Acts 28:2-22

²And the natives were showing us extraordinary kindness; for having kindled a fire they accepted us all into their society, because of the rain which had begun, and because of the cold.

³But when Paul had gathered a large bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper having come out because of the heat, fastened on his hand.

⁴And when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Certainly this man is a murderer, whom though he was rescued from the sea, justice does not permit to continue living.”

⁵Then, having shaken off the creature into the fire, he suffered nothing harmful.

⁶And they were expecting him to be about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited for a long time and observed nothing unusual happening to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

⁷Now in the areas around that place were pieces of land belonging to the leading citizen of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us, and received us hospitably as guests for three days.

⁸And it came to pass that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery, to whom Paul came in and prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him.

⁹Then after this happened, also the rest who were ill on the island were coming to him and were being healed,

¹⁰who also honored us with many honors, and when we put to sea, they gave us the things that we needed.

¹¹Now after three months we put to sea in a ship that had wintered on the island, belonging to Alexandria, with the figurehead of the Twin Brothers.

¹²And putting in to harbor at Syracuse, we stayed there three days,

¹³from where having sailed around we arrived at Rhegium. And after one day arose a south wind, on the second day we came to Puteoli,

¹⁴where having found brothers, we were urged by them to stay for seven days; and so we came to Rome.

¹⁵And from there the brothers, when they heard about our circumstances, they came to meet with us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns, whom when Paul saw, he gave thanks to God and took courage.

¹⁶Now when we came to Rome, the centurion handed over the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier guarding him.

¹⁷And it came to pass after three days that Paul called together those who were prominent among the Jews; and when they had come together, he said to them: “Men, brothers, though I have done nothing against the people or the customs of our forefathers, yet I was handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem, into the hands of the Romans,

¹⁸who, when they had examined me, were wanting to release me because there was no cause for my case.

¹⁹But when the Jews spoke in opposition, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation.

²⁰Therefore for this reason I have requested you, to see and to speak to you, for because of the hope of Israel I am wearing this chain.”

²¹Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brothers who arrived report or speak anything evil about you.

²²But we request to hear from you the things which you think; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”