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.
1 我们脱险之后， 才知道那岛名叫马尔他。
2 当地的人对我们非常友善； 因为下过一场雨， 天气又冷， 他们就生了火来招待我们。
3 保罗拾了一捆干柴， 放在火上的时候， 有一条毒蛇， 受不住热， 爬了出来， 缠住他的手。
4 当地的人看见那条蛇悬在他手上， 就彼此说： "这个人一定是凶手， 虽然从海里脱险， 天理也不容他活着！ "
5 但是保罗却把那条蛇抖在火里， 自己一点也没有受伤。
6 他们等着看他发肿， 或者忽然暴毙。但等了很久， 见他平安无事， 就转念说， 他是个神明。
7 那地附近有些田产， 是岛上的首领部百流所拥有的。他欢迎我们， 善意招待我们三天。
8 那时， 部百流的父亲患了痢疾， 发热卧病在床， 保罗到他那里， 为他祈祷按手， 医好了他。
9 这么一来， 岛上其他有病的都来了， 也都治好了。
10 他们多方面尊敬我们； 到开船的时候， 又把我们所需要的东西送来。
11 过了三个月， 我们上了一艘亚历山太来的船。这船在岛上过冬， 船的名字是"宙斯双子"。
12 到了叙拉古， 我们停留了三天。
13 从那里绕道航行， 来到利基翁。过了一天， 起了南风， 第二天到达部丢利。
14 我们在那里遇见一些弟兄， 他们邀请我们一同住了七天。这样， 我们就来到了罗马。
15 弟兄们听到了我们的消息， 就从罗马出来， 在亚比乌和三馆迎接我们。保罗见了他们， 就感谢 神， 胆子也壮了起来。
16 我们到了罗马， 保罗获准独自与看守他的士兵居住。
17 过了三天， 保罗请犹太人的首领来。他们都到了， 保罗说： "各位弟兄， 我虽然没有作过什么事反对人民或者反对祖先的规例， 却被捆绑起来， 从耶路撒冷交到罗马人的手里。
18 他们审讯之后， 因为在我身上没有什么该死的罪， 就想要释放我。
19 可是犹太人反对， 我迫不得已才上诉凯撒， 并不是有什么事要控告我的国民。
20 因此， 我请你们来见面谈谈。我原是为了以色列的盼望， 才带上这条锁链的。"
21 他们说： "我们没有收到犹太来的信， 是提到你的， 弟兄中也没有人来报告， 或说你什么坏话。
22 但我们觉得应该听听你本人的意见， 因为关于这教派， 我们知道是到处遭人反对的。"
23 他们和保罗约好了一个日子， 到那日有很多人到他的住所来见他。他从早到晚向他们讲解， 为 神的国竭力作见证， 引用摩西的律法和先知的话劝他们信耶稣。
24 他所说的话， 有人信服， 也有人不信。
25 他们彼此不合， 就分散了。未散以前， 保罗说了几句话： "圣灵借以赛亚先知对你们祖先所说的， 一点不错。
26 他说： ‘你去告诉这人民： 你们听是听见了， 总是不明白； 看是看见了， 总是不领悟。
27 因为这人民的心思迟钝， 用不灵的耳朵去听， 又闭上了眼睛； 免得自己眼睛看见， 耳朵听见， 心里明白， 回转过来， 我就医好他们。’
28 所以你们应当知道， 神这救恩， 已经传给外族人， 他们也必听从。"
29 （有些抄本在此有第29节： "他说了这话， 犹太人中间大起争论， 就走了。"）
30 保罗在自己所租的房子里， 住了两年。凡来见他的人， 他都接待，
31 并且放胆地传讲 神的国， 教导有关主耶稣基督的事， 没有受到什么禁止。