Acts 28

28Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.G2532G1295G5119G1921G3754G3520G2564G31942The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.G1161G915G3930G2254G3756G5177G5363G1063G381G4443G4355G2248G3956G1223G2186G5205G2532G1223G55923Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.G1161G3972G4962G4128G5434G2532G2007G1909G4443G1831G2191G1537G2329G2510G846G54954When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."G1161G5613G915G1492G2342G2910G1537G846G5495G3004G4314G240G3843G3778G444G2076G5406G3739G1295G1537G2281G1349G1439G3756G21985But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.G3303G3767G660G2342G1519G4442G3958G3762G25566The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.G1161G4328G846G3195G4092G2228G2667G3498G869G1161G846G4328G1909G4183G2532G2334G3367G824G1096G1519G846G3328G3004G846G1511G23167There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably.G1161G1722G4012G1565G5117G5225G5564G4413G3520G3686G4196G3739G324G2248G3579G5140G2250G53908His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.G1161G1096G3962G4196G2621G4912G4446G2532G1420G4314G3739G3972G1525G2532G4336G2007G5495G2007G846G2390G8469When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.G3767G1096G5127G1096G3062G2532G3588G2192G769G1722G3520G4334G2532G232310They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.G3739G2532G5092G2248G4183G5091G2532G321G2007G4314G553211After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.G1161G3326G5140G3376G321G1722G4143G222G3914G1722G3520G3902G135912We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days.G2532G2609G1519G4946G1961G5140G225013From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli.G3606G4022G2658G1519G4484G2532G3326G3391G2250G3558G1920G2064G1206G1519G422314There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.G3757G2147G80G3870G1961G1909G846G2033G2250G2532G3779G2064G1519G451615The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged.G2547G80G191G4012G2257G1831G529G1519G2254G891G675G5410G2532G5140G4999G3739G3972G1492G2168G2316G2983G229416When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.G1161G3753G2064G1519G4516G1543G3860G1198G4759G1161G3972G2010G3306G2596G1438G4862G4757G5442G84617Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.G1161G1096G3326G5140G2250G3972G4779G4413G5607G2453G4779G1161G846G4905G3004G4314G846G435G80G1473G4160G3762G1727G2992G2228G1485G3971G3860G1198G1537G2414G1519G5495G451418They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.G3748G350G3165G1014G630G1223G5225G3367G156G2288G1722G169819But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar--not that I had any charge to bring against my own people.G1161G2453G483G315G1941G2541G3756G5613G2192G5100G2723G3450G1484G272320For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain."G1223G5026G156G3767G3870G5209G1492G2532G4354G1752G1063G1680G2474G4029G5026G25421They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you.G1161G2036G4314G846G2249G3777G1209G1121G575G2449G4012G4675G3777G5100G80G3854G518G2228G2980G5100G4190G4012G467522But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect."G1161G515G191G3844G4675G3739G5426G1063G4012G3303G5026G139G2254G2076G1110G3754G3837G48323They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.G1161G5021G846G2250G2240G4119G4314G846G1519G3578G3739G1620G1263G932G2316G5037G3982G846G4012G2424G5037G575G3551G3475G2532G4396G575G4404G2193G207324Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.G2532G3303G3982G3004G1161G56925They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:G1161G800G5607G4314G240G630G3972G2036G1520G4487G3754G2573G2980G40G4151G1223G2268G4396G4314G2257G396226"'Go to this people and say, "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."G3004G4198G4314G5126G2992G2532G2036G189G191G2532G4920G3364G4920G2532G991G991G2532G3364G149227For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'G1063G2588G5127G2992G3975G2532G3775G917G191G2532G846G3788G2576G3379G1492G3788G2532G191G3775G2532G4920G2588G2532G1994G2532G2390G84628"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"G2077G1110G3767G5213G3754G4992G2316G649G1484G2532G191G84629After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.G2532G846G2036G5023G2453G565G2192G4183G4803G1722G143830For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.G1161G3972G3306G1333G3650G1333G1722G2398G3410G2532G588G3956G1531G4314G84631Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.G2784G932G2316G2532G1321G4012G2962G2424G5547G3326G3956G3954G209