15. The brothers and sisters there had heard we were coming. They traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw these people, he thanked God and was cheered up.
16. When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself. But a soldier guarded him.
17. Three days later Paul called a meeting of the Jewish leaders. So they came. Paul said to them, "My brothers, I have done nothing against our people. I have also done nothing against what our people of long ago practiced. But I was arrested in Jerusalem. I was handed over to the Romans.
18. "They questioned me. And they wanted to let me go. They saw I wasn't guilty of any crime worthy of death.
19. But the Jews objected. So I had to make an appeal to Caesar. "It wasn't that I had anything against my own people.