1Da alle var bjærget op på stranden, fik vi at vide, at øen hed Malta.2De indfødte på øen var meget venlige og viste os en usædvanlig omsorg. De tændte et bål på stranden, og vi samlede os om ilden, for det var begyndt at regne, og det var meget koldt.3Paulus samlede en bunke kvas, men da han lagde den på bålet, krøb en giftslange frem på grund af varmen og bed sig fast i hans hånd.4Da de indfødte så slangen hænge fast i hånden, sagde de til hinanden: „Den mand er sikkert en morder. Selv om han slap godt fra havet, tillader retfærdighedens gudinde ikke, at han får lov at leve.”5Men Paulus rystede slangen af over ilden og så ikke ud til at have lidt nogen overlast.6De indfødte betragtede ham afventende. De regnede med, at han ret hurtigt ville svulme op eller falde død om. Da de havde iagttaget ham et stykke tid, og der stadig ikke var sket noget, ændrede de holdning og mente nu, at han måtte være en gud.7I nærheden af det sted, hvor vi var drevet i land, lå en landejendom, som tilhørte øens fornemmeste mand, Publius. Han tog venligt imod os og beværtede os i tre dage.8Nu var det sådan, at Publius’ far lå syg med feberanfald og dysenteri. Paulus gik ind til ham, lagde hænderne på ham og bad for ham. Og han blev straks helbredt.9Derefter kom resten af de syge på øen og blev helbredt.10Folk forærede os mange gaver, og da vi skulle sejle videre, bragte de os alt muligt, som vi kunne få brug for på rejsen.
Fra Malta til Rom
11Først da der var gået tre måneder efter skibbruddet, kunne vi komme videre. Det blev med et skib fra Alexandria, der havde tvillingeguderne Castor og Pollux som galionsfigur. Det havde ligget i vinterhavn på øen.12Først anløb vi Syrakus på Sicilien, hvor vi blev i tre dage.13Derefter kastede vi los og ankom til Regium på Italiens sydspids, og da der dagen efter blæste en god søndenvind, ankom vi allerede den følgende dag til Roms havneby, Puteoli, og gik fra borde.14Sådan endte den lange sørejse til Rom. I Puteoli fandt vi frem til nogle kristne, og de indbød os til at blive der en uges tid.15I Rom havde de kristne hørt, at vi var på vej, og de kom ud for at tage imod os. Nogle mødte vi ved Forum på Via Appia, og andre mødte vi ved „De tre Kroer”. Da Paulus så dem, takkede han Gud og fik nyt mod.
Paulus i Rom
16Da vi ankom til Rom, fik Paulus lov til at bo for sig selv sammen med den soldat, som skulle bevogte ham.17Et par dage efter sin ankomst sendte han bud til byens jødiske ledere og indbød dem til at komme og besøge ham. Da de var kommet, sagde han til dem: „Mine ærede landsmænd! Jeg blev pågrebet af jøderne i Jerusalem og overgivet til de romerske myndigheder, selv om jeg hverken har gjort noget forkert imod vores folk eller imod de skikke, vi har fra forfædrene.18Romerne stillede mig for retten, hvorefter de ville løslade mig, fordi de ikke kunne finde noget grundlag for den dødsdom, som jøderne krævede.19Men da jøderne protesterede mod den afgørelse, blev jeg tvunget til at appellere min sag til kejseren, selv om jeg ikke har noget at anklage mit eget folk for.20Det er derfor, jeg har bedt jer komme her i dag. Jeg vil gerne fortælle jer, at jeg bærer de her lænker på grund af min tro på ham, som Israels folk har ventet og håbet på så længe.”21De svarede: „Vi har ikke modtaget noget brev fra Judæa om den sag, og der er heller ikke kommet nogle ledere derfra med en rapport om, at du skulle have gjort noget forkert.22Men vi vil gerne høre din mening om den sekt, som vi har hørt, at mange taler imod.”23De aftalte et tidspunkt for et møde, og på den fastsatte dag kom et større antal mennesker til det sted, hvor Paulus boede. Han underviste dem grundigt om Guds rige og søgte ud fra Toraen og de profetiske bøger at overbevise dem om, at Jesus er Messias. Han begyndte undervisningen om morgenen og fortsatte lige til aften.24Nogle lod sig overbevise af Paulus’ ord, men andre ville ikke tro det.25Da de tog derfra, diskuterede de indbyrdes frem og tilbage. Paulus havde sluttet med at sige: „Helligånden havde ret, da han gennem profeten Esajas sagde til jeres forfædre:26Sig til dette folk: ‚I hører, men forstår dog intet. I ser, men fatter dog intet.’27For dette folk går rundt med lukkede øjne, så de intet ser. De har ørerne tilstoppede, så de intet hører. Deres hjerter er tillukkede, så de ikke føler anger eller skyld. Derfor kommer de ikke til mig, så jeg kan helbrede dem.