5. He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
6. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
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 hospitably for three days.
8. It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him.
9. And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.
10. They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.
11. After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead.
12. Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.
13. And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.
14. There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.
15. And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
16. And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
17. After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18. When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.
19. But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation.
20. For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”