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. 8 And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery; unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and 9 laying his hands on him healed him. And when this was done, the rest also which had diseases in the island came, 10 and were cured; who also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board such things as we needed.
11 “And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the island, whose sign was The Twin 12 Brothers. And touching at Syracuse, we tarried there three 13 days. And from thence we made a circuit, and arrived at Rhegium; and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on 14 the second day we came to Puteoli; where we found brethren, and were entreated to tarry with them seven days; and so 15 we came to Rome. 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.
16 “And when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded him.
17 “And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those 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 18 the hands of the Romans; who, when they had examined me, desired to set me at liberty, because there was no cause 19 of death in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar; not that I had aught to accuse my nation of. For this cause therefore did I entreat 20 you to see and to speak with me; for because of the hope 21 of Israel I am bound with this chain. 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 22 any harm of thee. 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.
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. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers, saying, 26 Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in nowise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in nowise perceive; 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 Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God 29 is sent unto the Gentiles; they will also hear. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having much disputing among themselves.
30 “And he abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, 31 and received all that went in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.”
QUESTIONS.
(1) Relate as many of the particulars of Paul’s voyage and shipwreck as you can. (2) Describe the escape. Where did the party land? What took place after they landed? (3) What influential man lived in the neighborhood? What did he do for Paul’s company? Verse 7. (4) What blessing came to his house for this kind act of hospitality? Verse 8. (5) What followed this case of healing? Verse 9. (6) Of what were Paul and his companions the recipients? What did they receive on departing? Verse 10. (7) How long a time were they on the island? On what ship did they sail? Verse 11. (8) Where did they break their journey? Verse 12. (9) From there what was their course to the mainland of Italy? Verse 13. (10) Whom did they find on landing? How long did they remain with them? Verse 14. (11) When the brethren in Rome heard of Paul’s coming, what did they do? How far did they go? What effect did the sight of these brethren coming to meet them have on Paul? Verse 15. (12) What was done with the prisoners on their arrival in Rome? What special privilege was granted to Paul? Verse 16. (13) What did he do after three days? How did he address the Jews? Verse 17. (14) What statement did he make as to his conduct? What had the Romans not found? Verse 18. (15) Notwithstanding all that the Jews had done to him, what did he say? Verse 19. (16) What did he say was the cause of his present bondage? Verse 20. (17) What did the Jews say they had not heard? What did they desire? What was the only thing they knew of the sect to which Paul belonged? Verses 21, 22. (18) What did they therefore do? What did Paul do when they came to him? For how long? Verse 23.
(19) What was the result? Verse 24. (20) What did Paul say to them before they departed? Verse 25. (21) Repeat the words from Isaiah. Verses 26, 27. Where are they found? (22) Of what did Paul assure the Jews? Verse 28. (23) What did the Jews do as they left Paul? Verse 29. (24) How long did Paul remain at Rome this time? Under what circumstances? Verse 30. (25) How did he employ the time? How free was he to do this? Verse 31.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
(1) “Made a circuit.” “Fetched a compass,” this is given in the Revised Version. (2) What is the hope of Israel? Is there any difference between the hope of Israel and the Christian’s hope? (3) What books did Paul use in the preaching of the Gospel? (4) “Castor and Pollux,” known as the “Twin Brothers,” and the Dioscuri, or sons of Jove. They were regarded as tutelary deities of sailors, those having a care over them.
