On the Island of Malta
1 When we came ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The local people were very friendly, and they welcomed us by building a fire, because it was rainy and cold.
3 After Paul had gathered some wood and had put it on the fire, the heat caused a snake to crawl out, and it bit him on the hand. 4 When the local people saw the snake hanging from Paul's hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He didn't drown in the sea, but the goddess of justice will kill him anyway.”
5 Paul shook the snake off into the fire and wasn't harmed. 6 The people kept thinking that Paul would either swell up or suddenly drop dead. They watched him for a long time, and when nothing happened to him, they changed their minds and said, “This man is a god.”
7 The governor of the island was named Publius, and he owned some of the land around there. Publius was very friendly and welcomed us into his home for three days. 8 His father was in bed, sick with fever and stomach trouble, and Paul went to visit him. Paul healed the man by praying and placing his hands on him.
9 After this happened, everyone on the island brought their sick people to Paul, and they were all healed. 10 The people were very respectful to us, and when we sailed, they gave us everything we needed.
From Malta to Rome
11 Three months later we sailed in a ship that had been docked at Malta for the winter. The ship was from Alexandria in Egypt and was known as “The Twin Gods.” 12 We arrived in Syracuse and stayed for three days. 13 From there we sailed to Rhegium. The next day a south wind began to blow, and two days later we arrived in Puteoli. 14 There we found some of the Lord's followers, who begged us to stay with them. A week later we left for the city of Rome.
15 Some of the followers in Rome heard about us and came to meet us at the Market of Appius and at the Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was encouraged.
Paul in Rome
16 We arrived in Rome, and Paul was allowed to live in a house by himself with a soldier to guard him.
17 Three days after we got there, Paul called together some of the Jewish leaders and said:
My friends, I have never done anything to hurt our people, and I have never gone against the customs of our ancestors. But in Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. 18 They looked into the charges against me and wanted to release me. They found that I had not done anything deserving death. 19 The Jewish leaders disagreed, so I asked to be tried by the Emperor.
But I don't have anything to say against my own nation. 20 I am bound by these chains because of what we people of Israel hope for. This is why I have called you here to talk about this hope of ours.
21 The leaders replied, “No one from Judea has written us a letter about you. And not one of them has come here to report on you or to say anything against you. 22 But we would like to hear what you have to say. We understand that people everywhere are against this new group.”
23 They agreed on a time to meet with Paul, and many of them came to his house. From early morning until late in the afternoon, Paul talked to them about God's kingdom. He used the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets to try to win them over to Jesus.
24 Some of the leaders agreed with what Paul said, but others did not. 25 Since they could not agree among themselves, they started leaving. But Paul said, “The Holy Spirit said the right thing when he sent Isaiah the prophet 26 to tell our ancestors,
‘Go to these people
and tell them:
You will listen and listen,
but never understand.
You will look and look,
but never see.
27 All of you
have stubborn hearts.
Your ears are stopped up,
and your eyes are covered.
You cannot see or hear
or understand.
If you could,
you would turn to me,
and I would heal you.’ ”
28-29 Paul said, “You may be sure that God wants to save the Gentiles! And they will listen.”
30 For two years Paul stayed in a rented house and welcomed everyone who came to see him. 31 He bravely preached about God's kingdom and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ, and no one tried to stop him.
1 Izglābušies mēs uzzinājām, ka sala saucās Melite.
2 Iezemieši mums parādīja neparastu laipnību. Tie, uzkūruši uguni, mūs visus uzņēma pie sevis, jo bija sācis līt lietus un bija auksts.
3 Kad Pāvils bija salasījis kādu žagaru nastiņu un nolicis pie uguns, odze, aiz karstuma izlīdusi, aptinās ap viņa roku.
4 Iezemieši, redzēdami dzīvnieku pie viņa rokas karājamies, sacīja viens otram: „Tiešām šis cilvēks ir slepkava, no jūjas viņš izglābies, bet atriebējs liktenis viņam neļauj dzīvot.“
5 Bet viņš rāpuli nokratīja ugunī, necietis nekāda ļaunuma.
6 Viņi gaidīja, ka viņš uztūks vai piepeši pakritīs un nomirs. Bet, ilgi gaidījuši un redzēdami, ka viņam nekas ļauns nenotika, viņi mainīja savas domas un sacīja, ka viņš esot dievs.
