rsv Acts:28:11-31 SEEK
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After three months we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the island ,
a ship of Alexandria ,
with the Twin Brothers as figurehead .
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Putting in at Syracuse ,
we stayed there for three days .
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And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhe '
gium ;
and after one day a south wind sprang up ,
and on the second day we came to Pute '
oli .
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There we found brethren ,
and were invited to stay with them for seven days .
And so we came to Rome .
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And the brethren there ,
when they heard of us ,
came as far as the Forum of Ap '
pius and Three Taverns to meet us .
On seeing them Paul thanked God and took courage .
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And when we came into Rome ,
Paul was allowed to stay by himself ,
with the soldier that guarded him .
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After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews ;
and when they had gathered ,
he said to them , "
Brethren ,
though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers ,
yet I was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans .
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When they had examined me ,
they wished to set me at liberty ,
because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case .
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But when the Jews objected ,
I was compelled to appeal to Caesar--though I had no charge to bring against my nation .
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For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you ,
since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain ."
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And they said to him , "
We have received no letters from Judea about you ,
and none of the brethren coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you .
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But we desire to hear from you what your views are ;
for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against ."
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When they had appointed a day for him ,
they came to him at his lodging in great numbers .
And he expounded the matter to them from morning till evening ,
testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets .
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And some were convinced by what he said ,
while others disbelieved .
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So ,
as they disagreed among themselves ,
they departed ,
after Paul had made one statement : "
The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet :
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Go to this people ,
and say ,
You shall indeed hear but never understand ,
and you shall indeed see but never perceive .
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For this people '
s heart has grown dull ,
and their ears are heavy of hearing ,
and their eyes they have closed ;
lest they should perceive with their eyes ,
and hear with their ears ,
and understand with their heart ,
and turn for me to heal them .'
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Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles ;
they will listen ."
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And he lived there two whole years at his own expense ,
and welcomed all who came to him ,
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preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unhindered .