1 E, havendo escapado, então souberam que a ilha se chamava Malta.

2 E os bárbaros usaram conosco de não pouca humanidade; porque, acendendo uma grande fogueira, nos recolheram a todos por causa da chuva que caía, e por causa do frio.

3 E, havendo Paulo ajuntado uma quantidade de vides, e pondo-as no fogo, uma víbora, fugindo do calor, lhe acometeu a mão.

4 E os bárbaros, vendo-lhe a víbora pendurada na mão, diziam uns aos outros: Certamente este homem é homicida, visto como, escapando do mar, a justiça não o deixa viver.

5 Mas, sacudindo ele a víbora no fogo, não sofreu nenhum mal.

6 E eles esperavam que viesse a inchar ou a cair morto de repente; mas tendo esperado já muito, e vendo que nenhum incômodo lhe sobrevinha, mudando de parecer, diziam que era um deus.

7 E ali, próximo daquele lugar, havia umas herdades que pertenciam ao principal da ilha, por nome Públio, o qual nos recebeu e hospedou benignamente por três dias.

8 E aconteceu estar de cama enfermo de febre e disenteria o pai de Públio, que Paulo foi ver, e, havendo orado, pôs as mãos sobre ele, e o curou.

9 Feito, pois, isto, vieram também ter com ele os demais que na ilha tinham enfermidades, e sararam.

10 Os quais nos distinguiram também com muitas honras; e, havendo de navegar, nos proveram das coisas necessárias.

11 E três meses depois partimos num navio de Alexandria que invernara na ilha, o qual tinha por insígnia Castor e Pólux.

12 E, chegando a Siracusa, ficamos ali três dias.

13 De onde, indo costeando, viemos a Régio; e soprando, um dia depois, um vento do sul, chegamos no segundo dia a Potéoli.

14 Onde, achando alguns irmãos, nos rogaram que por sete dias ficássemos com eles; e depois nos dirigimos a Roma.

15 E de lá, ouvindo os irmãos novas de nós, nos saíram ao encontro à Praça de Ápio e às Três Vendas, e Paulo, vendo-os, deu graças a Deus e tomou ânimo.

16 E, logo que chegamos a Roma, o centurião entregou os presos ao capitào da guarda; mas a Paulo se lhe permitiu morar por sua conta à parte, com o soldado que o guardava.

17 E aconteceu que, três dias depois, Paulo convocou os principais dos judeus, e, juntos eles, lhes disse: Homens irmãos, não havendo eu feito nada contra o povo, ou contra os ritos paternos, vim contudo preso desde Jerusalém, entregue nas mãos dos romanos;

18 Os quais, havendo-me examinado, queriam soltar-me, por não haver em mim crime algum de morte.

19 Mas, opondo-se os judeus, foi-me forçoso apelar para César, não tendo, contudo, de que acusar a minha nação.

20 Por esta causa vos chamei, para vos ver e falar; porque pela esperança de Israel estou com esta cadeia.

21 Então eles lhe disseram: Nós não recebemos acerca de ti carta alguma da Judéia, nem veio aqui algum dos irmãos, que nos anunciasse ou dissesse de ti mal algum.

22 No entanto bem quiséramos ouvir de ti o que sentes; porque, quanto a esta seita, notório nos é que em toda a parte se fala contra ela.

23 E, havendo-lhe eles assinalado um dia, muitos foram ter com ele à pousada, aos quais declarava com bom testemunho o reino de Deus, e procurava persuadi-los à fé em Jesus, tanto pela lei de Moisés como pelos profetas, desde a manhã até à tarde.

24 E alguns criam no que se dizia; mas outros não criam.

25 E, como ficaram entre si discordes, despediram-se, dizendo Paulo esta palavra: Bem falou o Espírito Santo a nossos pais pelo profeta Isaías,

26 Dizendo:Vai a este povo, e dize:De ouvido ouvireis, e de maneira nenhuma entendereis;E, vendo vereis, e de maneira nenhuma percebereis.

27 Porquanto o coração deste povo está endurecido,e com os ouvidos ouviram pesadamente,e fecharam os olhos,para que nunca com os olhos vejam,Nem com os ouvidos ouçam,Nem do coração entendam,E se convertam,E eu os cure.

28 Seja-vos, pois, notório que esta salvação de Deus é enviada aos gentios, e eles a ouvirão.

29 E, havendo ele dito estas palavras, partiram os judeus, tendo entre si grande contenda.

30 E Paulo ficou dois anos inteiros na sua própria habitação que alugara, e recebia todos quantos vinham vê-lo;

31 Pregando o reino de Deus, e ensinando com toda a liberdade as coisas pertencentes ao Senhor Jesus Cristo, sem impedimento algum.

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.