28:11 After three months we put out to sea 7 in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the “Heavenly Twins” 8 as its figurehead. 9 28:12 We put in 10 at Syracuse 11 and stayed there three days. 28:13 From there we cast off 12 and arrived at Rhegium, 13 and after one day a south wind sprang up 14 and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 15 28:14 There 16 we found 17 some brothers 18 and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. 19 28:15 The brothers from there, 20 when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius 21 and Three Taverns 22 to meet us. When he saw them, 23 Paul thanked God and took courage. 28:16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live 24 by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
28:17 After three days 25 Paul 26 called the local Jewish leaders 27 together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, 28 although I had done 29 nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, 30 from Jerusalem 31 I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. 32 28:18 When 33 they had heard my case, 34 they wanted to release me, 35 because there was no basis for a death sentence 36 against me. 28:19 But when the Jews objected, 37 I was forced to appeal to Caesar 38 – not that I had some charge to bring 39 against my own people. 40 28:20 So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.” 41 28:21 They replied, 42 “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there 43 and reported or said anything bad about you. 28:22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know 44 that people 45 everywhere speak against 46 it.”
28:23 They set 47 a day to meet with him, 48 and they came to him where he was staying 49 in even greater numbers. 50 From morning until evening he explained things 51 to them, 52 testifying 53 about the kingdom of God 54 and trying to convince 55 them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 28:24 Some were convinced 56 by what he said, 57 but others refused 58 to believe. 28:25 So they began to leave, 59 unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors 60 through the prophet Isaiah 28:26 when he said,
‘Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing, 61 but will never understand,
and you will keep on looking, 62 but will never perceive.
28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull, 63
and their ears are hard of hearing, 64
and they have closed their eyes,
so that they would not see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, 65 and I would heal them.”’ 66
28:28 “Therefore be advised 67 that this salvation from God 68 has been sent to the Gentiles; 69 they 70 will listen!”
28:29 [[EMPTY]] 7128:30 Paul 72 lived 73 there two whole years in his own rented quarters 74 and welcomed 75 all who came to him, 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ 76 with complete boldness 77 and without restriction. 78