Acts 28:13-30

¹³From there we sailed and arrived at the city of Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and in two days we came to the city of Puteoli.

¹⁴There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. In this way we came to Rome.

¹⁵From there the brothers, after they heard about us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw the brothers, he thanked God and took courage.

¹⁶When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.

¹⁷Then it came about that after three days Paul called together those men who were the leaders among the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing wrong against the people or the customs of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

¹⁸After they questioned me, they wished to set me free, because there was no reason in me for a death penalty.

¹⁹But when the Jews spoke against their desire, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, although it is not as if I were bringing any accusation against my nation.

²⁰Because of my appeal, then, I have asked to see you and to speak with you. It is because of the certain hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”

²¹Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea about you, nor did any of the brothers come and report or say anything bad about you.

²²But we want to hear from you what you think about this sect, because it is known by us that it is spoken against everywhere.”

²³When they had set a day for him, more people came to him at his dwelling place. He presented the matter to them, and testified about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them about Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening.

²⁴Some were convinced about the things which were said, while others did not believe.

²⁵When they did not agree with one another, they left after Paul had spoken this one word, “The Holy Spirit spoke well through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers.

²⁶He said, 'Go to this people and say, “By hearing you will hear, but not understand; and seeing you will see, but will not perceive.

²⁷For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they hardly hear, and they have shut their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn again, and I would heal them.”'

²⁸Therefore, you should know that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen.”

³⁰Paul lived for two whole years in his own rented house, and he welcomed all who came to him.