Acts:28

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* Our lives having been thus preserved , we discovered that the island was called Malta . * The strange-speaking natives showed us remarkable kindness , for they lighted a fire and made us all welcome because of the pelting rain and the cold . * Now , when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and had thrown them on the fire , a viper , driven by the heat , came out and fastened itself on his hand . * When the natives saw the creature hanging to his hand , they said to one another , »Beyond doubt this man is a murderer , for , though saved from the sea , unerring Justice does not permit him to live .« * He , however , shook the reptile off into the fire and was unhurt . * They expected him soon to swell with inflammation or suddenly fall down dead ; but , after waiting a long time and seeing no harm come to him , they changed their minds and said that he was a god . * Now in the same part of the island there were estates belonging to the Governor , whose name was Publius . He welcomed us to his house , and for three days generously made us his guests . * It happened , however , that his father was lying ill of dysentery aggravated by attacks of fever ; so Paul went to see him , and , after praying , laid his hands on him and cured him . * After this , all the other sick people in the island came and were cured . * They also loaded us with honours , and when at last we sailed they put supplies on board for us . * Three months passed before we set sail in an Alexandrian vessel , called the `Twin Brothers ,' which had wintered at the island . * At Syracuse we put in and stayed for two days . * From there we came round and reached Rhegium ; and a day later , a south wind sprang up which brought us by the evening of the next day to Puteoli . * Here we found brethren , who invited us to remain with them for a week ; and so we reached Rome . * Meanwhile the brethren there , hearing of our movements , came as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Huts to meet us ; and when Paul saw them he thanked God and felt encouraged . * Upon our arrival in Rome , Paul received permission to live by himself , guarded by a soldier . * After one complete day he invited the leading men among the Jews to meet him ; and , when they were come together , he said to them , »As for me , brethren , although I had done nothing prejudicial to our people or contrary to the customs of our forefathers , I was handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the power of the Romans . * They , after they had sharply questioned me , were willing to set me at liberty , because they found no offence in me for which I deserve to die . * But , at last , the opposition of the Jews compelled me to appeal to Caesar ; not however that I had any charge to bring against my nation . * For these reasons , then , I have invited you here , that I might see you and speak to you ; for it is for the sake of Him who is the hope of Israel that this chain hangs upon me .« * »For our part ,« they replied , »we have not received any letters from Judaea about you , nor have any of our countrymen come here and reported or stated anything to your disadvantage . * But we should be glad to hear from you what it is that you believe ; for as for this sect all we know is that it is everywhere spoken against .« * So they arranged a day with him and came to him in considerable numbers at the house of the friends who were entertaining him . And then , with solemn earnestness , he explained to them the subject of the Kingdom of God , endeavouring from morning till evening to convince them about Jesus , both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets . * Some were convinced ; others refused to believe . * Unable to agree among themselves , they at last left him , but not before Paul had spoken a parting word to them , saying , »Right well did the Holy Spirit say to your forefathers through the Prophet Isaiah : wmth @Acts:28:26 " /> wmth @Acts:28:27 " /> * »Be fully assured , therefore , that this salvation –God 's salvation – has now been sent to the Gentiles , and that they , at any rate , will give heed .« * [] * After this Paul lived for fully two years in a hired house of his own , receiving all who came to see him . * He announced the coming of the Kingdom of God , and taught concerning the Lord Jesus Christ without let or hindrance .

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