1
And having been brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Melite.
2
And the native people showed us no ordinary kindness, for kindling a fire, they received all of us because of the rain that had begun and because of the cold.
3
And Paulos, having gathered a bundle of sticks and placed them upon the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened upon his hand.
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And when the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another: “Surely this ish is a murderer, whom, though having escaped from the sea, Justice did not permit to live.”
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But he shook the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
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And they expected that he was about to swell or suddenly fall down dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their judgment and said that he was an elohim.
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Now in the regions around that place were lands belonging to the leading ish of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us kindly for three days.
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And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. Paulos entered to him, prayed, laid his hands upon him, and restored him.
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Therefore, when this happened, the rest on the island who had sicknesses also came and were restored.
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And they honored us with many honors, and when we were about to sail, they placed aboard the things we needed.
11
And after three months, we sailed in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers.
12
And landing at Syracuse, we remained three days.
13
And from there, sailing around, we came to Rhegium. And after one day, a south wind arose, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.
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There we found brothers and were urged to remain with them seven days. And so we came toward Rome.
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And from there, the brothers, having heard the things concerning us, came to meet us as far as the Market of Appius and Three Taverns. And seeing them, Paulos gave thanks to Elohim and took courage.
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And when we entered Rome, Paulos was permitted to remain by himself with the soldier guarding him.
17
And it came to pass, after three days, that he called together those who were leaders of the Yehudim. And when they had gathered, he said to them: “Ishim, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people or the ancestral customs, I was handed over as a prisoner from Yerushalayim into the hands of the Romans.
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They, having examined me, desired to release me, because there was no cause of death in me.
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But when some of the Yehudim spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar— not as though I had anything to accuse my nation of.
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Because of this, therefore, I called for you, to see you and speak with you, for because of the hope of Yisra’el I am bound with this chain.”
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And they said to him: “We neither received letters from Yehudah concerning you, nor did any of the brothers who came report or speak anything evil concerning you.
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But we consider it fitting to hear from you what you think, for concerning this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”
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And appointing a day for him, many came to him at his lodging, to whom from morning until evening he explained and testified fully concerning the Kingdom of Elohim, persuading them concerning Yahushua from both the Torah of Mosheh and the Prophets.
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And some were persuaded by the things spoken, but others did not trust.
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And being in disagreement with one another, they departed after Paulos spoke one word: “Rightly Holy Ruach spoke through Yeshayahu the prophet to your fathers,
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saying: ‘Go to this people and say: Hearing, you shall hear and shall certainly not understand, and seeing, you shall see and shall certainly not perceive.
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For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they heard with heaviness, and their eyes they closed, lest they should see with the eyes, and hear with the ears, and understand with the heart, and turn, and I restore them.’
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Therefore let it be known to you that this deliverance of Elohim has been sent to the nations, and they shall hear.”
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[And when he had said these things, the Yehudim departed, having much dispute among themselves.]
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And he remained two whole years in his own rented dwelling and received all who came to him,
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proclaiming the Kingdom of Elohim and teaching the things concerning the Master Yahushua the Anointed with all boldness, without hindrance.