[1] (Es 6,9)28-29Derfor kan jeg fortælle jer, at når I ikke vil høre, bliver budskabet om Guds frelse bragt ud til de ikke-jødiske folkeslag—og de vil høre efter!”[2]30De næste to år boede Paulus nu i det hus, han havde lejet, og han tog imod alle, som besøgte ham.31Han fortsatte med at forkynde om Guds rige, og han underviste frimodigt om Herren Jesus Kristus, uden at nogen forsøgte at hindre ham i det.
1After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. (Ap G 27,26; Ap G 27,39)2The native people[1] showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. (Ap G 27,3; Ap G 28,4; Rom 1,14; 1.Kor 14,11; Kol 3,11)3When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.4When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice[2] has not allowed him to live.” (4.Mos 32,23; Job 4,7; Amos 5,19; Amos 9,3; Luk 13,2; Luk 13,4; Joh 9,2; Ap G 28,2)5He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. (Mark 16,18; Luk 10,19)6They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. (Ap G 8,10; Ap G 14,11; Ap G 14,19)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 hospitably for three days.8It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. (Mark 5,23; Ap G 9,40; Jak 5,14)9And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.10They also honored us greatly,[3] and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.
Paul Arrives at Rome
11After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods[4] as a figurehead. (Ap G 27,6)12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.13And from there 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.14There we found brothers[5] and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. (Joh 21,23)15And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. (Ap G 28,14; Rom 1,9)16And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him. (Ap G 24,23; Ap G 27,3)
Paul in Rome
17After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. (Ap G 6,14; Ap G 15,1; Ap G 21,21; Ap G 25,8)18When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. (Ap G 23,29; Ap G 26,31)19But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. (Ap G 24,17; Ap G 25,11; Ap G 26,4; Ap G 26,32)20For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” (Luk 2,25; Ap G 21,33; Ap G 23,6; Ap G 26,29; Ef 6,20; Filip 1,7; 2.Tim 1,16)21And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. (Ap G 22,5)22But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.” (Luk 2,34; Ap G 24,5; 1.Pet 2,12; 1.Pet 3,16; 1.Pet 4,14; 1.Pet 4,16)23When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded 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. (Ap G 8,35; Ap G 17,2; Ap G 19,8; Ap G 24,14; Ap G 26,22; Ap G 28,31)24And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. (Ap G 14,4; Ap G 17,4; Ap G 19,9; Ap G 23,7)25And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: (Matt 15,7)26“‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” (Es 6,9; Matt 13,14; Mark 4,12; Luk 8,10)27For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ (Luk 22,32; Joh 12,40; Rom 11,8)28Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”[6] (Salm 67,2; Es 40,5; Matt 8,11; Matt 21,43; Luk 2,30; Luk 3,6; Joh 10,16; Ap G 13,26; Ap G 13,46; Ap G 13,48; Rom 11,11)30He lived there two whole years at his own expense,[7] and welcomed all who came to him, (Filip 1,13)31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (Matt 12,28; Matt 13,19; Ap G 4,29; Ap G 8,12; Ap G 20,25; Ap G 28,23; Filip 1,12; 2.Tim 2,9)