28 And when they were escaped, athen they knew that bthe island was called Melita. 2 And cthe barbarous people shewed us dno little ekindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 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. 4 And when cthe barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, fNo doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, gyet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and hfelt no harm. 6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw ino harm come to him, they changed their minds, and ksaid that he was a god. 7 In the same quarters were possessions of lthe chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days mcourteously. 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 nprayed, and olaid his hands on him, and healed him. 9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: 10 Who also honoured us with many phonours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary. 11 *And after three months we departed in qa ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. 12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. 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: 14 Where we found rbrethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. 15 And from thence, when rthe 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 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but sPaul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. 17 And it came to pass, that tafter three days Paul called lthe chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, uthough I have committed nothing against the people, or wcustoms of our fathers, yet xwas I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 Who, when they had yexamined me, zwould have let me go, ubecause there was no cause of death in me. 19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to aappeal unto Caesar; not that bI had ought to accuse my nation of. 20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that cfor the hope dof Israel I am bound with ethis chain. 21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. 22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this fsect, we know that every where git is spoken against. 23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he hexpounded and itestified kthe kingdom of God, klpersuading them concerning Jesus, mboth out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And nsome believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 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, 26 Saying, oGo unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 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 Be it known therefore unto you, that pthe salvation of God is sent qunto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great rreasoning among themselves. 30 *And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and sreceived all that came in unto him, 31 tPreaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all uconfidence, no man forbidding him.