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28:11-31 After three months, having passed the winter on the island we embarked on a
ship.. This was Alexandrian with a
sign of Dioscuri.
Having been brought to land at Syracuse
we remained there three days. From
there by tacking (the boat) we arrived at Rhegium. After one day, as a south wind came on,
we came on the second day to Puteoli.
Having found brothers there, we were asked to remain seven days with
them and so in this way we went on to Rome. There the brothers had heard the things
concerning us and they came as far as Apil Forum and Three Taverns to meet
with us. On seeing them Paul thanked
God and he took courage. When we entered
into Rome he (the centurion) permitted Paul to stay on his own with
a soldier guarding him.
It
happened that after three days he called together those who were Jews and
when they came together he said to them "Brethren I have done nothing
against the (Jewish) people or (against) ancestral customs. As a prisoner from Jerusalem I was delivered into the hands
of the Romans. On having examined me
they were minded to let me go as I had done nothing to deserve death. But when the Jews spoke against me I was
obliged to appeal to Caesar, not that my nation had anything to accuse (me
of). Because of this therefore I
called you (together) to see and to speak to you. It is for the sake of the hope of Israel
that I have this chain around me."
They (the Roman Jews) said to him.
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"We have not received letters about
you from Judea. Nor have any brothers on arriving told
(us about you) or spoke about you as being evil. We think it is right to hear from you and
what you think about this sect (called the Nazarene sect by the Jews) which
is known to us and which is spoken against everywhere." And so on arranging a day they came to
his lodging again. He set forth
solemnly a witness to the kingdom
of God and persuaded
them about Jesus both in terms of the law of Moses and the prophets. He taught from morning until
evening. Some of them were persuaded
by the things being said. Others
disbelieved and on disagreeing with one another they departed. This was
especially after one statement of
Paul, that is, "The Holy spirit spoke through Isaiah the prophet to
your fathers saying "Go to this people and say: "In hearing you
will hear but by no means understand.
In looking you will look but by no means see. The heart of this people was thickened
and they heard with heavy ears. They
closed their eyes lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear
with their ears and understand with their heart and turn (so that) I can cure
them. Let it therefore be known to you
that the salvation of God was sent to the nations and they will
hear."
(Paul)
remained a whole two years in his own hired apartment and he welcomed all
those who came to him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God
and taught concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without
any opposition.
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