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Acts Chapter 28 | Mission Accomplished

Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. 2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

7 In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.

11 After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. 12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, 14 where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. 15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

17 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have 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, 18 who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”

21 Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”

23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying,

‘Go to this people and say:
“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.” ’

28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.

30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

使徒行傳 28章｜使命必然成就

我們既已得救，才知道那島名叫馬耳他。 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 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 土人看見那毒蛇懸在他手上，就彼此說：「這人必是個凶手，雖然從海裡救上來，天理還不容他活著。」 5 保羅竟把那毒蛇甩在火裡，並沒有受傷。 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 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 當時，部百流的父親患熱病和痢疾躺著。保羅進去為他禱告，按手在他身上，治好了他。 9 從此，島上其餘的病人也來，得了醫治。 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 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 到了敘拉古，我們停泊三日， 13 又從那裡繞行，來到利基翁。過了一天，起了南風，第二天就來到部丟利。 14 在那裡遇見弟兄們，請我們與他們同住了七天。這樣，我們來到羅馬。 15 那裡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，就感謝神，放心壯膽。

16 進了羅馬城，保羅蒙准和一個看守他的兵另住在一處。

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，我雖沒有做什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裡。 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 無奈猶太人不服，我不得已，只好上告於愷撒，並非有什麼事要控告我本國的百姓。 20 因此，我請你們來見面說話。我原為以色列人所指望的，被這鏈子捆鎖。」 21 他們說：「我們並沒有接著從猶太來論你的信，也沒有弟兄到這裡來報給我們說你有什麼不好處。 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 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，證明神國的道，引摩西的律法和先知的書，以耶穌的事勸勉他們。 24 他所說的話，有信的，有不信的。 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 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 因為這百姓油蒙了心，耳朵發沉，眼睛閉著，恐怕眼睛看見，耳朵聽見，心裡明白，回轉過來，我就醫治他們。』 28 所以你們當知道，神這救恩如今傳給外邦人，他們也必聽受。」

30 保羅在自己所租的房子裡住了足足兩年。凡來見他的人，他全都接待， 31 放膽傳講神國的道，將主耶穌基督的事教導人，並沒有人禁止。