Acts 28

¹And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita. ²And the barbarians shewed us no common kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. ³But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand. ⁴And when the barbarians saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live. ⁵Howbeit he shook off the beast into the fire, and took no harm. ⁶But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation, and beheld nothing amiss came to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. ⁷Now in the neighbourhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius; who received us, and entertained us three days courteously. ⁸And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him. ⁹And when this was done, the rest also which had diseases in the island came, and were cured: ¹⁰who also honoured us with many honours; and when we sailed, they put on board such things as we needed. ¹¹And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the island, whose sign was The Twin Brothers. ¹²And touching at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. ¹³And from thence we made a circuit, and arrived at Rhegium: and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli: ¹⁴where we found brethren, and were entreated to tarry with them seven days: and so we came to Rome. ¹⁵And from thence the brethren, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius, and The Three Taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. ¹⁶And when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded him. ¹⁷And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans: ¹⁸who, when they had examined me, desired to set me at liberty, because there was no cause of death in me. ¹⁹But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had aught to accuse my nation of. ²⁰For this cause therefore did I entreat you to see and to speak with me: for because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. ²¹And they said unto him, We neither received letters from Judaea concerning thee, nor did any of the brethren come hither and report or speak any harm of thee. ²²But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against. ²³And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded the matter, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening. ²⁴And some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. ²⁵And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers, ²⁶saying, Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive: ²⁷For this people’s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them. ²⁸Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles: they will also hear. ²⁹³⁰And he abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and received all that went in unto him, ³¹preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.