On the Island of Malta
1 When we came ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The local people were very friendly, and they welcomed us by building a fire, because it was rainy and cold.
3 After Paul had gathered some wood and had put it on the fire, the heat caused a snake to crawl out, and it bit him on the hand. 4 When the local people saw the snake hanging from Paul's hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He didn't drown in the sea, but the goddess of justice will kill him anyway.”
5 Paul shook the snake off into the fire and wasn't harmed. 6 The people kept thinking that Paul would either swell up or suddenly drop dead. They watched him for a long time, and when nothing happened to him, they changed their minds and said, “This man is a god.”
7 The governor of the island was named Publius, and he owned some of the land around there. Publius was very friendly and welcomed us into his home for three days. 8 His father was in bed, sick with fever and stomach trouble, and Paul went to visit him. Paul healed the man by praying and placing his hands on him.
9 After this happened, everyone on the island brought their sick people to Paul, and they were all healed. 10 The people were very respectful to us, and when we sailed, they gave us everything we needed.
From Malta to Rome
11 Three months later we sailed in a ship that had been docked at Malta for the winter. The ship was from Alexandria in Egypt and was known as “The Twin Gods.” 12 We arrived in Syracuse and stayed for three days. 13 From there we sailed to Rhegium. The next day a south wind began to blow, and two days later we arrived in Puteoli. 14 There we found some of the Lord's followers, who begged us to stay with them. A week later we left for the city of Rome.
15 Some of the followers in Rome heard about us and came to meet us at the Market of Appius and at the Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was encouraged.
Paul in Rome
16 We arrived in Rome, and Paul was allowed to live in a house by himself with a soldier to guard him.
17 Three days after we got there, Paul called together some of the Jewish leaders and said:
My friends, I have never done anything to hurt our people, and I have never gone against the customs of our ancestors. But in Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. 18 They looked into the charges against me and wanted to release me. They found that I had not done anything deserving death. 19 The Jewish leaders disagreed, so I asked to be tried by the Emperor.
But I don't have anything to say against my own nation. 20 I am bound by these chains because of what we people of Israel hope for. This is why I have called you here to talk about this hope of ours.
21 The leaders replied, “No one from Judea has written us a letter about you. And not one of them has come here to report on you or to say anything against you. 22 But we would like to hear what you have to say. We understand that people everywhere are against this new group.”
23 They agreed on a time to meet with Paul, and many of them came to his house. From early morning until late in the afternoon, Paul talked to them about God's kingdom. He used the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets to try to win them over to Jesus.
24 Some of the leaders agreed with what Paul said, but others did not. 25 Since they could not agree among themselves, they started leaving. But Paul said, “The Holy Spirit said the right thing when he sent Isaiah the prophet 26 to tell our ancestors,
‘Go to these people
and tell them:
You will listen and listen,
but never understand.
You will look and look,
but never see.
27 All of you
have stubborn hearts.
Your ears are stopped up,
and your eyes are covered.
You cannot see or hear
or understand.
If you could,
you would turn to me,
and I would heal you.’ ”
28-29 Paul said, “You may be sure that God wants to save the Gentiles! And they will listen.”
30 For two years Paul stayed in a rented house and welcomed everyone who came to see him. 31 He bravely preached about God's kingdom and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ, and no one tried to stop him.
Paulus muMalta
1 Eshi twa xupa, otwa uda nokutya, onhunhu ei oya lukwa Malta. 2 Ovanhu vayo ove tu yakula nombili youkaume. Ova shakala omundilo wakula nove tu ifanena kuwo atushe, osheshi okwa li ku nodula noutalala. 3 Ndele Paulus eshi a ka tyava oikuni okwe i tula mediko, opo nee euta ola nhukifwa mo koupyu, ndele le mu dama keke. 4 Opo nee ovanhu vamo eshi va mona euta la endjelela keke laye, ova popya tava ti: “Omulumenhu ou shiimba oye omudipai, osheshi kalungakadona kehandukilo inake mu efa, nande a xupifwa mefuta, a kale e nomwenyo.” 5 Ndele oshinamwenyo osho okwe shi nipila mediko, ye ina mona nande oshiponga. 6 Ndele venya ova li va teelela a dinde ile a wile poshi a fye ohangelela, ndele eshi va li va teelela efimbo lile nove mu wete ye ina ningilwa nande owii washa, opo nee ove lialuluka, ndele tava ti: “Oye kalunga.”
