In Malta
1 When we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives there were very friendly to us. It had started to rain and was cold, so they built a fire and made us all welcome. 3 Paul gathered up a bundle of sticks and was putting them on the fire when a snake came out on account of the heat and fastened itself to his hand. 4 The natives saw the snake hanging on Paul's hand and said to one another, “This man must be a murderer, but Fate will not let him live, even though he escaped from the sea.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire without being harmed at all. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after waiting for a long time and not seeing anything unusual happening to him, they changed their minds and said, “He is a god!”
7 Not far from that place were some fields that belonged to Publius, the chief of the island. He welcomed us kindly and for three days we were his guests. 8 Publius' father was in bed, sick with fever and dysentery. Paul went into his room, prayed, placed his hands on him, and healed him. 9 When this happened, all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. 10 They gave us many gifts, and when we sailed, they put on board what we needed for the voyage.
From Malta to Rome
11 After three months we sailed away on a ship from Alexandria, called “The Twin Gods,” which had spent the winter in the island. 12 We arrived in the city of Syracuse and stayed there for three days. 13 From there we sailed on and arrived in the city of Rhegium. The next day a wind began to blow from the south, and in two days we came to the town of Puteoli. 14 We found some believers there who asked us to stay with them a week. And so we came to Rome. 15 The believers in Rome heard about us and came as far as the towns of Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was greatly encouraged.
In Rome
16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with a soldier guarding him.
17 After three days Paul called the local Jewish leaders to a meeting. When they had gathered, he said to them, “My fellow Israelites, even though I did nothing against our people or the customs that we received from our ancestors, I was made a prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 After questioning me, the Romans wanted to release me, because they found that I had done nothing for which I deserved to die. 19 But when the Jews opposed this, I was forced to appeal to the Emperor, even though I had no accusation to make against my own people. 20 That is why I asked to see you and talk with you. As a matter of fact, I am bound in chains like this for the sake of him for whom the people of Israel hope.”
21 They said to him, “We have not received any letters from Judea about you, nor have any of our people come from there with any news or anything bad to say about you. 22 But we would like to hear your ideas, because we know that everywhere people speak against this party to which you belong.”
23 So they set a date with Paul, and a large number of them came that day to the place where Paul was staying. From morning till night he explained to them his message about the Kingdom of God, and he tried to convince them about Jesus by quoting from the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets. 24 Some of them were convinced by his words, but others would not believe. 25 So they left, disagreeing among themselves, after Paul had said this one thing: “How well the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors! 26 For he said,
‘Go and say to this people:
You will listen and listen, but not understand;
you will look and look, but not see,
27 because this people's minds are dull,
and they have stopped up their ears
and closed their eyes.
Otherwise, their eyes would see,
their ears would hear,
their minds would understand,
and they would turn to me, says God,
and I would heal them.’”
28 And Paul concluded: “You are to know, then, that God's message of salvation has been sent to the Gentiles. They will listen!”
30 For two years Paul lived in a place he rented for himself, and there he welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He preached about the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking with all boldness and freedom.
Pāvils Maltas salā
1 Izglābušies mēs uzzinājām, ka šo salu sauc Malta. 2 Iezemieši izrādīja mums neparastu viesmīlību. Viņi iekūra uguni, jo lija lietus un bija vēsi, un mūs visus uzņēma. 3 Pāvils bija savācis sausu žagaru klēpi, un, liekot to uz uguns, kāda čūska, no karstuma mukdama, aptinās viņam ap roku. 4 Iezemieši, ieraudzījuši čūsku karājamies pie Pāvila rokas, savā starpā runāja: “Patiesi šis cilvēks ir slepkava; lai gan no jūras viņš ir izglābies, taisnības dieve viņam neļauj dzīvot.” 5 Bet viņš nokratīja rāpuli no rokas ugunī, necietis nekādu ļaunumu. 6 Iezemieši gaidīja, ka viņš uztūks vai nokritīs zemē beigts. Ilgāku laiku gaidīdami un redzēdami, ka nekas slikts ar viņu nenotiek, tie savas domas mainīja un sacīja cits citam, ka viņš ir dievs. 7 Šajā vietā bija zemes īpašums Publijam, salas ietekmīgākajam vīram. Viņš uzņēma mūs savā namā un trīs dienas viesmīlīgi izmitināja. 8 Publija tēvs gulēja drudzī, slims ar dizentēriju. Pāvils iegāja pie viņa un, pielūdzis Dievu, uzlika viņam rokas un to dziedināja. 9 Pēc tam arī citi salinieki, kuriem bija kādas slimības, nāca un tika dziedināti. 10 Viņi izrādīja mums lielu godu un, kad mēs bijām gatavi doties ceļā, deva mums līdzi visu nepieciešamo.
