| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. | 1Once ashore, we then learned that the island was called Malta. |
| 2The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold. | 2The local people showed us extraordinary kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold. |
| 3Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. | 3As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself to his hand. |
| 4When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” | 4When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "This man is probably a murderer, and though he has escaped the sea, Justice does not allow him to live!" |
| 5But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. | 5However, he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. |
| 6The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. | 6They expected that he would swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. |
| 7Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. | 7Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. |
| 8The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man. | 8Publius's father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him. |
| 9After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well. | 9After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. |
| 10The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail. | 10So they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed. |
| 11After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead. | 11After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. |
| 12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. | 12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed three days. |
| 13From there we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day, a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at Puteoli. | 13From there, after making a circuit along the coast, we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli. |
| 14There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome. | 14There we found believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. |
| 15The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God. | 15Now the believers from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. |
| 16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him. | 16When we entered Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him. |
| 17After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. | 17After three days he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them: "Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. |
| 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. | 18After they examined me, they wanted to release me, since I had not committed a capital offense. |
| 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation. | 19Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar; it was not as though I had any accusation against my nation. |
| 20So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” | 20For this reason I've asked to see you and speak to you. In fact, it is for the hope of Israel that I'm wearing this chain." |
| 21The leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you. | 21Then they said to him, "We haven't received any letters about you from Judea. None of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you. |
| 22But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.” | 22But we would like to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, we are aware that it is spoken against everywhere." |
| 23So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. | 23After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and witnessed about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. |
| 24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. | 24Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe. |
| 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: | 25Disagreeing among themselves, they began to leave after Paul made one statement: "The Holy Spirit correctly spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors |
| 26‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” | 26when He said, Go to these people and say: You will listen and listen, yet never understand; and you will look and look, yet never perceive. |
| 27For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ | 27For the hearts of these people have grown callous, their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted, and I would heal them. |
| 28Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” | 28Therefore, let it be known to you that this saving work of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!" |
| 29 | 29After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a prolonged debate among themselves. |
| 30Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him. | 30Then he stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, |
| 31Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. | 31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with full boldness and without hindrance. |
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