1 Y CUANDO escapamos, entonces supimos que la isla se llamaba Melita.
2 Y los bárbaros nos mostraron no poca humanidad; porque, encendido un fuego, nos recibieron á todos, á causa de la lluvia que venía, y del frío.
3 Entonces habiendo Pablo recogido algunos sarmientos, y puéstolos en el fuego, una víbora, huyendo del calor, le acometió á la mano.
4 Y como los bárbaros vieron la víbora colgando de su mano, decían los unos á los otros: Ciertamente este hombre es homicida, á quien, escapado de la mar, la justicia no deja vivir.
5 Mas él, sacudiendo la víbora en el fuego, ningún mal padeció.
6 Empero ellos estaban esperando cuándo se había de hinchar, ó caer muerto de repente; mas habiendo esperado mucho, y viendo que ningún mal le venía, mudados, decían que era un dios.
7 En aquellos lugares había heredades del principal de la isla, llamado Publio, el cual nos recibió y hospedó tres días humanamente.
8 Y aconteció que el padre de Publio estaba en cama, enfermo de fiebres y de disentería: al cual Pablo entró, y después de haber orado, le puso las manos encima, y le sanó:
9 Y esto hecho, también otros que en la isla tenían enfermedades, llegaban, y eran sanados:
10 Los cuales también nos honraron con muchos obsequios; y cuando partimos, nos cargaron de las cosas necesarias.
11 Así que, pasados tres meses, navegamos en una nave Alejandrina que había invernado en la isla, la cual tenía por enseña á Cástor y Pólux.
12 Y llegados á Siracusa, estuvimos allí tres días.
13 De allí, costeando alrededor, vinimos á Regio; y otro día después, soplando el austro, vinimos al segundo día á Puteolos:
14 Donde habiendo hallado hermanos, nos rogaron que quedásemos con ellos siete días; y luego vinimos á Roma;
15 De donde, oyendo de nosotros los hermanos, nos salieron á recibir hasta la plaza de Appio, y Las Tres Tabernas: á los cuales como Pablo vió, dió gracias á Dios, y tomó aliento.
16 Y como llegamos á Roma, el centurión entregó los presos al prefecto de los ejércitos, mas á Pablo fué permitido estar por sí, con un soldado que le guardase.
17 Y aconteció que tres días después, Pablo convocó á los principales de los Judíos; á los cuales, luego que estuvieron juntos, les dijo: Yo, varones hermanos, no habiendo hecho nada contra el pueblo, ni contra los ritos de la patria, he sido entregado preso desde Jerusalem en manos de los Romanos;
18 Los cuales, habiéndome examinado, me querían soltar; por no haber en mí ninguna causa de muerte.
19 Mas contradiciendo los Judíos, fuí forzado á apelar á César; no que tenga de qué acusar á mi nación.
20 Así que, por esta causa, os he llamado para veros y hablaros; porque por la esperanza de Israel estoy rodeado de esta cadena.
21 Entonces ellos le dijeron: Nosotros ni hemos recibido cartas tocante á tí de Judea, ni ha venido alguno de los hermanos que haya denunciado ó hablado algún mal de ti.
22 Mas querríamos oir de ti lo que sientes; porque de esta secta notorio nos es que en todos lugares es contradicha.
23 Y habiéndole señalado un día, vinieron á él muchos á la posada, á los cuales declaraba y testificaba el reino de Dios, persuadiéndoles lo concerniente á Jesús, por la ley de Moisés y por los profetas, desde la mañana hasta la tarde.
24 Y algunos asentían á lo que se decía, mas algunos no creían.
25 Y como fueron entre sí discordes, se fueron, diciendo Pablo esta palabra: Bien ha hablado el Espíritu Santo por el profeta Isaías á nuestros padres,
26 Diciendo: Ve á este pueblo, y di les: De oído oiréis, y no entenderéis; Y viendo veréis, y no percibiréis:
27 Porque el corazón de este pueblo se ha engrosado, Y de los oídos oyeron pesadamente, Y sus ojos taparon; Porque no vean con los ojos, Y oigan con los oídos, Y entiendan de corazón, Y se conviertan, Y yo los sane.