Pāvils nonāk Romā
11 Pēc trim mēnešiem mēs kuģojām tālāk ar kādu Aleksandrijas kuģi, kas bija pārziemojis uz šīs salas. Kuģim bija dioskūru zīme. 12 Nonākuši Sirakūzās, mēs uzkavējāmies tur trīs dienas. 13 Tad, pacēluši enkuru, mēs no šejienes aizbraucām līdz Rēgijai, un, kad dienu vēlāk sāka pūst dienvidu vējš, mēs jau nākamajā dienā nonācām Puteolās. 14 Tur mēs sastapām dažus brāļus, kas mūs aicināja septiņas dienas uzkavēties pie viņiem. Un tad mēs nonācām Romā. 15 Brāļi, par mums dzirdēdami, bija atnākuši pretī līdz pat Apija laukumam un Trīs tavernām, lai mūs satiktu. Brāļus ieraudzījis, Pāvils pateicās Dievam un jutās stiprināts. 16 Kad ieradāmies Romā, Pāvilam atļāva dzīvot atsevišķi kareivja uzraudzībā.
Pāvils sludina Romā
17 Pēc trim dienām viņš saaicināja jūdu ievērojamākos vīrus un, kad tie bija sapulcējušies, sacīja: “Brāļi, es kā gūsteknis esmu atvests no Jeruzālemes. Es neko neesmu nodarījis pret tautu vai tēvu paradumiem un esmu nodots romiešu rokās, 18 kuri, šo lietu izmeklējuši, gribēja mani jau atlaist, jo tie neatrada nekādu vainu, ka mani būtu jātiesā ar nāvi. 19 Bet, tā kā jūdi tam pretojās, biju spiests piesaukt cēzaru, taču ne ar nolūku apsūdzēt savu tautu. 20 Tādēļ es jūs esmu aicinājis, lai jūs redzētu un aprunātos, jo es šajās važās esmu kalts Israēla cerības dēļ.” 21 Tie viņam sacīja: “Mēs neesam saņēmuši no Jūdejas nekādas vēstules par tevi, nedz arī kāds brālis ir ziņojis vai runājis par tevi ko ļaunu. 22 Mēs tikai vēlētos dzirdēt tavas domas, jo par šo sektu mums zināms vienīgi tas, ka visur pret to ceļas daudz iebildumu.” 23 Tad, noteikuši dienu, tie sapulcējās viņa apmešanās vietā vēl lielākā skaitā. No agra rīta līdz vakaram viņš tiem liecināja un skaidroja Dieva valstību. Gan no Mozus bauslības, gan no praviešiem viņš centās tos pārliecināt par Jēzu. 24 Daži viņa stāstījumam ticēja, bet citi ne. 25 Nevarēdami savstarpēji saprasties, viņi izklīda pēc tam, kad Pāvils viņiem bija sacījis šādus vārdus: “Svētais Gars ir pareizi sacījis caur pravieti Jesaju uz tēviem:
26 dodies pie šīs tautas un saki:
klausīdamies jūs klausīsieties, bet nesapratīsiet
un skatīdamies jūs skatīsieties, bet nesaskatīsiet,
27 jo raupjas kļuvušas šo ļaužu sirdis
un viņu ausis ar grūtībām sadzird,
un savas acis viņi ir aizdarījuši:
ka tik ar acīm neredzētu
un ar ausīm nedzirdētu,
nedz ar sirdi saprastu, nedz atgrieztos,
lai es varētu viņus dziedināt. –
28 Un nu – lai jums ir zināms – šo pestīšanu Dievs ir sūtījis pagāniem; viņi to arī dzirdēs.” 30 Pilnus divus gadus viņš pavadīja savā īrētajā mājoklī un uzņēma visus, kas pie viņa nāca, 31 sludinādams Dieva valstību un drosmīgi un netraucēti mācīdams par Kungu Jēzu Kristu.
