297So ℵA 81 1175 and most lesser Gk. mss., copsa. B* alone, copbo (vg) read Melitene.
28: 2 And the barbarians showed us no common kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
28: 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out 298by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
298Or, from the heat,
28: 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live.
28: 5 Howbeit he shook off the creature into the fire, and took no harm.
28: 6 But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation and beheld nothing amiss come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
28: 7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius; who received us, and entertained us three days courteously.
28: 8 And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him.
28: 9 And when this was done, the rest also that had diseases in the island came, and were cured:
28: 10 who also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board such things as we needed.
28: 11 And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was 299The Twin Brothers.
299Gk. Dioscuri.
28: 12 And touching at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
28: 13 And from thence we 300made a circuit, and arrived at Rhegium: and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli;
300So p74A 81 1175 and most lesser Gk. mss., (vg). Bℵ* almost alone, (copsa) read cast loose,
28: 14 where we found brethren, and were entreated to tarry with them seven days: and so we came to Rome.
28: 15 And from thence the brethren, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
28: 16 And when we entered into Rome, 301Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded him.
301So p74vidBℵA 81 048vid 1175 copbo vg. A majority of lesser Gk. mss., copsa add the centurion delivered the prisoners to the Chief of the camp: but
28: 17 And it came to pass, that after three days he called together 302those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans:
302Or, those that were of the Jews first:
28: 18 who, when they had examined me, desired to set me at liberty, because there was no cause of death in me.
28: 19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had aught whereof to accuse my nation.
28: 20 For this cause therefore did I 303entreat you to see and to speak with me: for because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
303Or, call for you, to see and to speak with you:
28: 21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters from Judea concerning thee, nor did any of the brethren come hither and report or speak any harm of thee.
28: 22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.
28: 23 And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded the matter, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening.
28: 24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
28: 25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers,
28: 26 saying, 304Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
304Is 6:9, 10.
28: 27 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.
28: 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles: they will also hear.305
305So p74BℵA 81 048 1175 copsa,bo vg. A majority of lesser Gk. mss. add a vs. 29 about the Jews disputing among themselves.
28: 29 [[]]
28: 30 And he abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and received all that went in unto him,
28: 31 preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.
