itself to his hand. 4 On seeing the snake hanging from his hand, the natives said to one another, “This man must be a murderer. Although he escaped from the sea, Justice[c] has not allowed him to live.”
5 However, he shook off the snake into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after waiting for a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.
7 In the vicinity of that place there were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, whose name was Publius.[d] He received us and gave us his hospitality for three days. 8 It so happened that this man’s father was sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and laying hands on him. 9 After this happened, the rest of the sick people on the island also came and were cured. 10 They honored us with many marks of respect, and when we were about to set sail, they put on board all the supplies we needed.
11 From Malta to Rome. Three months later,[e] we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island. The ship was from Alexandria, with the Dioscuri as its figurehead. 12 We landed at Syracuse[f] and spent three days there. 13 Then we sailed along the coast and came to Rhegium.[g] After one day there, a south wind came up, and we reached Puteoli in two days.
14 In Puteoli, we found some brethren, and we were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 When the brethren there learned of our arrival, they came out to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius[h] and the Three Taverns. On seeing them, Paul gave thanks to God, and his courage was strengthened.
Paul’s Activity at Rome[i]
Meetings with the Jewish Leaders. On his arrival in Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier guarding him.[j] 17 Three days later, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brethren, although I have done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 After they had examined me, the Romans wanted to release me because they had found nothing against me that deserved the death penalty. 19 But the Jews objected, and I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation. 20 This is the reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for it is because of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains.”21 They replied, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brethren who arrived here reported or spoken anything evil about you. 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for all we know about this sect is that it is denounced everywhere.”
23 And so they agreed on a day to meet with him, and they came to his lodgings in great numbers. From early morning until evening, he presented his case to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and attempting to convince them about Jesus as he argued from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. 24 Some were persuaded by what he had said, but others refused to believe.
25 Having failed to reach an agreement among themselves, they began to leave. Then Paul made his final statement, “How right the Holy Spirit was when he spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, saying,
26 ‘Go to the people and say
You will indeed listen but never understand,
and you will indeed look but never perceive.
27 For this people’s heart has become dull,
their ears have been stopped up,
and they have shut their eyes,
lest their eyes might see,
their ears might hear,
and their hearts might understand.
Then they would be converted,
and I would heal them.’
28 “Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation offered by God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen.” [ 29 And when he had said this, the Jews departed, arguing vigorously among themselves.][k]
30 Conclusion—But Not an End.[l] Paul remained there in his lodgings for two full years at his own expense. He welcomed all who came to him, 31 and without hindrance he boldly proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Footnotes
- Acts 28:1 Malta: a port of the province of Sicily, though located 58 miles away from the island itself.
- Acts 28:2 Natives: literally, “barbarians”—which was the name the Greeks attached to all non-Greek speaking people.
- Acts 28:4 Justice: a personification of divine avenging justice.
- Acts 28:7 Publius: this local magistrate was the representative of the praetor of Sicily.
- Acts 28:11 Three months later: the time was probably February of the year 60. Dioscuri: i.e., Castor and Pollux, pagan divinities who protected seafarers.
- Acts 28:12 Syracuse: the most important city of Sicily, located on its east coast.
- Acts 28:13 Rhegium: a town of Italy located opposite Messina and close to the narrowest part of the strait that lies between Italy and Sicily. Puteoli: the chief port of Rome, located almost 200 miles from Rhegium in the northern part of Naples.
- Acts 28:15 Forum of Appius: a town 43 miles from Rome and known for its uncivilized behavior. Three Taverns: a town 33 miles from Rome.
- Acts 28:16 As he has done throughout the Book, Paul first contacts the Jews established in the city. He must clarify his situation with regard to this colony. And he must first of all proclaim the Gospel as the fulfillment of Israel’s Scriptures and its hope. The Jews see and hear, as the apostles did, but they choose not to understand because they do not make the connection from the past to the future. Henceforth, the Word will be directly addressed to the Gentiles without passing through the synagogue. Paul’s speech is a last appeal and a conclusion.
16
We conclude from Acts that the movement of the Resurrection and Pentecost now enters freely into the whole universe. The limits of the old Israel have crumbled; the People of God gathers together all humanity. - Acts 28:16 Though he lived in a house of his own choice, he was under house arrest during his stay in Rome.
- Acts 28:29 This verse is lacking in the oldest manuscripts.
- Acts 28:30 Luke knows that Paul died a martyr in Rome, but he does not speak of it, just as he says nothing of Peter’s activity after his deliverance from the hands of Herod. His purpose is not to give us a history of the Church but to show the spread of the Gospel down to the point of its free entry among all the peoples.
According to the most popular view, Paul wrote the Captivity Letters (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon) during this first Roman imprisonment. One tradition of the early Church also presupposes that Paul was set free after two years. Clement of Rome in his Epistle to the Corinthians (5:5-7) says that Paul went “to the end of the West,” i.e., that he carried out the missionary journey to Spain that he had planned (see Rom 15:24). This point is also attested by the Muratorian Fragment (lines 37-38) and by the apocryphal Acts of Peter (chs. 1 and 3).
Acts 28
New King James Version
Paul’s Ministry on Malta
28 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that (A)the island was called Malta. 2 And the (B)natives[a] showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling 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 So 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 the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and (C)suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and (D)said that he was a god.
7 In that region there was an estate of the [b]leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and (E)prayed, and (F)he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 They also honored us in many (G)ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were (H)necessary.
Arrival at Rome
11 After three months we sailed in (I)an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the [c]Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. 12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, 14 where we found (J)brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. 15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but (K)Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
Paul’s Ministry at Rome
17 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, (L)though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet (M)I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, (N)when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19 But when the [d]Jews spoke against it, (O)I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because (P)for the hope of Israel I am bound with (Q)this chain.”
21 Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that (R)it is spoken against everywhere.”
23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, (S)to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus (T)from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And (U)some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to [e]our fathers, 26 saying,
(V)‘Go to this people and say:
“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.” ’
28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent (W)to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” 29 [f]And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31 (X)preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.
Footnotes
- Acts 28:2 Lit. barbarians
- Acts 28:7 Magistrate
- Acts 28:11 Gr. Dioskouroi, Zeus’s sons Castor and Pollux
- Acts 28:19 The ruling authorities
- Acts 28:25 NU your
- Acts 28:29 NU omits v. 29.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
