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we were safely ashore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and made all of us welcome because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, and although he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live!” 5 But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 The people there were expecting him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and saw that no harm came to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7 There was an estate nearby belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius. He welcomed us and entertained us there hospitably for three days. 8 It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him. 9 After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 So they honoured us in many ways; and when we sailed, they gave us whatever we needed.
11 After three months we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island. It was an Alexandrian ship, which had the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. 12 Putting in Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 From there we sailed around the coast and arrived at Rhegium. After one day a south wind started blowing, and the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found some believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 The believers from there had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us from as far away as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16 When we came to Rome, Paul was permitted to live by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
17 After three days Paul called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our forefathers, yet I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 When they had examined me, they wanted to release me, since I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, although I had no accusation to bring against my nation. 20 So for this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
21 They said to him, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or spoken anything evil about you. 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for with regard to this sect, we know that people everywhere are speaking against it.”
23 They arranged to meet with Paul on a certain day, and many came to meet with him at the place he was staying. From morning till evening he expounded and solemnly testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 Some were persuaded by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 So when they could not agree among themselves and were leaving, Paul made one further statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to our forefathers through Isaiah the prophet 26 when He said:
‘Go to this people and say:
“You will indeed hear and hear, but never understand,
and you will look and look, yet never perceive.”
27 For this people’s heart has grown callous;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and their eyes they have closed.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn, and I would heal them’.
28 “Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” 29 When he had said these things, the Jews departed, and they had a heated argument among themselves.
30 Paul stayed there in his own rented house for two whole years. He welcomed everyone who visited him, 31 and he boldly preached about the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ without any hindrance.