November 13 Daily Devotional

Acts 28

When spring returned, an Alexandrian ship, “Castor and Pollux,” which had wintered at Melita, left for Italy. Paul and his companions took passage. Departing from the island, they came to Syracuse on the island of Sicily, and tarried there three days. From thence they came to Rhegium in southern Italy. The next day a favorable wind took them to Puteoli, where Paul and his companions left the ship. The journey from Puteoli to Rome was made on foot over the Appian Way. In Rome there were a number of Christians whom Paul had never seen, but had been in touch with them. He had written a long letter to them. When these Christians heard of his coming, they came to meet him as far as Appii Forum and The Three Taverns; about fifty miles south of Rome. When Paul saw these brethren he thanked God.

And when they came to Rome, the other prisoners were delivered to the captain of the guard, but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. After three days Paul sent for the chief Jews in the city. When they came, he spoke to 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. Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar: not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. 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. And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spake any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest; for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”

“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. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 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, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 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.”