King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
1
After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta.
2 And 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.
2
The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it.
3 And 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.
3
Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.
4 And 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.
4
When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live."
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
5
He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
6 Howbeit 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.
6
They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.
7 In 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.
7
Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
8 And 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.
8
It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him.
9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
9
After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.
10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
10
They bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed.
11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
11
Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead.
12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
12
We put in at Syracuse and stayed there for three days;
13 And 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:
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then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.
14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
14
There we found believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.
15 And 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.
15
The believers from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
16 And 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.
16
When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
17 And 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.
17
Three days later he called together the local leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, "Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, yet I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.
18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
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When they had examined me, the Romans wanted to release me, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.
19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
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But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to the emperor—even though I had no charge to bring against my nation.
20 For 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.
20
For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain."
21 And 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.
21
They replied, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you.
22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
22
But we would like to hear from you what you think, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against."
23 And 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.
23
After they had set a day to meet with him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets.
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
24
Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe.
25 And 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,
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So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
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"Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
27 For 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.
27
For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.'
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
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Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen."
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
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30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
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He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him,
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
31
proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.