CHAPTER 28
The
islanders
showed
us
extraordinary
kindness.
They kindled
a fire
and welcomed
all
of us
because it was
raining
and
cold.
Paul
gathered
a
bundle
of sticks,
and
as he laid them
on
the
fire,
a viper,
driven
out
by the
heat,
fastened itself
to
his
hand.
When
the
islanders
saw
the
creature
hanging
from
his
hand,
they said
to
one another,
“Surely
this
man
is
a murderer.
Although he
was saved
from
the
sea,
Justice
has not
allowed him
to live."
The islanders were expecting
him
to
swell up
or
suddenly
drop
dead.
But
after waiting
a long
time
and
seeing
nothing
unusual
happen
to
him,
they changed their minds
and said
he
was
a god.
Nearby
stood
an estate
belonging to the
Publius,
the chief official
of the
island.
He
welcomed
us
and entertained us
hospitably
for three
days.
The
father
of Publius
was
sick in bed,
suffering from
fever
and
dysentery.
Paul
went in
to see
him,
and
after praying
and placing
his
hands
on him,
he healed
the man.
After
three
months
we set sail
in
an Alexandrian
ship
that had wintered
in
the
island.
It had the Twin Brothers
as a figurehead.
From there
we weighed anchor
and came
to
Rhegium.
After
one
day,
a south wind
came up,
and on the second day
we arrived
at
Puteoli.
There
we found
some brothers
who invited us
to spend
[the week[
with
them.
And
so
we came
to
Rome.
The
brothers
there
had heard
about
us
and traveled
as far as
the Forum
of Appius
and
the Three
Taverns
to
meet
us.
[When}
Paul
saw
them,
he was encouraged
and gave thanks
to God.
After
three
days,
he
called together
the
leaders
of the
Jews.
When
they
had gathered,
he said
to
them,
“Brothers,
although I have done
nothing
against
our
people
or
the
customs
of our fathers,
I
was taken prisoner
in
Jerusalem
and handed over
to
the
Romans.
They
examined
me
and wanted
to release me,
because
there was
no
basis
for a death sentence
against
me.
But
when the
Jews
objected,
I was compelled
to appeal to
Caesar,
even though
I have
no
charge
to bring against
my
nation.
So
for
this
reason
I have called
to see
you
and
speak with you.
It is
because of
the
hope
of Israel
that I am bound with
this
chain.”
The leaders replied,
“We
have not received
any letters
about
you
from
Judea,
nor
have any
of the
brothers
from there
reported
or even
mentioned
anything
bad
about
you.
But
we consider
your views
worth hearing,
because
we
know
that
people everywhere
are speaking against
this
sect.”
So
they set
a day
to meet with Paul,
and many people
came
to
the place
he was staying.
He expounded
to them
from
morning
to
evening,
testifying about
the
kingdom
of God
and
persuading
them
about
Jesus
from
the
Law
of Moses
and
the
Prophets.
They disagreed
among
themselves
and began to leave
after Paul
had made
this final
statement:
“The
Holy
Spirit
was right
when He spoke
to
your
fathers
through
Isaiah
the
prophet:
‘Go
to
this
people
and
say,
“You will be ever hearing
but
never
understanding;
you will be ever seeing
but
never
perceiving.”
For
this
people’s
heart
has grown callous;
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.’
Be
advised,
therefore,
that
God’s
salvation
has been sent
to the
Gentiles,
and
they
will listen!”