Paul on the Island of Melita

281 And having been saved, then they knew that the island is called Melita, 2 and the foreigners were shewing us no ordinary kindness, for having kindled a fire, they received us all, because of the pressing rain, and because of the cold; 3 but Paul having gathered together a quantity of sticks, and having laid 'them' upon the fire, a viper—out of the heat having come—did fasten on his hand. 4 And when the foreigners saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said unto one another, 'Certainly this man is a murderer, whom, having been saved out of the sea, the justice did not suffer to live;' 5 he then, indeed, having shaken off the beast into the fire, suffered no evil, 6 and they were expecting him to be about to be inflamed, or to fall down suddenly dead, and they, expecting 'it' a long time, and seeing nothing uncommon happening to him, changing 'their' minds, said he was a god. 7 And in the neighbourhood of that place were lands of the principal man of the island, by name Publius, who, having received us, three days did courteously lodge 'us'; 8 and it came to pass, the father of Publius with feverish heats and dysentery pressed, was laid, unto whom Paul having entered, and having prayed, having laid 'his' hands on him, healed him; 9 this, therefore, being done, the others also in the island having infirmities were coming and were healed; 10 who also with many honours did honour us, and we setting sail—they were lading 'us' with the things that were necessary.

Paul Arrives at Rome

11 And after three months, we set sail in a ship (that had wintered in the isle) of Alexandria, with the sign Dioscuri, 12 and having landed at Syracuse, we remained three days, 13 thence having gone round, we came to Rhegium, and after one day, a south wind having sprung up, the second 'day' we came to Puteoli; 14 where, having found brethren, we were called upon to remain with them seven days, and thus to Rome we came; 15 and thence, the brethren having heard the things concerning us, came forth to meet us, unto Appii Forum, and Three Taverns—whom Paul having seen, having given thanks to God, took courage. 16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the captain of the barrack, but Paul was suffered to remain by himself, with the soldier guarding him.

Paul Preaches in Rome

17 And it came to pass after three days, Paul called together those who are the principal men of the Jews, and they having come together, he said unto them: 'Men, brethren, I—having done nothing contrary to the people, or to the customs of the fathers—a prisoner from Jerusalem, was delivered up to the hands of the Romans; 18 who, having examined me, were wishing to release 'me', because of their being no cause of death in me, 19 and the Jews having spoken against 'it', I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar—not as having anything to accuse my nation of; 20 for this cause, therefore, I called for you to see and to speak with 'you', for because of the hope of Israel with this chain I am bound.' 21 And they said unto him, 'We did neither receive letters concerning thee from Judea, nor did any one who came of the brethren declare or speak any evil concerning thee, 22 and we think it good from thee to hear what thou dost think, for, indeed, concerning this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against;'

23 and having appointed him a day, they came, more of them unto him, to the lodging, to whom he was expounding, testifying fully the reign of God, persuading them also of the things concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and the prophets, from morning till evening, 24 and, some, indeed, were believing the things spoken, and some were not believing. 25 And not being agreed with one another, they were going away, Paul having spoken one word—'Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, 26 saying, Go on unto this people and say, With hearing ye shall hear, and ye shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and ye shall not perceive, 27 for made gross was the heart of this people, and with the ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they did close, lest they may see with the eyes, and with the heart may understand, and be turned back, and I may heal them. 28 'Be it known, therefore, to you, that to the nations was sent the salvation of God, these also will hear it;' 29 and he having said these things, the Jews went away, having much disputation among themselves;

30 and Paul remained an entire two years in his own hired 'house', and was receiving all those coming in unto him, 31 preaching the reign of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness—unforbidden.

A Lame Man Healed at the Gate of the Temple

31 And Peter and John were going up at the same time to the temple, at the hour of the prayer, the ninth 'hour', 2 and a certain man, being lame from the womb of his mother, was being carried, whom they were laying every day at the gate of the temple, called Beautiful, to ask a kindness from those entering into the temple, 3 who, having seen Peter and John about to go into the temple, was begging to receive a kindness. 4 And Peter, having looked stedfastly toward him with John, said, 'Look toward us;' 5 and he was giving heed to them, looking to receive something from them; 6 and Peter said, 'Silver and gold I have none, but what I have, that I give to thee; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and be walking.' 7 And having seized him by the right hand, he raised 'him' up, and presently his feet and ankles were strengthened, 8 and springing up, he stood, and was walking, and did enter with them into the temple, walking and springing, and praising God; 9 and all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they were knowing him also that this it was who for a kindness was sitting at the Beautiful gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what hath happened to him.

Peter's Address in Solomon's Porch

11 And at the lame man who was healed holding Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch called Solomon's—greatly amazed,

12 and Peter having seen, answered unto the people, 'Men, Israelites! why wonder ye at this? or on us why look ye so earnestly, as if by our own power or piety we have made him to walk? 13 'The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, did glorify His child Jesus, whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, he having given judgment to release 'him', 14 and ye the Holy and Righteous One did deny, and desired a man—a murderer—to be granted to you, 15 and the Prince of the life ye did kill, whom God did raise out of the dead, of which we are witnesses; 16 and on the faith of his name, this one whom ye see and have known, his name made strong, even the faith that 'is' through him did give to him this perfect soundness before you all. 17 'And now, brethren, I have known that through ignorance ye did 'it', as also your rulers; 18 and God, what things before He had declared through the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ should suffer, He did thus fulfil; 19 reform ye, therefore, and turn back, for your sins being blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and He may send Jesus Christ who before hath been preached to you, 21 whom it behoveth heaven, indeed, to receive till times of a restitution of all things, of which God spake through the mouth of all His holy prophets from the age. 22 'For Moses, indeed, unto the fathers said—A prophet to you shall the Lord your God raise up out of your brethren, like to me; him shall ye hear in all things, as many as he may speak unto you; 23 and it shall be, every soul that may not hear that prophet shall be utterly destroyed out of the people; 24 and also all the prophets from Samuel and those following in order, as many as spake, did also foretell of these days. 25 'Ye are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant that God made unto our fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall be blessed all the families of the earth; 26 to you first, God, having raised up His child Jesus, did send him, blessing you, in the turning away of each one from your evil ways.'