PAUL ARRIVES IN ROME

Passage: Acts 28:11-22

Key verse: 20

NIV

Paul’s Arrival at Rome

11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship(A) with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and sisters(B) who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters(C) there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.(D)

Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard

17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders.(E) When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers,(F) although I have done nothing against our people(G) or against the customs of our ancestors,(H) I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me(I) and wanted to release me,(J) because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.(K) 19 The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar.(L) I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel(M) that I am bound with this chain.”(N)

21 They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people(O) who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”(P)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Paul Arrives at Rome

11 After three months we set sail in (A)a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods[a] 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 (B)brothers[b] and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 And (C)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, (D)Paul thanked God and took courage. 16 And when we came into Rome, (E)Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.

Paul in Rome

17 After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, (F)though I had done nothing against our people or (G)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 (H)wished to set me at liberty, (I)because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. 19 But because the Jews objected, I was compelled (J)to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against (K)my nation. 20 For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is (L)because of (M)the hope of Israel that I am wearing (N)this (O)chain.” 21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of (P)the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this (Q)sect we know that everywhere (R)it is spoken against.”

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Footnotes
  1. Acts 28:11 That is, the Greek gods Castor and Pollux
  2. Acts 28:14 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 15, 21
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. And so we came to Rome (11-16) They had stayed on Malta for three months. They boarded an Alexandrian ship and set sail for Italy. Sailing up the west coast, they landed at Puteoli. There Paul met some brothers and they encouraged each other. Some of them had travelled dozens of miles to meet Paul. Then they arrived at Rome. There, Paul was allowed to live by himself under guard. 2. Because of the hope of Israel (17-22) A short time later, Paul called together the Jewish leaders of Rome. He strongly denied doing anything wrong. But when the Jews in Jerusalem made their accusations, he was compelled to appeal to Caesar. Then Paul testified to them as to why he was there meeting with them. Paul was a prisoner in Rome, although he had done nothing wrong. But he was bound with his chains because of the hope of Israel. What is the hope of Israel that Paul had? It is the same hope we all have. The hope of Israel is Jesus Christ and his resurrection. God had led Paul to Rome to bear this witness to the people of Rome and thus to the rest of the world.

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that you sent me to tell others of Jesus.

One Word: Jesus is our hope