Acts 28
Paul on the Island of
Melita |
1 |
And when they were escaped, then they
knew that the island was called Meli'ta.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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5 |
And he shook off the beast into the fire,
and felt no harm.
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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.
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7 |
In the same quarters were possessions
of the chief man of the island, whose name was Pub'li-us; who
received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
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8 |
And it came to pass, that the father of
Pub'li-us 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.
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9 |
So when this was done, others also, which
had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
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10 |
who also honored us with many honors; and
when we departed, they laded us with such things as were
necessary.
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Paul Arrives at
Rome |
11 |
And after three months we departed in a
ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was
Castor and Pollux.
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12 |
And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
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13 |
And from thence we fetched a compass, and
came to Rhe'gi-um: and after one day the south wind blew, and we
came the next day to Pute'oli:
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14 |
where we found brethren, and were desired
to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
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15 |
And from thence, when the brethren heard
of us, they came to meet us as far as Ap'pi-i Forum, and the Three
Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took
courage.
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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.
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Paul Preaches in
Rome |
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:
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18 |
who, when they had examined me, would
have let me go, because there was no cause of death in
me.
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19 |
But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; Acts 25.11 not that I had aught to accuse my nation of.
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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.
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21 |
And they said unto him, We neither
received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any of the
brethren that came showed or spake any harm of thee.
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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.
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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.
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24 |
And some believed the things which were
spoken, and some believed not.
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25 |
And when they agreed not among
themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well
spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our
fathers,
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26 |
saying,
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Go unto this people, and say, |
Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not
understand; |
and seeing ye shall see, and not
perceive: |
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27 |
for the heart of this people is waxed
gross,
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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. Is.
6.9, 10 |
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28 |
Be it known therefore unto you, that the
salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they
will hear it.
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29 |
And when he had said these words, the
Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
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30 |
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his
own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
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31 |
preaching the kingdom of God, and
teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all
confidence, no man forbidding him.
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