7 Šinī apvidū salas augstākajam ierēdnim, vārdā Publijam, bija zemes īpašumi. Tas mūs uzņēma un trīs dienas laipni deva mums mājas vietu.
8 Publija tēvs gulēja slims ar drudzi un asinssērgu. Pāvils iegāja pie viņa, pielūdza Dievu un, rokas uzlicis, to dziedināja.
9 Kad tas bija noticis, arī pārējie salas iedzīvotāji, kas bija slimi, atnāca un tika dziedināti.
10 Tie mūs godināja ar lielu godu un, kad mēs aizbraucām, deva mums līdz visu vajadzīgo.
11 Pēc trim mēnešiem mēs aizbraucām aleksandriešu kuģī, kas salā bija pārziemojis un kas brauca ar dioskūru zīmi.
12 Nonākuši Sirākūzās, mēs tur palikām trīs dienas.
13 No turienes, gar piekrasti braukdami, mēs nonācām Rēgijā. Un kad pēc vienas dienas sacēlās dienvidu vējš, mēs otrā dienā nonācām Puteolos.
14 Tur mēs sastapām brāļus, kas mūs lūdza septiņas dienas palikt pie viņiem. Tā beidzot mēs nonācām Romā.
15 Turienes brāļi, par mums dzir-dējuši, nāca mums pretī līdz Apija forumam un Tritabernām. Tos redzē-dams, Pāvils pateicās Dievam, un viņam radās drosme.
16 Kad mēs nonācām Romā, Pāvilam atļāva dzīvot savrup ar kareivi, kas viņu apsargāja.
17 Pēc trim dienām viņš saaicināja jūdu priekšniekus. Kad tie bija sanākuši, viņš tiem sacīja: „Brāļi, es neko neesmu darījis ne pret mūsu tautu, ne pret tēvu parašām, un tomēr esmu Jeruzālemē saistīts un nodots romiešu rokās.
18 Tie, mani nopratinājuši, gribēja atbrīvot, jo man nevarēja pierādīt nekādu ar nāvi sodāmu vainu.
19 Bet tā kā jūdi pretojās, es biju spiests piesaukt ķeizaru, bet ne ar nodomu apsūdzēt savu tautu.
20 Šī iemesla dēļ es jūs esmu lūdzis, lai jūs redzētu un ar jums runātu, jo es esmu saistīts ar šim važām Israēla cerības dēļ.“
21 Bet tie viņam sacīja: „Mēs neesam nedz vēstules no Jūdejas saņēmuši par tevi, nedz ari kāds no brāļiem ir ieradies par tevi ko ļaunu vēstīt un runāt.
22 Tomēr mēs labprāt gribam no tevis dzirdēt, ko tu domā, jo par šo sektu mums ir zināms, ka tai visur pretojas.“
23 Tie, noteikuši viņam dienu, vēl vairāki ieradās viņa mājokli. Viņš tiem izskaidroja, apliecinādams Dieva valstību un pārliecinādams tos par Jēzu, sākot ar Mozus bauslību un praviešiem, no agra rīta līdz vakaram.
24 Citus gan viņa vārdi pārliecināja, bet citi neticēja.
25 Bet viņu starpā nebija vienprātības, un viņi aizgāja, kad Pāvils teica šo vienu vārdu: „Svētais Gars pareizi runājis caur pravieti Jesaju mūsu tēviem,
26 Sacīdams: Ej pie šiem ļaudim un saki: Dzirdēdami jūs dzirdēsit un nesapratīsit, un skatīdamies jūs skatīsities un neredzēsit.
27 Jo šo ļaužu sirds kļuvusi nejūtīga, ar ausīm tie grūti dzirdējuši un savas acis tie aizvēruši, lai ar acīm neredzētu, ar ausīm nedzirdētu, ar sirdi nesaprastu un neatgrieztos, un es tos nedziedinātu.
28 Tad zinait, ka Dievs pestīšanu sūtījis pagāniem, un tie to dzirdēs.“
29 Un, kad viņš to bija sacījis, jūdi devās projām, cits ar citu dedzīgi strīdēdamies.
30 Viņš palika pilnus divi gadus savā irētajā mājokli un pieņēma visus, kas pie viņa nāca,
31 Sludinādams Dieva valstību un, īrētajā mājokli un pieņēma visus, kas pie neviena nekavēts, ar lielu drosmi mācīviņa nāca, dams par Kungu Jēzu Kristu.