7 Popepi nonhele ei okwa li ku nofaalama, ndele mwene wayo okwa li omukulunhu wonhunhu ei, edina laye Publius, ye okwe tu tambula nokwe tu menekelifa po nombili omafiku atatu. 8 Opa ningwa, xe yaPublius okwa vela oudu wolwiidi nowoshimela shohonde. Ndele Paulus okwa ya kuye, a ilikana nokwa tenheka omake aye kuye, ndele te mu velula. 9 Ndele eshi, eshi sha ningwa, ovanaudu vamwe vomonhunhu ove uya kuye, ndele va velulwa. 10 Vo ove tu fimaneka yo unene, ndele eshi twa dja ko, ove tu pa ashishe twe shi pumbwa.
Paulus muRoma
11 Eshi pa pita eehani nhatu, otwa dja ko noskepa yaAleksandria ya panga mo okufu, ya didilikwa nefano laKastor naPolluks. 12 Ndele otwe uya kuSirakusa notwa kala ko omafiku atatu. 13 Eshi twa dja ko, otwa kunghula notwe uya kuRegio. Nomhepo yokoumbuwanhu eshi ya penduka konima yefiku limwe otwe uya kuPuteoli. 14 Oko nee twa hanga ovamwatate, ovo ve tu indila, tu menekele puvo omafiku aheyali. Opo nee twa ya kuRoma. 15 Ovamwatate vaakwinya eshi ve tu uda, ove tu teta ko, ove uya fiyo okoshilandelo shaAppius nokEengulu Nhatu Dovaenda oku tu shakeneka, ndele Paulus eshi e va mona, okwa pandula Kalunga nokwa ladipalekwa.
Paulus ta udifile ovakulunhu vOvajuda
16 Ndele eshi twe uya muRoma, omunefele okwa yandja eenghwate daye kelenga lakula letanga lomukesari. Paulus okwa pewa omhito okulikongela apa ta kala, te lifutile mwene, ndele ta kala nomukwaita ou te mu nangele.
17 Opo nee eshi pa pita omafiku atatu, Paulus okwa ifana ovakulunhu vOvajuda, naashi va ongala okwa tya kuvo: “Ovalumenhu nye ovamwatate, ame nande inandi nyona sha koshiwana shetu ile keenghedi dootate, ame onda dja muJerusalem nda mangwa nonda yandjwa momake Ovaroma. 18 Vo eshi va pula nge nawa, va hala okweefa nge, shaashi nghi netimba lokufya. 19 Ndele Ovajuda eshi ve shi kondjifa, onda li ndi nokuliameka komukesari, hakutya, ndi hokololife oshiwana shetu ngeno. 20 Onghee hano nde mu ifana, opo ndi mu mone ndi mu popife, osheshi omolweteelelo laIsrael ndi li momalyenge aa.” 21 Vo ova tya kuye: “Fye inatu mona nande eenhumwafo da dja medu laJudea tadi ku popi, novamwatate ovo ve uya mo nande oumwe ine tu hepaululila owii washa noku ku popya nai. 22 Ndele fye otwa hala okuuda tu shiive eshi to shi diladila, osheshi fye otwa uda oshimhanga eshi hashi tuwa eemhata akushe.”
23 Ovo ve mu pa efiku, ndele eshi la fika, vahapu ve dule voshito ove uya kuye monduda yaye. Ndele ye okwe va fatululila ndele te va hepaululile ouhamba waKalunga, ndele te va longo okuhovela ongula fiyo onguloshi, nokwa hetekela oku va tomhifa omhango yaMoses novaxunganeki, va koneke Jesus. 24 Vamwe ova tomhwa keendjovo daye, ndelenee vamwe ova anya okwiitavela. 25 Opo nee vo eshi vaha li kumwe, ove lihana Paulus eshi a popya ondjovo ei nokutya: “Oda yuka odo Omhepo Iyapuki ya tongifa okanya komuxunganeki Jesaja, eshi a lombwela ooxo, 26 ndele ta ti:
‘Inda koshiwana eshi ndele to ti:
Okuuda ohamu udu, nye kamu udite ko,
nokumona ohamu mono,
ndele kamu wete ko, nye inamu koneka sha.
27 Osheshi omitima doshiwana eshi da kukuta,
nomatwi avo ve a fitika,
nomesho avo ve a fifikinifa;
vaha mone ko nomesho avo
novaha ude ko nomatwi avo
novaha koneke komitima davo,
vehe lidilulule, Ame ndihe va velule.’ ”
28 Opo nee kaleni mu shi shii: “Exupifo eli laKalunga ola tuminwa ovapaani, ndele vo otave li udu.” 29 Opo nee ye eshi a popya odo, Ovajuda ova dja po ndele tave litwifa eemhata unene.
30 Paulus okwa kala mongulu he i futile omido mbali di yadi nokwa kunda aveshe ovo ve uya kuye. 31 Ndele okwe va udifila ouhamba waKalunga nokwa longa ovanhu nouladi unene nokuhepaulula Omwene Jesus Kristus; ye ina kelelwa nande okulyelye.
