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.
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.
