3As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand.

4The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.”

5But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed.

6The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.

7Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days.

8As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him.

9Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed.

10As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.

15The brothers and sisters28:15a Greek brothers. in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum28:15b The Forum was about 43 miles (70 kilometers) from Rome. on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns.28:15c The Three Taverns was about 35 miles (57 kilometers) from Rome. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.

16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.

21They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here.

22But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”

23So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening.

24Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.

25And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,

30For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense.28:30 Or in his own rented quarters. He welcomed all who visited him,

31boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.