1And having come to safety, they then learned that the island was called Melite.

2And the foreigners showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and received us all, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.

3But Sha’ul, having gathered a bundle of sticks, and having laid them on the fire, an adder came out because of the heat, and fastened itself on his hand.

4And when the foreigners saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man is certainly a murderer, whom, though saved from the sea, still right-ruling does not allow to live.”

5Then, indeed, he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no evil.

6And expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead, they waited for a long time and saw no harm come to him, changing their minds they said that he was a mighty one.

7And in the neighbourhood of that place there were lands of the chief of the island, whose name was Poplius, who received us and housed us in a friendly way for three days.

8And it came to be that the father of Poplius lay sick with inflammation and dysentery. Sha’ul went in to him, and having prayed he laid his hands on him and healed him.

9And when this took place, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed,

10who also respected us in many ways. And when we were setting sail, they provided us with our needs.

11And after three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and whose figurehead was “Twin Brothers.”a

12And having landed at Syracuse, we stayed three days,

13from which place we went round and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew, and the second day we came to Puteoli,

14where we found brothers, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome.

15And when the brothers there heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When Sha’ul saw them, he thanked Elohim and took courage.

16And when we came to Rome, the captain delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Sha’ul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier guarding him.

17And it came to be after three days that Sha’ul called the leaders of the Yehuḏim together. And when they had come together, he said to them, “Men, brothers, though I have done none at all against our people or the practices of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Yerushalayim into the hands of the Romans,

18who, when they had examined me, intended to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death.

19“But the Yehuḏim spoke against it, and I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation.

20“This therefore is the reason I called for you, to see you and speak with you. It is because of the expectation of Yisra’ĕl that I am bound with this chain.”

21And they said to him, “We neither received letters from Yehuḏah concerning you, nor have any of the brothers who came reported or spoken whatever wicked about you.

22“And we think it right to hear from you what you think, for indeed, concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”

23And having appointed him a day, many came to him where he was staying, to whom he was explaining, earnestly witnessing about the reign of Elohim, and persuading them concerning יהושע from both the Torah of Mosheh and the Prophets, from morning until evening.

24And some indeed were persuaded by what was said, but some believed not.

25And disagreeing with one another, they began to leave, after Sha’ul had spoken one word, “The Set-apart Spirit rightly spoke through Yeshayahu the prophet to our fathers,

26saying, ‘Go to this people and say, “Hearing you shall hear but by no means understand, and seeing you shall see but by no means perceive,

27for the heart of this people has become thickened, and with their ears they heard heavily, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn back, and I should heal them.” ’a

28“Therefore let it be known to you that the deliverance of Elohim has been sent to the gentiles, and they shall hear!”

29And when he had said these words, the Yehuḏim went away and had a great dispute among themselves.

30And Sha’ul stayed two entire years in his own rented house, and was receiving all who came to him,

31proclaiming the reign of Elohim and teaching about the Master יהושע Messiah with all boldness, unhindered.