Acts 28:13-31

¹³and from thence we made a circuit, and came to Rhegium; and after one day a south wind arose, and we came on the second day to Puteoli,

¹⁴where we found brethren, and were entreated to remain with them seven days; and so we went toward Rome.

¹⁵And from thence, the brethren having heard of us came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and the Three Taverns; at the sight of whom Paul thanked God and took courage.

¹⁶And when we had come to Rome, Paul was permitted to dwell by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.

¹⁷And it came to pass that after three days he called together the chief men of the Jews, and when they had met he said to them, Brethren, I, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, was delivered up a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans;

¹⁸who, when they had examined me, wished to release me, because I had done nothing deserving death.

¹⁹But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar; not that I had any charge to bring against my nation.

²⁰For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak to you; for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.

²¹And they said to him, We neither received letters from Judea concerning thee, nor did any one of the brethren that came report or speak any evil of thee.

²²But we think it proper to hear from thee what thou thinkest; for with regard to this sect, we know that it is everywhere spoken against.

²³And when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging; to whom he expounded, and earnestly testified, the kingdom of God, endeavoring to persuade them concerning Jesus both from the Law of Moses, and from the Prophets, from morning till evening.

²⁴And some believed the things spoken, and some believed not.

²⁵So, disagreeing with one another, they took their departure, after Paul had spoken one word: Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,

²⁶saying, “Go to this people, and say, 'Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see and not perceive.

²⁷For the heart of this people hath become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn from their ways, and I should heal them.'”

²⁸Be it therefore known to you, that to the gentiles this salvation of God hath been sent; they, moreover, will hear.

³⁰And he abode two whole years in his own hired house and gladly received all that came in to him,

³¹proclaiming the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, without hindrance from any one.