| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. | 1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. |
| 2And 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. | 2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. |
| 3And 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. | 3Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. |
| 4And 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. | 4When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live." |
| 5And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. | 5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. |
| 6Howbeit 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. | 6The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. |
| 7In 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. | 7There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. |
| 8And 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. | 8His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. |
| 9So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: | 9When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. |
| 10Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary. | 10They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. |
| 11And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. | 11After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island--it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. |
| 12And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. | 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. |
| 13And 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: | 13From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. |
| 14Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. | 14There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. |
| 15And 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. | 15The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. |
| 16And 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. | 16When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. |
| 17And 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. | 17Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. |
| 18Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. | 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. |
| 19But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. | 19The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. |
| 20For 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. | 20For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain." |
| 21And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. | 21They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. |
| 22But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. | 22But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect." |
| 23And 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. | 23They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. |
| 24And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. | 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. |
| 25And 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, | 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: |
| 26Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: | 26"'Go to this people and say, "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving." |
| 27For 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. | 27For this people's heart has become calloused; 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.' |
| 28Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. | 28"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!" |
| 29And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. | 29 |
| 30And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, | 30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. |
| 31Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. | 31He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ--with all boldness and without hindrance! |
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