28AFTER WE were safe on the island, we knew {and} recognized that it was called Malta.G2532G1295G5119G1921G3754G3520G2564G3194 2And the natives showed us unusual {and} remarkable kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed {and} received us all, since it had begun to rain and was cold.G1161G915G3930G2254G3756G5177G5363G1063G381G4443G4355G2248G3956G1223G2186G5205G2532G1223G5592 3Now Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and he was laying them on the fire when a viper crawled out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.G1161G3972G4962G4128G5434G2532G2007G1909G4443G1831G2191G1537G2329G2510G846G5495 4When the natives saw the little animal hanging from his hand, they said to one another, Doubtless this man is a murderer, for though he has been saved from the sea, Justice [the goddess of avenging] has not permitted that he should live.G1161G5613G915G1492G2342G2910G1537G846G5495G3004G4314G240G3843G3778G444G2076G5406G3739G1295G1537G2281G1349G1439G3756G2198 5Then [Paul simply] shook off the small creature into the fire and suffered no evil effects.G3303G3767G660G2342G1519G4442G3958G3762G2556 6However, they were waiting, expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead; but when they had watched him a long time and saw nothing fatal {or} harmful come to him, they changed their minds and kept saying over and over that he was a god.G1161G4328G846G3195G4092G2228G2667G3498G869G1161G846G4328G1909G4183G2532G2334G3367G824G1096G1519G846G3328G3004G846G1511G2316 7In the vicinity of that place there were estates belonging to the head man of the island, named Publius, who accepted {and} welcomed {and} entertained us with hearty hospitality for three days.G1161G1722G4012G1565G5117G5225G5564G4413G3520G3686G4196G3739G324G2248G3579G5140G2250G5390 8And it happened that the father of Publius was sick in bed with recurring attacks of fever and dysentery; and Paul went to see him, and after praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.G1161G1096G3962G4196G2621G4912G4446G2532G1420G4314G3739G3972G1525G2532G4336G2007G5495G2007G846G2390G846 9After this had occurred, the other people on the island who had diseases also kept coming and were cured.G3767G1096G5127G1096G3062G2532G3588G2192G769G1722G3520G4334G2532G2323 10They showed us every respect {and} presented many gifts to us, honoring us with many honors; and when we sailed, they provided {and} put on [board our ship] everything we needed.G3739G2532G5092G2248G4183G5091G2532G321G2007G4314G5532 11It was after three months' stay there that we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers [Castor and Pollux] as its figurehead.G1161G3326G5140G3376G321G1722G4143G222G3914G1722G3520G3902G1359 12We landed at Syracuse and remained there three days,G2532G2609G1519G4946G1961G5140G2250 13And from there we made a circuit [following the coast] and reached Rhegium; and one day later a south wind sprang up, and the next day we arrived at Puteoli.G3606G4022G2658G1519G4484G2532G3326G3391G2250G3558G1920G2064G1206G1519G4223 14There we found some [Christian] brethren and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.G3757G2147G80G3870G1961G1909G846G2033G2250G2532G3779G2064G1519G4516 15And the [Christian] brethren there, having had news of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and received new courage.G2547G80G191G4012G2257G1831G529G1519G2254G891G675G5410G2532G5140G4999G3739G3972G1492G2168G2316G2983G2294 16When we arrived at Rome, {the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but} Paul was permitted to live by himself with the soldier who guarded him.G1161G3753G2064G1519G4516G1543G3860G1198G4759G1161G3972G2010G3306G2596G1438G4862G4757G5442G846 17Three days after [our arrival], he called together the leading local Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, Brethren, though I have done nothing against the people or against the customs of our forefathers, yet I was turned over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.G1161G1096G3326G5140G2250G3972G4779G4413G5607G2453G4779G1161G846G4905G3004G4314G846G435G80G1473G4160G3762G1727G2992G2228G1485G3971G3860G1198G1537G2414G1519G5495G4514 18After they had examined me, they were ready to release me because I was innocent of any offense deserving the death penalty.G3748G350G3165G1014G630G1223G5225G3367G156G2288G1722G1698 19But when the Jews protested, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, though it was not because I had any charge to make against my nation.G1161G2453G483G315G1941G2541G3756G5613G2192G5100G2723G3450G1484G2723 20This is the reason therefore why I have begged to see you and to talk with you, since it is because of the Hope of Israel (the Messiah) that I am bound with this chain.G1223G5026G156G3767G3870G5209G1492G2532G4354G1752G1063G1680G2474G4029G5026G254 21And they answered him, We have not received any letters about you from Judea, and none of the [Jewish] brethren coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you.G1161G2036G4314G846G2249G3777G1209G1121G575G2449G4012G4675G3777G5100G80G3854G518G2228G2980G5100G4190G4012G4675 22But we think it fitting {and} are eager to hear from you what it is that you have in mind {and} believe {and} what your opinion is, for with regard to this sect it is known to all of us that it is everywhere denounced.G1161G515G191G3844G4675G3739G5426G1063G4012G3303G5026G139G2254G2076G1110G3754G3837G483 23So when they had set a day with him, they came in large numbers to his lodging. And he fully set forth {and} explained the matter to them from morning until night, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.G1161G5021G846G2250G2240G4119G4314G846G1519G3578G3739G1620G1263G932G2316G5037G3982G846G4012G2424G5037G575G3551G3475G2532G4396G575G4404G2193G2073 24And some were convinced {and} believed what he said, and others did not believe.G2532G3303G3982G3004G1161G569 25And as they disagreed among themselves, they began to leave, [but not before] Paul had added one statement [more]: The Holy Spirit was right in saying through Isaiah the prophet to your forefathers:G1161G800G5607G4314G240G630G3972G2036G1520G4487G3754G2573G2980G40G4151G1223G2268G4396G4314G2257G3962 26Go to this people and say to them, You will indeed hear {and} hear with your ears but will not understand, and you will indeed look {and} look with your eyes but will not see [not perceive, have knowledge of or become acquainted with what you look at, at all].G3004G4198G4314G5126G2992G2532G2036G189G191G2532G4920G3364G4920G2532G991G991G2532G3364G1492 27For the heart (the understanding, the soul) of this people has grown dull (stupid, hardened, and calloused), and their ears are heavy {and} hard of hearing and they have shut tight their eyes, so that they may not perceive {and} have knowledge {and} become acquainted with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their souls and turn [to Me and be converted], that I may heal them.G1063G2588G5127G2992G3975G2532G3775G917G191G2532G846G3788G2576G3379G1492G3788G2532G191G3775G2532G4920G2588G2532G1994G2532G2390G846 28So let it be understood by you then that [this message of] the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen [to it]!G2077G1110G3767G5213G3754G4992G2316G649G1484G2532G191G846 29{And when he had said these things, the Jews went away, arguing and disputing among themselves.}G2532G846G2036G5023G2453G565G2192G4183G4803G1722G1438 30After this Paul lived there for two entire years [at his own expense] in his own rented lodging, and he welcomed all who came to him,G1161G3972G3306G1333G3650G1333G1722G2398G3410G2532G588G3956G1531G4314G846 31Preaching to them the kingdom of God and teaching them about the Lord Jesus Christ with boldness {and} quite openly, and without being molested {or} hindered.G2784G932G2316G2532G1321G4012G2962G2424G5547G3326G3956G3954G209
Dublin, OH
