1Keď sme boli v bezpečí, dozvedeli sme sa, že sme na ostrove Malta.2Tamojší ľudia sa k nám správali neobyčajne láskavo. Keďže pršalo a bolo chladno, rozložili veľký oheň a ujali sa nás.3Pavol nazbieral za náruč raždia a prikladal na oheň. Vtom vyliezla z raždia zmija, ktorá utekala pred horúčavou, a zahryzla sa mu do ruky.4Keď domorodci videli, ako mu z ruky visí zmija, vraveli si medzi sebou: „Ten človek je určite vrah! Pred utopením sa zachránil, no pred božou spravodlivosťou neutečie!“5Ale Pavol pokojne striasol hada do ohňa a správal sa, akoby sa nič nestalo.6Ľudia čakali, že opuchne, alebo odrazu spadne mŕtvy. Ale keď uplynul dosť dlhý čas a videli, že je celkom v poriadku, začali si šeptať, že Pavol je akiste nejaký boh.7Neďaleko toho miesta mal svoj majetok náčelník ostrova, ktorý sa volal Publius. Prijal nás a tri dni nás priateľsky hostil.8Publiov otec bol práve chorý – drvila ho zimnica a úplavica. Pavol zašiel za ním, pomodlil sa, položil na neho ruky a uzdravil ho.9Hneď sa to rozchýrilo po celom ostrove, chorí začali za Pavlom prichádzať zo všetkých strán a on ich uzdravoval.10Za to si nás nesmierne vážili a pred odchodom nás zahrnuli všetkým, čo sme len potrebovali.
Príchod do Ríma
11Prešli tri mesiace, kým sme mohli pokračovať v ceste. Vzala nás loď, ktorá vyplávala z Alexandrie a na ostrove prezimovala. Ako znak mala Blížencov Kastora a Poluxa, ochrancov námorníkov.12Pristála najprv v Syrakúzach na Sicílii, kde sme sa zdržali tri dni.13Odtiaľ sme sa plavili popri pobreží a dostali sme sa do Regia a s južným vetrom,14ktorý nám vial do chrbta, sme po dvoch dňoch pristáli v Puteoloch. Tam sme sa stretli s bratmi a na ich naliehanie sme sa zdržali u nich celý týždeň. Odtiaľ sme sa pobrali pešo do Ríma.15Medzitým sa o nás dozvedeli bratia v Ríme a niektorí nám prišli naproti až sedemdesiat kilometrov na Appiovo námestie, iní aspoň k Trom krčmám. Len čo ich Pavol zazrel, ďakoval Bohu a s novou odvahou hľadel do budúcnosti.16V Ríme mu potom dovolili bývať v súkromnom byte, ale vždy s jedným vojenským strážcom.17Tri dni po príchode do Ríma si Pavol pozval k sebe tamojších popredných Židov. Keď sa zišli, povedal im: „Bratia, ničím som sa neprevinil proti nášmu národu ani proti našim náboženským obyčajom. A predsa ma v Jeruzaleme zatkli a spútaného odovzdali Rimanom.18Tí ma po výsluchu chceli prepustiť, lebo som nevykonal nič, za čo by som si zasluhoval smrť.19Ale Židia sa proti tomu rázne postavili, a tak mi nezostalo nič iné, iba sa odvolať k cisárovi. Nemienim tu však žalovať na svoj národ.20Preto som túžil stretnúť sa s vami a pozhovárať sa o tom. Pre našu spoločnú vieru v Mesiáša nosím tieto reťaze!“21Odpovedali mu: „My sme nedostali z Judska o tebe nijakú správu, ani nikto nehovoril o tebe nič zlé.22Ale radi by sme vedeli, aké sú tvoje názory, lebo vieme, že sa táto sekta všade stretáva s odporom.“23Dohodli si teda ďalšie stretnutie a zišlo sa ich uňho ešte omnoho viac. Pavol im celý deň hovoril o tom, že Božie kráľovstvo prišlo medzi ľudí v osobe Ježiša Krista. Usiloval sa ich o tom presvedčiť dôkazmi z Mojžišovho zákona a z prorockých kníh.24Niektorí sa dali jeho slovami presvedčiť, ale iní odmietali uveriť.25Keď sa v nezhode rozchádzali, Pavol im povedal: „Presne tak to Duch Svätý predpovedal ústami proroka Izaiáša:26‚Budete počúvať a počúvať, a predsa neporozumiete. Budete hľadieť a hľadieť, a nič neuvidíte,27lebo otupelo srdce tohto ľudu. Uši majú zapchaté a oči zavreté, aby sa nestalo, že by očami videli, ušami počuli, srdcom chápali; to by ste sa totiž ku mne obrátili a ja by som vás uzdravil.‘28Preto sa nečudujte,“ doložil Pavol, „že radostnú zvesť o Božej záchrane hlásame pohanom. A tí ju dychtivo prijímajú.“29Po tých slovách Židia odišli a veľmi sa navzájom hádali.30Celé dva roky zostal Pavol vo svojom súkromnom rímskom väzení a mohol prijímať každého, kto ho navštívil.31A tak slobodne a bez prekážok hlásal Božie kráľovstvo a učil o Pánu Ježišovi Kristovi.
1After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. (Sk 27,26; Sk 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. (Sk 27,3; Sk 28,4; Rim 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.” (Nm 32,23; Jób 4,7; Am 5,19; Am 9,3; Lk 13,2; Lk 13,4; Jn 9,2; Sk 28,2)5He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. (Mk 16,18; Lk 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. (Sk 8,10; Sk 14,11; Sk 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. (Mk 5,23; Sk 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. (Sk 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. (Jn 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. (Sk 28,14; Rim 1,9)16And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him. (Sk 24,23; Sk 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. (Sk 6,14; Sk 15,1; Sk 21,21; Sk 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. (Sk 23,29; Sk 26,31)19But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. (Sk 24,17; Sk 25,11; Sk 26,4; Sk 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.” (Lk 2,25; Sk 21,33; Sk 23,6; Sk 26,29; Ef 6,20; Flp 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. (Sk 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.” (Lk 2,34; Sk 24,5; 1 Pt 2,12; 1 Pt 3,16; 1 Pt 4,14; 1 Pt 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. (Sk 8,35; Sk 17,2; Sk 19,8; Sk 24,14; Sk 26,22; Sk 28,31)24And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. (Sk 14,4; Sk 17,4; Sk 19,9; Sk 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.” (Iz 6,9; Mt 13,14; Mk 4,12; Lk 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.’ (Lk 22,32; Jn 12,40; Rim 11,8)28Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”[6] (Ž 67,2; Iz 40,5; Mt 8,11; Mt 21,43; Lk 2,30; Lk 3,6; Jn 10,16; Sk 13,26; Sk 13,46; Sk 13,48; Rim 11,11)30He lived there two whole years at his own expense,[7] and welcomed all who came to him, (Flp 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; Sk 4,29; Sk 8,12; Sk 20,25; Sk 28,23; Flp 1,12; 2 Tim 2,9)