AC-28:1  And when they were escaped, then they knew that the

island

was called Melita.

AC-28:2  And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness:

for

they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the

present rain, and because of the cold.

AC-28:3  And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid

[them] on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and

fastened

on his hand.

AC-28:4  And when the barbarians saw the [venomous] beast hang on

his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a

murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance

suffereth not to live.

AC-28:5  And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no

harm.

AC-28:6  Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or

fallen

down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and

saw

no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he

was

a god.

AC-28:7  In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man

of

the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged

us

three days courteously.

AC-28:8  And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay

sick of

a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and

prayed,

and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

AC-28:9  So when this was done, others also, which had diseases

in

the island, came, and were healed:

AC-28:10  Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we

departed, they laded [us] with such things as were necessary.

AC-28:11  And after three months we departed in a ship of

Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor

and Pollux.

AC-28:12  And landing at Syracuse, we tarried [there] three days.

AC-28:13  And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to

Rhegium:

and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day

to

Puteoli:

AC-28:14  Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with

them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

AC-28:15  And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they

came

to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom

when

Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

AC-28:16  And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the

prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to

dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

AC-28:17  And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called

the

chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he

said unto them, Men [and] brethren, though I have committed

nothing

against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I

delivered

prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

AC-28:18  Who, when they had examined me, would have let [me] go,

because there was no cause of death in me.

AC-28:19  But when the Jews spake against [it], I was

constrained to

appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

AC-28:20  For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see

[you], and to speak with [you]: because that for the hope of

Israel

I am bound with this chain.

AC-28:21  And they said unto him, We neither received letters

out of

Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came

showed

or spake any harm of thee.

AC-28:22  But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for

as

concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken

against.

AC-28:23  And when they had appointed him a day, there came many

to

him into [his] lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the

kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the

law of Moses, and [out of] the prophets, from morning till

evening.

AC-28:24  And some believed the things which were spoken, and

some

believed not.

AC-28:25  And when they agreed not among themselves, they

departed,

after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by

Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

AC-28:26  Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall

hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not

perceive:

AC-28:27  For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their

ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest

they

should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and

understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I

should

heal them.

AC-28:28  Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of

God

is sent unto the Gentiles, and [that] they will hear it.

AC-28:29  And when he had said these words, the Jews departed,

and

had great reasoning among themselves.

AC-28:30  And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house,

and

received all that came in unto him,

AC-28:31  Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things

which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man

forbidding him.

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