1 And when we had been brought safely through {diasothentes: rescued from danger}, then we recognized that the island was called Melita {Melite: ancient name Malta}.
2 The foreigners {barbaroi: non-Greek islanders} also showed us not the usual kindness {philanthropia: generous hospitality}, for after kindling a fire they welcomed us all because of the rain that was upon us and because of the cold.
3 But when Paul {Paulos, Missionary Apostle} had gathered a quantity of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out from the heat and fastened itself to his hand {cheir: physical hand}.
4 But when the natives {barbaroi: non-Greek islanders} saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer; though he has been saved from the sea {thalasses: dangerous waters}, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
5 So then, after he shook the creature {therion: venomous snake} into the fire, he suffered no harm {kakon: physical injury}.
6 But they were expecting {prosedokon: anxiously waiting} him to be about to swell up, or suddenly to fall down dead; and after a long expectation from them, as they were observing nothing unusual happening to him, having changed, they were saying that he was a god {theos: local deity}.
7 Now in the areas surrounding that place there were estates belonging to the chief man {protos: highest local official} of the island, named Publius, who received us and hosted us kindly {philophronos: generous hospitality} for three days.
8 Now it happened that the father of Publius lay sick, afflicted with fevers {pyretos: recurring fevers} and dysentery. Paul went in to him and, after praying {proseuxamenos: earnestly prayed}, laid his hands on him and healed him.
9 And when this had happened, the rest of those on the island {nesos: isolated place} who had illnesses kept coming and were being healed {therapeuo: ongoing restorative care}.
10 They also honored us with many honors {timais: public marks of respect}, and when we were setting sail, they placed on board the things needed for our needs {chreias: practical necessities}.
11 After three months {menas: full winter span} we set sail in a ship of Alexandria that had wintered on the island, and its figurehead {parasemo: prow emblem} was the Dioscuri.
12 And when we had landed at Syracuse {Surakousas: major Sicilian port}, we stayed there for three days {hemeras: calendar span}.
13 And from there, having sailed around {perielontes: navigating by coasts}, we arrived at Rhegium. And after one day, when a south wind arose, on the second day we came to Puteoli {Potiolous: key harbor city}.
14 Where, having found brothers {adelphous: fellow believers}, we were invited to remain with them for seven days, and thus we came into Rome {Rhome: capital city}.
15 And from there the brothers {adelphoi: fellow believers}, when they heard about us, came to meet us as far as Appius Forum and Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God {Theos, Giver of Courage} and received courage.
16 When we came into Rome {Rome: imperial capital}, Paul {Paulos: awaiting trial} was allowed to stay in his own quarters, with a soldier who kept watch over him.
17 And it happened that, after three days, he called together the chief men of the Jews; and when they had come together, he said to them, "Men, brothers, I have done nothing against the people or the ancestral customs {ethe: traditional observances}; yet as a prisoner I was delivered from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans {Rhomaioi: imperial authorities}."
18 These, having examined {anakrinantes: judicial inquiry} me, were wishing to release me, because there was no cause {aitia: legal basis} for death in me.
19 But when the Jews {Ioudaiōn: Judean religious leaders} opposed me, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not as though I had anything to accuse my nation {ethnous: covenant people} of.
20 Therefore, for this cause {aitia: legal accusation} I called you to see me and to speak with me; for the sake of the hope of Israel, I am wearing this chain {halysis: prison shackle}.
21 But they said to him, “We have neither received letters {grammata: official correspondence} about you from Judea nor has any of the brothers, having arrived, reported or spoken anything evil {poneron: harmful accusation} about you.”
22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect {haireseos: party/faction}, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against {antilegetai: publicly opposed}.
23 After they had set a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. To them he was explaining and solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God {Basileia tou Theou, Saving Reign}, persuading them concerning Jesus {Iesous, Promised Messiah} both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.
24 And some indeed were being persuaded {epeithonto: gradually convinced} by the things being said, but others {hoi de: contrasting group} were disbelieving.
25 But as they were disagreeing with one another, they began to leave after Paul had spoken one statement {rhema: authoritative word}: “The Holy Spirit {Pneuma Hagion, Faithful Speaker} spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers.”
26 Saying, “Go to this people {laos: covenant-bound community} and say, ‘In hearing you will hear and yet by no means understand; and seeing you will see and yet by no means perceive {idete: inwardly grasp}.’”
27 For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they have heard with difficulty, and they have closed their eyes {ophthalmos: spiritual sight}; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I {Theos, Restoring Healer} would heal them.
28 So you should know that this salvation of God {Theos, Sender Of Salvation} has been sent out to the Gentiles, and they will listen {akousontai: attentive response}.
29 And when he had said these things, the Jews departed {apelthon: went away}, having much discussion {syzētēsin: heated debate} among themselves.
30 And he stayed for two whole years {dietia: full period} in his own rented house {misthoma: leased lodging}, and was receiving all who came to him.
31 He kept proclaiming the kingdom of God {Theos, Reigning King} and teaching what concerns the Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Exalted Messiah}, with full boldness and with no one stopping him.