28:1  And when they were escaped, then they knew that the
island was called Melita.
 28:2  And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness:
for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of
the present rain, and because of the cold.
 28:3  And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid
[them] on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and
fastened on his hand.
 28:4  And 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 hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance
suffereth not to live.
 28:5  And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no
harm.
 28:6  Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or
fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great
while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds,
and said that he was a god.
 28:7  In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man
of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and
lodged us three days courteously.
 28:8  And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick
of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and
prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
 28:9  So when this was done, others also, which had diseases
in the island, came, and were healed:
 28:10  Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we
departed, they laded [us] with such things as were necessary.
 28:11  And after three months we departed in a ship of
Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was
Castor and Pollux.
 28:12  And landing at Syracuse, we tarried [there] three days.
 28:13  And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to
Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the
next day to Puteoli:
 28:14  Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with
them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
 28:15  And from thence, 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.
 28:16  And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the
prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to
dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
 28:17  And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called
the chief 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.
 28:18  Who, when they had examined me, would have let [me] go,
because there was no cause of death in me.
 28:19  But when the Jews spake against [it], I was constrained
to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation
of.
 28:20  For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see
[you], and to speak with [you]: because that for the hope of
Israel I am bound with this chain.
 28:21  And they said unto him, We neither received letters out
of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that
came showed or spake any harm of thee.
 28:22  But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for
as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken
against.
 28:23  And when they had appointed him a day, there came many
to him into [his] lodging; to whom he expounded and testified
the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out
of the law of Moses, and [out of] the prophets, from morning
till evening.
 28:24  And some believed the things which were spoken, and
some believed not.
 28:25  And when they agreed not among themselves, they
departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the
Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
 28:26  Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall
hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and
not perceive:
 28:27  For 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.
 28:28  Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of
God is sent unto the Gentiles, and [that] they will hear it.
 28:29  And when he had said these words, the Jews departed,
and had great reasoning among themselves.
 28:30  And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house,
and received all that came in unto him,
 28:31  Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things
which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no
man forbidding him.