| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. | 1Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. |
| 2And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. | 2The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold. |
| 3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. | 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. |
| 4So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” | 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.” |
| 5But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. | 5But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. |
| 6However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. | 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. |
| 7In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. | 7Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. |
| 8And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. | 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. |
| 9So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. | 9After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well. |
| 10They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary. | 10The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail. |
| 11After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. | 11After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead. |
| 12And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. | 12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. |
| 13From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, | 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. |
| 14where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. | 14There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome. |
| 15And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. | 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. |
| 16Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him. | 16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him. |
| 17And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of 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 fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. |
| 18who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. | 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. |
| 19But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. | 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation. |
| 20For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” | 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.” |
| 21Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. | 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. |
| 22But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.” | 22But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.” |
| 23So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. | 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. |
| 24And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. | 24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. |
| 25So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, | 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: |
| 26saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will 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 hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’ | 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.’ |
| 28“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” | 28Be advised, therefore, 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 a great dispute among themselves. | 29 |
| 30Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, | 30Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him. |
| 31preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him. | 31Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. |
|
