Actuum Apostolorum 28
1 Et cum evasissemus, tunc cognovimus quia Melita insula vocabatur. Barbari vero præstabant non modicam humanitatem nobis.
When we were all safe, we found that the island was called Malta.
2 Accensa enim pyra, reficiebant nos omnes propter imbrem, qui imminebat, et frigus.
The island’s people showed us marked kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all under shelter, because it had come on to rain and was cold.
3 Cum congregasset autem Paulus sarmentorum aliquantam multitudinem, et imposuisset super ignem, vipera a calore cum processisset, invasit manum eius.
Paul had gathered a quantity of dry sticks and laid them on the fire, when a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, fastened on his hand.
4 Ut vero viderunt Barbari pendentem bestiam de manu eius, ad invicem dicebant: Utique homicida est homo hic, qui cum evaserit de mari, ultio non sinit eum vivere.
When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, ‘Evidently this man is a murderer, for though he has been saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.’
5 Et ille quidem excutiens bestiam in ignem, nihil mali passus est.
However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and took no harm.
6 At illi existimabant eum in tumorem convertendum, et subito casurum, et mori. Diu autem illis expectantibus, et videntibus nihil mali in eo fieri, convertentes se, dicebant eum esse deum.
The islanders were expecting inflammation to set in, or that he would suddenly fall dead; but, after waiting for a long time, and seeing that there was nothing amiss with him, they changed their minds and said that he was a God.
7 In locis autem illis erant prædia principis insulæ, nomine Publii, qui nos suscipiens, triduo benigne exhibuit.
In that region there was an estate belonging to the Governor of the island, whose name was Publius. He took us up to his house, and for three days entertained us most courteously.
8 Contigit autem, patrem Publii febribus, et dysenteria vexatum iacere. Ad quem Paulus intravit: et cum orasset, et imposuisset ei manus, salvavit eum.
It happened that the father of Publius was lying ill of fever and dysentery. So Paul went to see him; and, after praying, he placed his hands on him and cured him.
9 Quo facto, omnes qui in insula habebant infirmitates, accedebant, et curabantur:
After this, all the people in the island who had any illness came to Paul, and were cured.
10 qui etiam multis honoribus nos honoraverunt, et navigantibus imposuerunt quæ necessaria erant.
They also presented us with many gifts, and when we set sail they put supplies of necessaries on board.
11 Post menses autem tres navigavimus in navi Alexandrina, quæ in insula hiemaverat, cui erat insigne Castorum.
After three months, we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island. She was an Alexandrian vessel, and had the Twin sons of Zeus for her figure-head.
12 Et cum venissemus Syracusam, mansimus ibi triduo.
We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days,
13 Inde circumlegentes devenimus Rhegium: et post unum diem flante Austro, secunda die venimus Puteolos;
and from there we worked to windward and so got to Rhegium. A day later a south wind sprang up and took us to Puteoli in two days.
14 ubi inventis fratribus rogati sumus manere apud eos dies septem: et sic venimus Romam.
There we found some of the Lord’s followers, and were urged to stay a week with them; after which we went on to Rome.
15 Et inde cum audissent fratres, occurrerunt nobis usque ad Appii forum, ac tres Tabernas. Quos cum vidisset Paulus, gratias agens Deo, accepit fiduciam.
The followers there had heard about us, and came out as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At sight of them Paul thanked God and was much cheered.
16 Cum autem venissemus Romam, permissum est Paulo manere sibimet cum custodiente se milite.
On our reaching Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, except for the soldier who was in charge of him.
17 Post tertium autem diem convocavit primos Iudæorum. Cumque convenissent, dicebat eis: Ego, viri fratres, nihil adversus plebem faciens, aut morem paternum, vinctus ab Ierosolymis traditus sum in manus Romanorum,
Three days after our arrival, Paul invited the leading Jews to meet him; and, when they came, he said, ‘Brothers, although I had done nothing hostile to the interests of our nation or to our ancestral customs, yet I was sent from Jerusalem as a prisoner, and handed over to the Romans.
18 qui cum interrogationem de me habuissent, voluerunt me dimittere, eo quod nulla esset causa mortis in me.
The Romans, when they had examined me, were ready to release me, because there was nothing in my conduct deserving death.
19 Contradicentibus autem Iudæis, coactus sum appellare Cæsarem, non quasi gentem meam habens aliquid accusare.
But, as the Jewish leaders opposed my release, I was compelled to appeal to the Emperor – not, indeed, that I had any charge to make against my own nation.
20 Propter hanc igitur causam rogavi vos videre, et alloqui. Propter spem enim Israel catena hac circumdatus sum.
This, then, is my reason for urging you to come to see me and talk with me; because it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I am here in chains.’
21 At illi dixerunt ad eum: Nos neque litteras accepimus de te a Iudæa, neque adveniens aliquis fratrum nunciavit, aut locutus est quid de te malum.
‘We,’ was their reply, ‘have not had any letter about you from Judea, nor have any of our fellow Jews come and reported or said anything bad about you.
22 Rogamus autem a te audire quæ sentis: nam de secta hac notum est nobis quia ubique ei contradicitur.
But we will be glad to hear from you what your views are, for, with regard to this sect, we are well aware that it is spoken against on all sides.’
23 Cum constituissent autem illi diem, venerunt ad eum in hospitium plurimi, quibus exponebat testificans regnum Dei, suadensque eis de Iesu ex Lege Moysi, et Prophetis a mane usque ad vesperam.
They then fixed a day with him, and came to the place where he was staying, in even larger numbers, when Paul proceeded to lay the subject before them. He bore his testimony to the kingdom of God, and tried to convince them about Jesus, by arguments drawn from the Law of Moses and from the prophets – speaking from morning until evening.
24 Et quidam credebant his, quæ dicebantur: quidam vero non credebant.
Some were inclined to accept what he said; others, however, rejected it.
25 Cumque invicem non essent consentientes, discedebant dicente Paulo unum verbum: Quia bene Spiritus Sanctus locutus est per Isaiam prophetam ad patres nostros,
So, as they disagreed among themselves, they began to disperse, Paul adding only – ‘True, indeed, was the declaration made by the Holy Spirit, through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors –
26 dicens: Vade ad populum istum, et dic ad eos: Aure audietis, et non intelligetis: et videntes videbitis, et non perspicietis.
Go to this nation and say: You will hear with your ears without ever understanding, and, though you have eyes, you will see without ever perceiving.
27 Incrassatum est enim cor populi huius, et auribus graviter audierunt, et oculos suos compresserunt: ne forte videant oculis, et auribus audiant, et corde intelligant, et convertantur, et sanem eos.
For the mind of this nation has grown dense, and their ears are dull of hearing, their eyes also have they closed; otherwise some day they might see with their eyes, and with their ears they might hear, and in their mind they might understand, and might turn – and I might heal them.
28 Notum ergo sit vobis, quoniam Gentibus missum est hoc salutare Dei, et ipsi audient.
Understand, then, that this salvation of God was sent for the Gentiles; and they will listen.’
29 Et cum hæc dixisset, exierunt ab eo Iudæi, multam habentes inter se quæstionem.
30 Mansit autem biennio toto in suo conducto: et suscipiebat omnes, qui ingrediebantur ad eum,
For two whole years Paul stayed in a house which he rented for himself, welcoming all who came to see him,
31 prædicans regnum Dei, et docens quæ sunt de Domino Iesu Christo cum omni fiducia, sine prohibitione.
proclaiming the kingdom of God, and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ, with perfect fearlessness, unhindered.
