1 ¶ And when they were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita.

2 A nd the barbarous people showed us no little kindness; for they kindled a great fire and received all of us because of the present rain and because of the cold.

3 A nd when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out of the heat and fastened on his hand.

4 A nd when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet vengeance does not suffer him to live.

5 A nd he shook off the beast into the fire and felt no harm.

6 B ut they were waiting to see when he should have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly; but after they had waited a great while and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

7 I n the same quarters were possessions of a principal man of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and lodged us three days courteously.

8 A nd it came to pass that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of dysentery, to whom Paul entered in and prayed and laid his hands on him and healed him.

9 S o when this was done, others also, who had diseases in the island, came and were healed,

10 w ho also honoured us with many gifts; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

11 ¶ And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose ensign was Castor and Pollux.

12 A nd landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

13 A nd having gone around, we came to Rhegium, and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli,

14 w here we found brethren, who asked us to tarry with them seven days, and so we went toward Rome.

15 A nd from there, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and The Three Taverns whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage.

16 A nd when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the praetorian prefect, but Paul was allowed to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

17 ¶ And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the principals of the Jews together, and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,

18 w ho, when they had examined me, would have let me go because there was no cause of death in me.

19 B ut when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar, not that I had anything to accuse my nation of.

20 F or this cause therefore I have called for you, to see you and to speak with you: because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

21 A nd they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spoke any harm of thee.

22 B ut we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest; for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.

23 ¶ And when they had appointed him a day, many came to him into his lodging, to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, procuring to persuade them of that concerning Jesus, the Christ, out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning until evening.

24 A nd some believed the things which were spoken, and some did not believe.

25 A nd when they did not agree among themselves, they departed, after Paul had spoken this word, Well spoke the Holy Spirit by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers,

26 s aying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see and not perceive;

27 f or the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them.

28 B e it known, therefore, unto you that this saving health of God is sent unto the Gentiles and that they will hear it.

29 A nd when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.

30 ¶ And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house and received all that came in unto him,

31 p reaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all liberty, without hindrance.