Acts 28:11-22

Arrival in Rome. 11Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the Dioscuri^* as its figurehead. 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days, 13and from there we sailed round the coast and arrived at Rhegium. After a day, a south wind came up and in two days we reached Puteoli. 14There we found some brothers and were urged to stay with them for seven days. And thus we came to Rome. 15The brothers from there heard about us and came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul gave thanks to God and took courage. 16When he entered Rome,^* Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

Testimony to Jews in Rome. 17^* Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, “My brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.^b 18After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me, because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty.^c 19But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation.^d 20This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel^* that I wear these chains.”^e 21They answered him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor has any of the brothers arrived with a damaging report or rumor about you. 22But we should like to hear you present your views, for we know that this sect is denounced everywhere.”^f