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Chapter 28 |
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1 | And when they were escaped, then they
knew that the island was called Melita. |
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2 | And the barbarous people
shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every
one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 5 | And he shook off the beast into
the fire, and felt no harm. |
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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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 9 | So when this was done, others
also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: |
| 10 | Who
also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with
such things as were necessary. |
| 11 | And after three months we
departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign
was Castor and Pollux. |
| 12 | And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there
three days. |
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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: |
| 14
| Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with
them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. |
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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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 18 | Who, when they had examined me, would have
let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. |
| 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. |
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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. |
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21 | And they said unto him, We neither
received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren
that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. |
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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. |
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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. |
| 24 | And some
believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. |
| 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, |
| 26
| Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall
hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not
perceive: |
| 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. |
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28 | Be it known therefore
unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they
will hear it. |
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29 | And when he had said these words, the Jews
departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. |
| 30 | And Paul
dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in
unto him, |
| 31
| Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things
which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding
him. |
