1 Estando já salvos, soubemos então que a ilha se chamava Malta.
2 Os indígenas trataram-nos com extraordinária benevolência. Acenderam uma grande fogueira e em torno dela nos recolheram, em vista da chuva que caía e do frio que fazia.
3 Paulo ajuntou um feixe de gravetos e o pôs na fogueira. Nisto uma víbora, que fugira ao fogo, mordeu-lhe a mão.
4 Quando os indígenas viram a serpente pendendo da sua mão, diziam uns aos outros: Sem dúvida, este homem é homicida, pois, tendo escapado ao mar, a justiça não o deixa viver.
5 Ele, porém, sacudindo a víbora no fogo, não sofreu mal algum.
6 Julgavam os indígenas que ele viesse a inchar, e que subitamente caísse morto. Mas, depois de esperarem muito tempo, vendo que não lhe acontecia mal nenhum, mudaram de parecer e disseram: Ele é um deus.
7 Havia na vizinhança sítios pertencentes ao principal da ilha, chamado Públio. Este homem nos hospedou por três dias em sua casa, tratando-nos bem.
8 Ora, o pai desse Públio achava-se acamado com febre e sofrendo de disenteria. Paulo foi visitá-lo e, orando e impondo-lhe as mãos, sarou-o.
9 Depois desse fato, vieram ter com ele todos os habitantes da ilha que se achavam doentes, e foram curados. Tiveram assim conosco toda sorte de considerações e,
10 quando estávamos para navegar, proveram-nos do que era necessário.
11 Ao termo de três meses, embarcamos num navio de Alexandria, que havia passado o inverno na ilha. Este navio levava por insígnias os Dióscuros.
12 Fizemos escala em Siracusa, onde ficamos três dias.
13 De lá, seguindo a costa, atingimos Régio. No dia seguinte, soprava o vento sul e chegamos em dois dias a Pozzuoli.
14 Ali encontramos irmãos que nos rogaram que ficássemos na sua companhia sete dias. Em seguida, nos dirigimos a Roma.
15 Os irmãos de Roma foram informados de nossa chegada e vieram ao nosso encontro até o Foro de Ápio e as Três Tavernas. Ao vê-los, Paulo deu graças a Deus e se sentiu animado.
16 Chegados que fomos a Roma, foi concedida licença a Paulo para que ficasse em casa própria com um soldado que o guardava.
17 Três dias depois, Paulo convocou os judeus mais notáveis. Estando reunidos, disse-lhes: Irmãos, sem cometer nada contra o povo nem contra os costumes de nossos pais, fui preso em Jerusalém e entregue nas mãos dos romanos.
18 Estes, depois de terem instruído o meu processo, quiseram soltar-me, visto não achar em mim crime algum que merecesse morte.
19 Mas, opondo-se a isso os judeus, vi-me obrigado a apelar para César, sem intentar contudo acusar de alguma coisa a minha nação.
20 Por esse motivo, mandei chamar-vos, para vos ver e falar convosco. Porquanto, pela esperança de Israel, é que estou preso com esta corrente.
21 Responderam-lhe eles: Não temos recebido carta alguma da Judéia, que fale em ti, nem de lá tem vindo irmão algum que nos dissesse ou falasse mal de ti.
22 Quiséramos, porém, que tu mesmo nos dissesses o que pensas, pois o que nós sabemos dessa seita é que em toda parte lhe fazem oposição.
23 Marcaram um dia e muitos foram procurá-lo no albergue onde se achava hospedado. A entrevista durou desde a manhã até a tarde. Paulo expôs-lhes o Reino de Deus e apresentou, sempre de novo, testemunhos destinados a convencê-los a respeito de Jesus, baseando-se na Lei de Moisés e nos profetas.
24 Alguns se persuadiram pelas suas palavras, outros não acreditaram.
25 Não estando concordes entre si, retiraram-se, enquanto Paulo lhes fazia esta reflexão: Bem falou o Espírito Santo pelo profeta Isaías a vossos pais, dizendo:
26 Vai a este povo e dize-lhes: Com vossos ouvidos ouvireis, sem compreender. Com vossos olhos olhareis, sem enxergar.
27 Coração obstinado o deste povo, ouvido duro, olhos fechados, para não verem com a vista, nem ouvirem com o ouvido, nem entenderem com o coração, e se converterem e eu os curar {Is 6,9s.}.
