2 And
the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: 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 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.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt 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 no harm come to him,
they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
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.
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.
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 honours; 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 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 brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
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.
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.
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.
18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
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.
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.
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 sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
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.
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
(Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.)
***
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,
Go 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 the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31 Preaching
the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord
Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
(Providing daily encouragement for the body of Christ by the Spirit of God to help the church in the end times.)
Saturday, June 1, 2024
Acts 28 (Reading through the Bible)
And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
*****