28 Séaos pues notorio que á los Gentiles es enviada esta salud de Dios: y ellos oirán.
29 Y habiendo dicho esto, los Judíos salieron, teniendo entre sí gran contienda.
30 Pablo empero, quedó dos años enteros en su casa de alquiler, y recibía á todos los que á él venían,
31 Predicando el reino de Dios y enseñando lo que es del Señor Jesucristo con toda libertad, sin impedimento.
1 And having been saved, then they knew that the island is called Melita,
2 and the foreigners were shewing us no ordinary kindness, for having kindled a fire, they received us all, because of the pressing rain, and because of the cold;
3 but Paul having gathered together a quantity of sticks, and having laid [them] upon the fire, a viper -- out of the heat having come -- did fasten on his hand.
4 And when the foreigners saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said unto one another, `Certainly this man is a murderer, whom, having been saved out of the sea, the justice did not suffer to live;`
5 he then, indeed, having shaken off the beast into the fire, suffered no evil,
6 and they were expecting him to be about to be inflamed, or to fall down suddenly dead, and they, expecting [it] a long time, and seeing nothing uncommon happening to him, changing [their] minds, said he was a god.
7 And in the neighbourhood of that place were lands of the principal man of the island, by name Publius, who, having received us, three days did courteously lodge [us];
8 and it came to pass, the father of Publius with feverish heats and dysentery pressed, was laid, unto whom Paul having entered, and having prayed, having laid [his] hands on him, healed him;
9 this, therefore, being done, the others also in the island having infirmities were coming and were healed;
10 who also with many honours did honour us, and we setting sail -- they were lading [us] with the things that were necessary.
11 And after three months, we set sail in a ship (that had wintered in the isle) of Alexandria, with the sign Dioscuri,
12 and having landed at Syracuse, we remained three days,
13 thence having gone round, we came to Rhegium, and after one day, a south wind having sprung up, the second [day] we came to Puteoli;
14 where, having found brethren, we were called upon to remain with them seven days, and thus to Rome we came;
15 and thence, the brethren having heard the things concerning us, came forth to meet us, unto Appii Forum, and Three Taverns -- whom Paul having seen, having given thanks to God, took courage.
16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the captain of the barrack, but Paul was suffered to remain by himself, with the soldier guarding him.
17 And it came to pass after three days, Paul called together those who are the principal men of the Jews, and they having come together, he said unto them: `Men, brethren, I -- having done nothing contrary to the people, or to the customs of the fathers -- a prisoner from Jerusalem, was delivered up to the hands of the Romans;
18 who, having examined me, were wishing to release [me], because of their being no cause of death in me,
19 and the Jews having spoken against [it], I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar -- not as having anything to accuse my nation of;
20 for this cause, therefore, I called for you to see and to speak with [you], for because of the hope of Israel with this chain I am bound.`
21 And they said unto him, `We did neither receive letters concerning thee from Judea, nor did any one who came of the brethren declare or speak any evil concerning thee,
22 and we think it good from thee to hear what thou dost think, for, indeed, concerning this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against;`
23 and having appointed him a day, they came, more of them unto him, to the lodging, to whom he was expounding, testifying fully the reign of God, persuading them also of the things concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and the prophets, from morning till evening,
24 and, some, indeed, were believing the things spoken, and some were not believing.
25 And not being agreed with one another, they were going away, Paul having spoken one word -- `Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers,
26 saying, Go on unto this people and say, With hearing ye shall hear, and ye shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and ye shall not perceive,
27 for made gross was the heart of this people, and with the ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they did close, lest they may see with the eyes, and with the heart may understand, and be turned back, and I may heal them.
28 `Be it known, therefore, to you, that to the nations was sent the salvation of God, these also will hear it;`
29 and he having said these things, the Jews went away, having much disputation among themselves;
30 and Paul remained an entire two years in his own hired [house], and was receiving all those coming in unto him,
31 preaching the reign of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness -- unforbidden.