Acts

保罗在马耳他岛上

1我们既已得救，才知道那岛名叫马耳他。

2土人看待我们，有非常的情分；因为当时下雨，天气又冷，就生火接待我们众人。

3那时，保罗拾起一捆柴，放在火上，有一条毒蛇，因为热了出来，咬住他的手。

4土人看见那毒蛇悬在他手上，就彼此说：「这人必是个凶手，虽然从海里救上来，天理还不容他活着。」

5保罗竟把那毒蛇甩在火里，并没有受伤。

6土人想他必要肿起来，或是忽然仆倒死了；看了多时，见他无害，就转念，说：「他是个神。」

7离那地方不远，有田产是岛长部百流的；他接纳我们，尽情款待三日。

8当时，部百流的父亲患热病和痢疾躺着。保罗进去，为他祷告，按手在他身上，治好了他。

9从此，岛上其余的病人也来，得了医治。

10他们又多方地尊敬我们；到了开船的时候，也把我们所需用的送到船上。

保罗抵达罗马

11过了三个月，我们上了亚历山大的船往前行；这船以「宙斯双子」为记，是在那海岛过了冬的。

12到了叙拉古，我们停泊三日；

13又从那里绕行，来到利基翁。过了一天，起了南风，第二天就来到部丢利。

14在那里遇见弟兄们，请我们与他们同住了七天。这样，我们来到罗马。

15那里的弟兄们一听见我们的信息就出来，到亚比乌市和三馆地方迎接我们。保罗见了他们，就感谢 神，放心壮胆。

16进了罗马城，保罗蒙准和一个看守他的兵另住在一处。

保罗在罗马传道

17过了三天，保罗请犹太人的首领来。他们来了，就对他们说：「弟兄们，我虽没有做什么事干犯本国的百姓和我们祖宗的规条，却被锁绑，从耶路撒冷解在罗马人的手里。

18他们审问了我，就愿意释放我；因为在我身上，并没有该死的罪。

19无奈犹太人不服，我不得已，只好上告于凯撒，并非有什么事要控告我本国的百姓。

20因此，我请你们来见面说话，我原为以色列人所指望的，被这链子捆锁。」

21他们说：「我们并没有接着从犹太来论你的信，也没有弟兄到这里来报给我们说你有什么不好处。

22但我们愿意听你的意见如何；因为这教门，我们晓得是到处被毁谤的。」

23他们和保罗约定了日子，就有许多人到他的寓处来。保罗从早到晚，对他们讲论这事，证明 神国的道，引摩西的律法和先知的书，以耶稣的事劝勉他们。

24他所说的话，有信的，有不信的。

25他们彼此不合，就散了；未散以先，保罗说了一句话，说：「圣灵借先知以赛亚向你们祖宗所说的话是不错的。

26他说：你去告诉这百姓说： 你们听是要听见，却不明白； 看是要看见，却不晓得；

27因为这百姓油蒙了心， 耳朵发沉， 眼睛闭着； 恐怕眼睛看见， 耳朵听见， 心里明白，回转过来， 我就医治他们。

28所以你们当知道， 神这救恩，如今传给外邦人，他们也必听受。」

30保罗在自己所租的房子里住了足足两年。凡来见他的人，他全都接待，

31放胆传讲 神国的道，将主耶稣基督的事教导人，并没有人禁止。

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!”

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.