rd

Acts 28

2 Paul with his company are gently intreated of the barbarous people. 5 The viper hurteth him not. 8 He healeth Publius’ father and others, and being furnished by them of things necessary, he fared toward Rome, 15 Where being received of the brethren, he declareth his business, 30 And there preacheth two years.
1.And when they were come safe, then they knewe hat the yle was called aMelita.
2.And the Barbarians shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present shower, and because of the cold.
3.And when Paul had gathered a number of sticks, and laid them on the ^fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and leapt on his hand.
4.Now when the Barbarians saw the worm hang on his hand, they said among them selves, This man surely is a bmurderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet cVengeance hath not suffered to live.
5.But he shook off the worm into the fire, and felt no harm.
6.Howbeit they waited when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no inconvenience come to him, they changed their minds, and said, That he was a dGod.
7.In the same quarters, the chief man of the yle (whose name was Publius) had possessions: the same received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
8.And so it was, that the father of Publius lay sick of the fever, and of a bloody flixe: to whom Paul entered in, and when he prayed, he laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9.When this then was done, other also in the yle, which had diseases, came to him and were healed,
10.Which also did us great honour: and when we departed, they laded us with things necessary.
11.¶ Now after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the yle, whose badge was eCastor and Pollux.
12.And when we arrived at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13.And from thence we set a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day, the South wind blew, and we came the second day to Putioli,
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 met us at the Market of Appius, and at the fThree ^taverns, whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and waxed bold.
16.So when we came to Rome, the Centurion delivered the prisoners to the general Captain: but Paul was gsuffered to dwell by him self with a soldier that kept him.
17.And the third day after, Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or Laws of the fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romaines.
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 contrary, I was constrained to appeal unto Cesar, not because 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: for the hope hof Israel’s sake, I am bound with this chain.
21.Then they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither came any of the brethren that shewed or spake any evil of thee.
22.But we will hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
23.And when they had appointed him a day, there came many unto him into his lodging, to whom he expounded and testified the ikingdom of God, and preached unto them concerning Jesus both out of the Law of Moses and out of the Prophets, from morning to night.
24.And some were persuaded with the things, which were spoken, and some believed not.
25.Therefore when they agreed not among them selves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, to wit, Well spake the holie Ghost by Esaias the Prophet unto our fathers,
26.Saying, *kGo unto this people, and say, By 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 fat, and their ears are dull of hearing, and with their eyes have they winked, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and should return that I might lheal them.
28.Be it knowen therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they shall hear it.
29.And when he had said these things, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among them selves.
30.And Paul remained two years full in an house hired for him self, 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 boldness of speech, without let.

Notes

1-a.
Now called Malta.
2-*.
2 Cor 11.25.
3-^.
Or, heap.
4-a.
From Sidon to Myra they should have sailed north, and by west: but the winds caused them to sail to Cyprus plain North: thence to Cilicia North and by East, and so to Pamphylia, and Myra plain West.
4-b.
Such is the perverse judgement of men, that they condemn such as they see in any affliction.
4-c.
Whom they made a Goddess and called her Dice, or Nemesis.
6-d.
Behold the extremity of these infidels, and how much they are bent to superstition: for after one rage and error they fell into another.
7-^.
Or, Crete.
7-b.
Which was an high hill of Candie bowing to the seaward.
9-c.
This fast the Jews observed about the month of October in the Feast of their expiation, Levi. 23.37. So that Paul thought it better to winter there, then to sail in the deep of winter which was at hand.
11-e.
These the Paynims fained to be Jupiter’s children, and gods of the sea.
14-d.
That is, the Northeast wind, or every East wind that is furious and stormy.
15-^.
Or, shops.
15-f.
These places were distant from Rome a day’s journey, or there about.
16-e.
This yle was West and by South from Candie straight toward the gulf Syrtes, which were certain boiling sands that swallowed up all that they caught.
16-g.
No doubt the Captain understood both by Festus’ letters, and also by the report of the under captain that Paul had committed no faute.
17-^.
Or, boat.
18-^.
Or, cast out the wares.
20-h.
That is, for Jesus Christ’s cause, whom they had long looked for as he that should be the redeemer of the world.
21-f.
That is, you should have saved the loss by avoiding the danger.
23-g.
They could not then reprove him of rashness, seeing that this was the ordinance of God.
23-i.
That this kingdom, which was spoken of by the Prophets, was offered unto them by the coming of Christ.
24-h.
The graces and blessings, which God gives to his children, profit many times the enemies, which are unworthy to receive the fruits thereof.
25-i.
Faith is grounded upon the word of God.
26-*.
Isa, 6.9, Mat. 13.14, Mar. 4.12, Luk 8.10, John 12.40, Rom. 11.8.
26-k.
Hereby the hearts of the infidels ought to be mollified, and the weaklings confirmed that they be not offended by the stubbornest of the wicked.
27-k.
This sea in Strabos time was taken for all that part, which was about the mountains called Ceraunii and so divides Italie from Dalmatia, and goes up to Venice.
27-l.
The word of God heals when the virtue of the Spirit is joined with it: and it is preached generally, that all might be inexcusable.
31-l.
Paul would use such means, as God had ordained, lest he should seem to have tempted him.
33-m.
He means an extraordinary abstinence, which came of the fear of death, and so took away their appetite.
34-n.
By this Hebrew phrase is meant that they should be in all points safe and sound, 1 Sam.14.45, 1 King. 1.52, Mat. 10.30.
42-o.
This declares the great and barbarous ingratitude of the wicked, which can not be won by no benefits.