1.
And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2.
And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3.
And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4.
And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5.
And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6.
Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
7.
In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
8.
And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9.
So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
10.
Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
11.
And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
RE-EMBARKATION FOR ITALY
11. It was an Alexandrian ship that went down in the muck. Now they embark in another of the same company which had spent the winter in the island, and was dedicated to the sons of Jupiter, i. e., Castor and Pollux, who were believed to have great power over storms. Hence they were sacred to sailors. When I was in Rome I saw their statues, very large, and said to be two thousand years old. Rhegium is on the coast of Italy. They sailed in a circle from Syracuse, the capital of the large island of Cicily, on a direct course from Malta to Rome. The circular course was to keep away from the Scylla and Charybdis, terrible whirlpools off the coast of Cicily, the consternation of all ancient mariners, the theme of many a legend and poem, but of latter days utterly bereft of their glory by the steam engine and mariner’s compass.
12.
And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13.
And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
13. Puteoli is now the city of Naples, the metropolis of Italy.
14.
Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
15.
And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appiiforum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
16.
And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
PAUL’S RECEPTION AT ROME
16. He is permitted to select his quarters and preach the gospel ad libitum to all who saw proper to attend his Bible school. This continues two years daily, and was then discontinued by the untimely death of Marius, the commander-in-chief of the praetorian army, which guarded the royal palace and the emperor’s person. Of course, the emperor was too great a man to give personal attention to a prisoner. Hence Marius received Paul, and gave him perfect liberty as long as he lived. This was owing to the excellent and even wonderful report given him by Julius, the centurion, who told about the storm and thrice miraculous deliverance through this paradoxical man, and the letter of Festus, simply stating that there was nothing against him criminal in Roman law, but simply complicated matters connected with the Jews’ religion. These two years in Paul’s own hired house in Rome are memorable not only for his preaching, but for his writing the Acts of the Apostles, and Epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians and Philemon. Having arrived February, A. D. 61 (leaving Caesarea August, A. D. 60), he is taken out of his hired house February, A. D. 63, Marius, his friend and protector, having died, that official’s successor, neither reading nor caring for the letter of Festus and the report of Julius, became rigid with him, taking him to the barracks, where he wrote the Epistle to the Philippians, stood his trial, and was acquitted for the want of evidence. Again returning to his vast field of labor in Greece and Asia, visiting the churches once more, and writing the Pastoral Epistles, A. D. 65-7, he was arrested at Necropolis, Macedonia, and again imprisoned in Rome on charge of the conflagration which was imputed to the Christians, tried and condemned by Nero, and beheaded about one mile west of the city gate. I was on the spot in 1895.
17.
And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18.
Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
19.
But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
20.
For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
21.
And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
21. Consequently they neither wrote letters nor sent delegates to Rome to assist the prosecution of Paul.
22.
But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
22. “We desire to hear from thee the things which thou thinkest; for concerning this heresy it is known to us that it is everywhere spoken against.” The Greek word here translated “sect” in E. V. is heresy, which means separation, and truly applied to the followers of Jesus, because in so doing they necessarily became separate from the rank and file of the church, who rejected Him. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit, Revelator, and Successor of our ascended Jesus, who promised to “be with us always, even unto the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). The holiness people are simply the followers of the Holy Ghost, the Substitute of Jesus in His dispensation. In following Him we become spiritually separated from the fallen, worldly churches, and consequently heretics from their standpoint. Here you see the primitive Christian Church was denominated “heresy” by the Jews. In a similar manner, the true people of God in all ages have been anathematized and persecuted as heretics, because we can not be true to God without so separating ourselves experimentally and practically from the apostate ecclesiasticisms as to become heretics in their estimation.
23.
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
23. “And appointing a day with him, they came to him in his hired house in great numbers, to whom he expounded, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning till evening.” We see not only throughout the epistles but constantly in the Acts a peculiar prominence given to the “kingdom of God.” The connection here shows very clearly that Paul on this occasion told them that Jesus of Nazareth, who had been crucified, was none other than the King of Israel, the Successor of David, who Is coming back to restore the kingdom of Israel and reign forever. This kingdom was predicted by the old prophets, proclaimed by John the Baptist and preached by the Savior and His apostles and their successors to all nations, calling out the elect, and getting the bride ready for the return of her divine Spouse from heaven, when He will restore the kingdom of David and reign forever (Acts 15:12).
24.
And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
25.
And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26.
Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27.
For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
28.
Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29.
And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
30.
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31.
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.