Acts 28

1 Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.

1 我們既已得救，才知道那島名叫馬耳他。

2 The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.

2 土人看待我們，有非常的情分；因為當時下雨，天氣又冷，就生火接待我們眾人。

3 Paul 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.

3 那時，保羅拾起一捆柴，放在火上，有一條毒蛇，因為熱了出來，咬住他的手。

4 When 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, Justice has not allowed him to live.”

4 土人看見那毒蛇懸在他手上，就彼此說：「這人必是個兇手，雖然從海裏救上來，天理還不容他活着。」

5 But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

5 保羅竟把那毒蛇甩在火裏，並沒有受傷。

6 The 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.

6 土人想他必要腫起來，或是忽然仆倒死了；看了多時，見他無害，就轉念，說：「他是個神。」

7 Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

7 離那地方不遠，有田產是島長部百流的；他接納我們，盡情款待三日。

8 The 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.

8 當時，部百流的父親患熱病和痢疾躺着。保羅進去，為他禱告，按手在他身上，治好了他。

9 After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.

9 從此，島上其餘的病人也來，得了醫治。

10 The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.

10 他們又多方地尊敬我們；到了開船的時候，也把我們所需用的送到船上。

11 After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead.

11 過了三個月，我們上了亞歷山大的船往前行；這船以「宙斯雙子」為記，是在那海島過了冬的。

12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

12 到了敘拉古，我們停泊三日；

13 From 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.

13 又從那裏繞行，來到利基翁。過了一天，起了南風，第二天就來到部丟利。

14 There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.

14 在那裏遇見弟兄們，請我們與他們同住了七天。這樣，我們來到羅馬。

15 The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.

15 那裏的弟兄們一聽見我們的信息就出來，到亞比烏市和三館 地方迎接我們。保羅見了他們，就感謝上帝，放心壯膽。

16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

16 進了羅馬城， 保羅蒙准和一個看守他的兵另住在一處。

17 After 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.

17 過了三天，保羅請猶太人的首領來。他們來了，就對他們說：「弟兄們，我雖沒有做甚麼事干犯本國的百姓和我們祖宗的規條，卻被鎖綁，從耶路撒冷解在羅馬人的手裏。

18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.

18 他們審問了我，就願意釋放我；因為在我身上，並沒有該死的罪。

19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.

19 無奈猶太人不服，我不得已，只好上告於凱撒，並非有甚麼事要控告我本國的百姓。

20 So 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.”

20 因此，我請你們來見面說話，我原為以色列人所指望的，被這鍊子捆鎖。」

21 The 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.

21 他們說：「我們並沒有接着從猶太來論你的信，也沒有弟兄到這裏來報給我們說你有甚麼不好處。

22 But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”

22 但我們願意聽你的意見如何；因為這教門，我們曉得是到處被毀謗的。」

23 So 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.

23 他們和保羅約定了日子，就有許多人到他的寓處來。保羅從早到晚，對他們講論這事，證明上帝國的道，引摩西的律法和先知的書，以耶穌的事勸勉他們。

24 Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.

24 他所說的話，有信的，有不信的。

25 They 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:

25 他們彼此不合，就散了；未散以先，保羅說了一句話，說：「聖靈藉先知以賽亞向你們祖宗所說的話是不錯的。

26 ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

26 他說： 你去告訴這百姓說： 你們聽是要聽見，卻不明白； 看是要看見，卻不曉得；

27 For 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.’

27 因為這百姓油蒙了心， 耳朵發沉， 眼睛閉着； 恐怕眼睛看見， 耳朵聽見， 心裏明白，回轉過來， 我就醫治他們。

28 Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”

28 所以你們當知道，上帝這救恩，如今傳給外邦人，他們也必聽受。」

29

30 Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.

30 保羅在自己所租的房子裏住了足足兩年。凡來見他的人，他全都接待，

31 Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

31 放膽傳講上帝國的道，將主耶穌基督的事教導人，並沒有人禁止。