¶ And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island¹ was called Melita.

And the barbarous² people shewed³ us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because⁴ of the present rain, and because of the cold.

And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came⁵ a viper out of the heat, and fastened⁶ on his hand.

And when the barbarians⁷ saw the venomous beast⁸ hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt⁹ this man is a murderer¹⁰, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt¹¹ no harm.

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 said¹² that he was a god.

In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man¹³ of the island, whose name was Publius; who received¹⁴ us, and lodged us three days courteously.

And it came to pass, that the father¹⁵ of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed¹⁶, and laid¹⁷ his hands on him, and healed¹⁸ him.

So when this was done, others¹⁹ also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

¶ Who also honoured²⁰ us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded²¹ us with such things as were necessary.

¶ And after three months we departed in a ship²³ of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose²⁴ sign was Castor and Pollux.

And landing at Syracuse²⁵, we tarried there three days.

And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium²⁶: and after one day the south²⁷ wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli²⁸:

Where we found²⁹ brethren, and were³⁰ desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

And from thence, when³¹ the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum³², and The three taverns³³: whom when Paul saw, he thanked³⁴ God, and took courage.

And when we came to Rome³⁵, the centurion³⁶ delivered the prisoners to the captain³⁷ of the guard: but³⁸ Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

¶ 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, though³⁹ I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was⁴⁰ I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

⁴¹Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

But when the Jews spake against it, I was⁴² constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not⁴³ that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

¶ For this cause⁴⁴ therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the⁴⁵ hope of Israel I am bound with this chain⁴⁷.

And they said unto him, We⁴⁸ neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for⁴⁹ as concerning this sect⁵⁰, we know that every where it is spoken against.

¶ And when they had appointed him a day, there came⁵¹ many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded⁵² and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both⁵³ out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from⁵⁴ morning till evening.

⁵⁵And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

And when they agreed⁵⁶ not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well⁵⁷ spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

Saying, Go⁵⁸ unto this people, and say, Hearing⁵⁹ ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

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.

Be it known⁶⁰ therefore unto you, that the salvation⁶¹ of God is sent⁶² unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning⁶³ among themselves.

¶ And Paul⁶⁴ dwelt⁶⁵ two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching⁶⁷ those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with⁶⁸ all confidence, no man forbidding him.