Acts:28

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* WHEN we were safe ashore , we found that the island was called Melita . * The foreign people showed us uncommon kindness . For they kindled a fire and welcomed us all because of the rain that was falling and the cold . * Paul had collected a bundle of sticks and laid it on the fire , when a snake came out of the heat and fastened on his hand . * When the foreigners saw the creature hanging from his hand , they said to one another , "Certainly this man is a murderer , whom , although he has escaped the sea , Justice does not permit to live ." * He however shook off the creature into the fire and felt no harm . * They kept watching to see him swell up or suddenly fall down dead . But after watching a long time and seeing nothing amiss happen to him , they changed their minds and said that he was a god . * In the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the Governor of the island , whose name was Publius . He welcomed us and for three days hospitably entertained us . * It happened that the father of Publius was lying ill with fever and dysentery . Paul went in to see him and prayed and laid his hands on him and healed him . * After this happened , the rest in the island who had infirmities came also and were healed . * They bestowed many honors on us and when we sailed they put on board supplies for our needs . * After three months we sailed in a ship that had wintered in the island . She was from Alexandria and her figure-head was the Twin Brothers . * Landing at Syracuse we remained there three days . * From there we came around and got to Rhegium . After one day there , a south wind sprang up and we came on the second day to Puteoli . * Here we found brethren and were begged by them to stay seven days . And so we came to Rome . * From there the brethren , when they got news of us , came to meet us as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns . On seeing them Paul thanked God and took courage . * When we reached Rome , Paul was allowed to live by himself with a soldier who guarded him . * After three days he invited the leading men among the Jews , and when they had assembled , he said to them , "Brethren , although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs , I was delivered up as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans . * They , after investigating my case , wished to set me free because I had done nothing deserving of death . * But when the Jews spoke against it , I was compelled to appeal to Caesar , not that I have any charge to bring against my own nation . * For this reason I have invited you to see me and talk with me ; because it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I have this chain around me ." * They said to him , "We on our part have received no letters about you from Judaea nor has any one of the brethren come and reported or spoken anything evil of you . * We think it well to hear from you what your views are ; for as to this sect we know that it is everywhere spoken against ." * They appointed a day for him and many came to him at his lodging . He explained to them , testifying to the kingdom of God , trying to persuade them concerning Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets , from early morning until evening . * Some were persuaded by what he said and some did not believe . * They dispersed , disagreeing with one another , after Paul had said one word , "Well said the Holy Spirit through Isaiah , the prophet , to your fathers , * 'Go to this people and say , You will hear plainly but you will not understand , and you will see plainly but you will not perceive . * For the heart of this people has grown fat and with their ears they are hard of hearing and their eyes they have shut , so that they may never see with their eyes nor hear with their ears nor understand with their heart and repent , so that I may heal them .' * Therefore be it known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles . They will listen ." riversident @Acts:28:29 " /> * Paul remained two whole years in his own rented lodging and received all who came to him , * proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all freedom of speech , unhindered .

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