1After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. (Ac 27:26; Ac 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. (Ac 27:3; Ac 28:4; Ro 1:14; 1Co 14:11; Col 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.” (Nu 32:23; Job 4:7; Am 5:19; Am 9:3; Lu 13:2; Lu 13:4; Joh 9:2; Ac 28:2)5He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. (Mr 16:18; Lu 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. (Ac 8:10; Ac 14:11; Ac 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. (Mr 5:23; Ac 9:40; Jas 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. (Ac 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. (Ac 28:14; Ro 1:9)16And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him. (Ac 24:23; Ac 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. (Ac 6:14; Ac 15:1; Ac 21:21; Ac 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. (Ac 23:29; Ac 26:31)19But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. (Ac 24:17; Ac 25:11; Ac 26:4; Ac 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.” (Lu 2:25; Ac 21:33; Ac 23:6; Ac 26:29; Eph 6:20; Php 1:7; 2Ti 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. (Ac 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.” (Lu 2:34; Ac 24:5; 1Pe 2:12; 1Pe 3:16; 1Pe 4:14; 1Pe 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. (Ac 8:35; Ac 17:2; Ac 19:8; Ac 24:14; Ac 26:22; Ac 28:31)24And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. (Ac 14:4; Ac 17:4; Ac 19:9; Ac 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: (Mt 15:7)26“‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” (Isa 6:9; Mt 13:14; Mr 4:12; Lu 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.’ (Lu 22:32; Joh 12:40; Ro 11:8)28Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”[6] (Ps 67:2; Isa 40:5; Mt 8:11; Mt 21:43; Lu 2:30; Lu 3:6; Joh 10:16; Ac 13:26; Ac 13:46; Ac 13:48; Ro 11:11)30He lived there two whole years at his own expense,[7] and welcomed all who came to him, (Php 1:13)31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (Mt 12:28; Mt 13:19; Ac 4:29; Ac 8:12; Ac 20:25; Ac 28:23; Php 1:12; 2Ti 2:9)
1-2وقتی سالم به ساحل رسيديم، فهميديم در جزيرهٔ مالت هستيم. مردم آن جزيره با ما بسيار خوشرفتاری كردند و چون باران میآمد و سرد بود آتشی درست كردند تا از ما پذيرايی كنند.3پولس نيز هيزم جمع میكرد و روی آتش میگذاشت. ناگهان در اثر حرارت، ماری سمی بيرون آمد و محكم به دست او چسبيد!4وقتی اهالی جزيره اين را ديدند، به يكديگر گفتند: «بدون شک اين مرد قاتل است! با اينكه از طوفان جان به در برد، ولی عدالت نمیگذارد زنده بماند!»5اما پولس مار را در آتش انداخت بدون اين كه صدمهای ببيند.6مردم منتظر بودند پولس ورم كند، يا ناگهان بيفتد و بميرد، ولی هر چه منتظر شدند، خبری نشد. پس نظرشان را عوض كردند و گفتند: «او يكی از خدايان است!»7نزديک ساحل، همان جايی كه ما پياده شديم، مِلكی بود متعلق به پوبليوس، حاكم آن جزيره. او ما را با خوشی به خانهٔ خود برد و با كمال احترام سه روز پذيرايی كرد.8از قضا پدر پوبليوس مبتلا به تب و اسهال خونی بود. پولس نزد او رفت و برايش دعا كرد و دست بر سر او گذاشت و شفايش داد!9همهٔ بيماران ديگر آن جزيره نيز آمدند و شفا يافتند.10در نتيجه سيل هدايا به سوی ما جاری شد. به هنگام حركت نيز، هر چه برای سفر لازم داشتيم برای ما به كشتی آوردند.
ورود پولس به روم
11سه ماه پس از اينكه كشتی ما در هم شكست، با يک كشتی ديگر حركت كرديم. اين بار با كشتی اسكندريهای به اسم«برادران دوقلو» كه زمستان در آن جزيره مانده بود سفر میكرديم.12سر راهمان سه روز در سراكيوس مانديم.13از آنجا دور زديم تا به ريغيون رسيديم. روز بعد باد جنوبی وزيد. پس يک روزه به بندر پوطيولی رسيديم.14در آنجا چند مسيحی پيدا كرديم كه از ما خواهش كردند يک هفته پيش ايشان بمانيم. پس از آنجا به روم رفتيم.15مسيحيان روم كه شنيده بودند ما میآييم، تا فوروم سر راه اپيوس، به پيشواز ما آمدند. بعضی نيز در شهرک سه ميخانه به استقبال ما آمدند. وقتی پولس ايشان را ديد، خدا را شكر كرد و جان تازهای گرفت.16وقتی به روم رسيديم، به پولس اجازه دادند كه هر جا میخواهد زندگی كند. فقط يک نگهبان هميشه مراقب او بود.
پولس در روم بشارت میدهد
17سه روز پس از ورودمان به روم، پولس سران يهود آن محل را جمع كرد و به ايشان گفت: «ای برادران، يهوديان اورشليم مرا گرفتند و تحويل دولت روم دادند تا آزارم دهند، با اينكه نه به كسی آزار رسانده بودم و نه به آداب و رسوم اجدادمان بیحرمتی كرده بودم.18رومیها از من بازجويی كردند و خواستند آزادم كنند، چون پی بردند كاری نكردهام كه سزاوار مرگ باشم.19اما وقتی يهوديان مخالفت كردند، مجبور شدم از قيصر دادخواهی كنم، بیآنكه نظر بدی به يهود داشته باشم.20اما از شما خواهش كردم امروز به اينجا بياييد تا ضمن آشنايی بگويم كه اين زنجيری كه به دستهای من بستهاند به خاطر اين است كه ايمان دارم مسيح موعود ظهور كرده است.»21جواب دادند: «ما چيزی بر ضد تو نشنيدهايم. نه نامهای از يهوديه داشتهايم و نه گزارشی از مسافرانی كه از اورشليم آمدهاند.22ولی میخواهيم از خودت بشنويم كه چه ايمانی داری، چون تنها چيزی كه دربارهٔ مسيحيان میدانيم اين است كه همه جا از آنان بد میگويند.»23پس قرار شد يک روز ديگر بيايند. در روز مقرر، عدهٔ زيادی به خانهٔ او آمدند و پولس دربارهٔ ملكوت خدا و عيسی مسيح برای ايشان صحبت كرد. او از صبح تا عصر از پنج كتاب موسی و كتب پيامبران برای سخنان خود دليل میآورد.24در ميان حضار، بعضی ايمان آوردند و بعضی نياوردند.25ولی بعد از گفتگوی زياد و رد و بدل كلمات، از پولس جدا شدند، در حالی که سخنان آخر او پیدرپی در گوشهايشان صدا میكرد: «روحاُلقُدس چه خوب به اشعيای نبی گفته است:26«”به قوم اسرائيل بگو كه میشنويد و میبينيد اما نمیفهميد.27چون دلتان سخت و گوشتان سنگين شده است. چشمانتان را به روی معرفت خدا بستهايد، چون نمیخواهيد ببينيد و بشنويد و بفهميد و به سوی من بازگرديد تا شما را شفا بخشم.“28-29«پس بدانيد كه غيريهوديان به اين نجات دست يافته، آن را خواهند پذيرفت.»30پولس دو سال تمام در خانهٔ اجارهای خود ساكن بود و تمام كسانی را كه به ديدن او میآمدند، با روی خوش میپذيرفت31و با شهامت دربارهٔ ملكوت خدا و عيسی مسيح خداوند با ايشان صحبت میكرد بدون آنكه كسی مانع او شود.