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.
MuMalta
1 Ano sho twa thiki nawa komunkulo, otu uvu kutya edhina lyontuntu ndjiyaka oMalta. 2 Aakali yokontuntu oye tu taamba nuukuume uunene. Oyo oya tema omulilo noye tu ithana, tu ka huhulukwe, oshoka omvula oya li tayi loko nokwa li ku na uutalala. 3 Nena Paulus okwa tyaya oshihampi shiikuni nomanga a li te yi tula peziko, eyoka olya zi miikuni omoluupyu womulilo e tali mu kanyatele koshikaha. 4 Aantu yokontuntu sho ya mono eyoka lye endjelela koshikaha shaPaulus, oya lombwelathana ya ti: “Omulumentu nguno oye omudhipagi, oshoka nando a hupithwa mefuta, Kalunga kuuyuuki ina pitika, a kale e na omwenyo.” 5 Ihe Paulus okwa pupulile eyoka meziko ye ina mona nando oshiponga shasha. 6 Oyo oya li ya tegelela, Paulus a zinde nenge i ihate pevi e ta si. Ihe sho ya tegelele ethimbo ele noya dhimbulula kutya Paulus oku li nawa kee na nando oshiponga shasha, oya lundulula omadhiladhilo gawo noya ti: “Oye kalunga!”
7 Popepi neha ndyoka opwa li pu na omapya gomukuluntu gwontuntu Publius. Oye okwe tu taamba nombili e tatu menekele puye uule womasiku gatatu. 8 He yaPublius okwa li ta alukwa e na olwiidhi noshimela shombinzi. Nena Paulus okwa yi mondunda ye, a galikana, e te mu tenteke iikaha nokwe mu aludha. 9 Ano omolwoshiningwanima shika aavu yalwe ooyakwawo yokontuntu oye ya kuPaulus, oye nokwe ya aludha. 10 Oyo oye tu pe omagano ogendji, naasho twa yi mosikepa, oye tu pe oompumbwe dhomondjila.
Okuza muMalta nokuya kuRoma
11 Oomwedhi ndatu sho dha piti po, otwa yi mosikepa yokuAleksandria hayi ithanwa “Ookalunga aakwanambwiyu”, ndjoka ya kala montuntu ndjika okufu akuhe. 12 Otse otwa thiki koshilando shaSirakusa notwa kala mo omasiku gatatu. 13 Okuza mpoka otwa yi nosikepa notwa thiki kuRegio. Esiku lya landula ombepo oya tameke okupepa tayi zi kuumbugantu noye tu thikitha momasiku gaali koshilandotulilo Puteoli. 14 Otwa adha mo ooitaali yamwe noye tu pula, tu kale puyo uule woshiwike shimwe. Opo ihe otwa thikama, tu ye kuRoma. 15 Ooitaali ooyakwetu yomuRoma oyu uvu kutya otu li mondjila, onkee oye ya oku tu tsakaneka opOshilandelo shaAppius nopOondjendingulu ndatu. Paulus sho e ya mono, okwa hambelele Kalunga nokwa tsuwa omukumo.
MuRoma
16 Ano sho twa thiki muRoma, Paulus okwa pitikilwa okwiikalela e na omukwiita te mu tonatele.
17 Omasiku gatatu sho ga piti po, Paulus okwi ithana aakuluntu yAajuda koshigongi. Sho ya gongala, okwe ya lombwele ta ti: “Aamwameme! Ngame nando inandi yona sha koshigwana shetu nenge koompango ndhoka twe dhi thigulula kootate, aantu yomuJerusalem oya gandja ndje miikaha yAaroma. 18 Aaroma oya pulapula ndje noya li ya hala okumangulula ndje, oshoka oya mono kutya inandi ninga nando osha sha gwana okudhipagitha ndje. 19 Ihe Aajuda sho ya tamaneke oshinima shika, onda thiminikwa okwiigameka komupangeli Omuroma, nonando kandi na sha shokutamanana naantu yoshigwana shaandjetu. 20 Onkee ano ondi indile, ndi mu mone, tse tu popyeni, oshoka ngame ondi li momalyenge ngaka omolwaangoka a tegelelwa koshigwana shAaisraeli.”
21 Nena Aajuda oye mu lombwele ya ti: “Tse inatu mona nando oontumwafo dhasha dha za kuJudea tadhi ku popi. Osho wo kape na nando ogumwe gwomooyakwetu mboka ya zi hwiyaka a popi nenge a hokolola sha oshiwinayi kombinga yoye. 22 Ihe tse otwa hala okuuva omadhiladhilo goye, oshoka otwa ndhindhilika kutya akuhe aantu otaa popi nokutamaneka ongundu yeni.”
23 Onkee ano oyu uvathana esiku lyokutsakanena ishewe naPaulus, nomesiku ndyoka ongundu onene yaantu yi vule ndjiyaka yotango, oye ya kehala hoka kwa li Paulus. Okuza ongula sigo ongulohi Paulus okwe ya fatululile nokwe ya hokololele Oshilongo shaKalunga. Oye okwa totha mo omatumbulo mompango yaMoses nomiinyolwa yaahunganeki, e ya tompo, yi itaale Jesus. 24 Yamwe yomuyo oya tompwa koohapu dhe, ooyakwawo oya li inaa hala okwiitaala. 25 Osho ngeyi oya zi po puye yaa uvitathane. Paulus okwe ya lombwele owala a ti: “Nani Ombepo Ondjapuki okwa popitha omuhunganeki Jesaja oohapu dha tsa, sho a lombwele oohokulu 26 a ti:
‘Inda, u ka lombwele aantu yoshigwana shika, u tye:
One otamu ka kala nokupulakena, ihe itamu uvu ko.
Otamu ka kala nokutala, ihe itamu mono ko.
27 Oshoka omadhiladhilo gaantu yoshigwana shika oga simpa,
omakutsi gawo oye ga thitika.
Nomeho gawo oga thithikila.
Oshoka ando hasho,
ando omeho gawo otaga mono ko,
omakutsi gawo otaga uvu ko,
nomadhiladhilo gawo ando otaga pyokoka,
ando otaa itedhulula e taa galukile kungame.
Ongame notandi ya aludha.’ ”
28 Hugunina Paulus okwa ti: “Ano kaleni mu shi shi kutya elaka lyaKalunga lyehupitho olya tuminwa kaapagani; oyo notaye ke li uva ko.” 29 [Paulus sho a popi oohapu ndhika, Aajuda oye mu thigi po noya yi nomaludhi omanene mokati kawo.]
30 Paulus okwa kala megumbo e li thithwa nohe li futile uule woomvula mbali nokwa kundathana naayehe mboka ye ya oku mu talela po. 31 Nuulaadhi uunene oye oku uvithile aantu Oshilongo shaKalunga nokwe ya hokololele Omuwa Jesus Kristus, ye ina keelelwa nando okomuntu.
