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.
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.