28 Ficai, pois, sabendo que aos gentios é enviada agora esta salvação de Deus; e eles a ouvirão.
29 {Havendo dito isso, saíram dali os judeus, discutindo animosamente entre si.}
30 Paulo permaneceu por dois anos inteiros no aposento alugado, e recebia a todos os que vinham procurá-lo.
31 Pregava o Reino de Deus e ensinava as coisas a respeito do Senhor Jesus Cristo, com toda a liberdade e sem proibição.
1 And when we were safe, we made the discovery that the island was named Melita.
2 And the simple people living there were uncommonly kind to us, for they made a fire for us, and took us in, because it was raining and cold.
3 But when Paul had got some sticks together and put them on the fire, a snake came out, because of the heat, and gave him a bite on the hand.
4 And when the people saw it hanging on his hand, they said to one another, Without doubt this man has put someone to death, and though he has got safely away from the sea, God will not let him go on living.
5 But shaking off the beast into the fire, he got no damage.
6 But they had the idea that they would see him becoming ill, or suddenly falling down dead; but after waiting a long time, and seeing that no damage came to him, changing their opinion, they said he was a god.
7 Now near that place there was some land, the property of the chief man of the island, who was named Publius; who very kindly took us into his house as his guests for three days.
8 And the father of Publius was ill, with a disease of the stomach; to whom Paul went, and put his hands on him, with prayer, and made him well.
9 And when this took place, all the others in the island who had diseases came and were made well.
10 Then they gave us great honour, and, when we went away, they put into the ship whatever things we were in need of.
11 And after three months we went to sea in a ship of Alexandria sailing under the sign of the Dioscuri, which had been at the island for the winter.
12 And going into the harbour at Syracuse, we were waiting there for three days.
13 And from there, going about in a curve, we came to Rhegium: and after one day a south wind came up and on the day after we came to Puteoli:
14 Where we came across some of the brothers, who kept us with them for seven days; and so we came to Rome.
15 And the brothers, when they had news of us, came out from town as far as Appii Forum and the Three Taverns to have a meeting with us: and Paul, seeing them, gave praise to God and took heart.
16 And when we came into Rome, they let Paul have a house for himself and the armed man who kept watch over him.
17 Then after three days he sent for the chief men of the Jews: and when they had come together, he said to them, My brothers, though I had done nothing against the people or the ways of our fathers, I was given, a prisoner from Jerusalem, into the hands of the Romans.
18 Who, when they had put questions to me, were ready to let me go free, because there was no cause of death in me.
19 But when the Jews made protest against it, I had to put my cause into Caesar's hands; not because I have anything to say against my nation.
20 But for this reason I sent for you, to see and have talk with you: for because of the hope of Israel I am in these chains.
21 And they said to him, We have not had letters from Judaea about you, and no one of the brothers has come to us here to give an account or say any evil about you.
22 But we have a desire to give hearing to your opinion: for as to this form of religion, we have knowledge that in all places it is attacked.
23 And when a day had been fixed, they came to his house in great numbers; and he gave them teaching, giving witness to the kingdom of God, and having discussions with them about Jesus, from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening.
24 And some were in agreement with what he said, but some had doubts.
25 And they went away, for there was a division among them after Paul had said this one thing: Well did the Holy Spirit say by the prophet Isaiah to your fathers,
26 Go to this people and say, Though you give ear, you will not get knowledge; and seeing, you will see, but the sense will not be clear to you:
27 For the heart of this people has become fat and their ears are slow in hearing and their eyes are shut; for fear that they might see with their eyes and give hearing with their ears and become wise in their hearts and be turned again to me, so that I might make them well.
28 Be certain, then, that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will give hearing.
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30 And for the space of two years, Paul was living in the house of which he had the use, and had talk with all those who went in to see him,
31 Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ without fear, and no orders were given that he was not to do so.