Acts

1And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita.

2And the barbarians showed us no common kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

4And when the barbarians saw the venomous creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live.

5Howbeit he shook off the creature into the fire, and took no harm.

6But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation and beheld nothing amiss come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius; who received us, and entertained us three days courteously.

8And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him.

9And when this was done, the rest also that had diseases in the island came, and were cured:

10who also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board such things as we needed.

11And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was The Twin Brothers.

12And touching at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

13And from thence we made a circuit, and arrived at Rhegium: and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli;

14where we found brethren, and were entreated to tarry with them seven days: and so we came to Rome.

15And from thence the brethren, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

16And when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded him.

17And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans:

18who, when they had examined me, desired to set me at liberty, because there was no cause of death in me.

19But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar; not that I had aught whereof to accuse my nation.

20For this cause therefore did I entreat you to see and to speak with me: for because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

21And they said unto him, We neither received letters from Judæa concerning thee, nor did any of the brethren come hither and report or speak any harm of thee.

22But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.

23And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded the matter, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening.

24And some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.

25And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers,

26saying,Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:

27For this people’s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.

28Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles: they will also hear.

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30And he abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and received all that went in unto him,

31preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.

Ashore on Malta

1Once we were safely ashore, we 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.

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.

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, Justicehas not allowed him to live.”

5But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

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.

7Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He 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.

9After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.

10The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.

Paul Arrives in Italy

11After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothersas a figurehead.

12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there 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.

14There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.

15The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appiusand the Three Tavernsto meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.

Paul Preaches at Rome

16When we arrived in Rome,Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard 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.

18They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.

19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring 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.”

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 consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”

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.

24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to 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:

26‘Go to this people and say,“You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

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.’

28Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”

29Diese Übersetzung enthält diese Passage nicht.

30Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.

31Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.