XXVIII. And having escaped, we learned that the island 2 was called Melita. And the barbarians showed us no little kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the rain which had come on, and because of the cold.

8

And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid it on the fire, there came forth a viper by reason of 4 the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the animal hanging from his hand, they said to one another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, Justice hath not permitted 5 to live. He, however, shaking off the animal into the fire, 6 suffered no harm. But they were looking for his becoming swollen, or suddenly falling down dead. But after looking a great while, and seeing no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

7

And in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who welcomed us, and entertained us kindly 8 three days. And it happened that the father of Publius was lying sick with a fever and dysentery; to whom Paul went in, and, when he had prayed, laid his hands on him, 9 and healed him. And when this was done, the others also who had diseases in the island came, and were healed; 10 who also honored us with many honors, and when we put to sea, loaded us with such things as were necessary.

11

And after three months we put to sea in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the island, whose sign was 12 Castor and Pollux. And landing at Syracuse, we stayed 13 there three days; and from thence we made a circuit, and came to Rhegium; and after one day a south wind arose,

Chap. XXVIII. 2. barbarians; a term applied by the Greeks to those not of their own nation, and speaking a different language. Justice; i.e. retributive justice personified.

Ver. 4.

14 and we came on the second day to Puteoli, where we found brethren, and were entreated to remain with them 15 seven days; and so we went toward Rome. And from thence, the brethren having heard of us came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and the Three Taverns; at the sight of whom Paul thanked God and took courage.

16

17

And when we had come to Rome, Paul was permitted to dwell by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.

And it came to pass that after three days he called together the chief men of the Jews, and when they had met he said to them, Brethren, I, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, was delivered up a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of 18 the Romans; who, when they had examined me, wished to release me, because I had done nothing deserving death. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained

to appeal to Cæsar; not that I had any charge to bring 20 against my nation. For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak to you; for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain. 21 And they said to him, We neither received letters from

Judæa concerning thee, nor did any one of the brethren 22 that came report or speak any evil of thee. But we think

23

it proper to hear from thee what thou thinkest; for with regard to this sect, we know that it is everywhere spoken against.

And when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging; to whom he expounded, and earnestly testified, the kingdom of God, endeavoring to persuade them concerning Jesus both from the Law of Moses, and 24 from the Prophets, from morning till evening. And some 25 believed the things spoken, and some believed not. So,

disagreeing with one another, they took their departure, after Paul had spoken one word: Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,

26 saying, "Go to this people, and say, 'Hearing ye shall

hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, 27 and not perceive. For the heart of this people hath be

come gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, 28 and turn from their ways, and I should heal them.'"* Be it therefore known to you, that to the gentiles this salvation of God hath been sent; they, moreover, will hear.

30

And he abode two whole years in his own hired house; 31 and gladly received all that came in to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, without hindrance from any one.

• Isa. vi. 9, 10.

THE EPISTLES OF PAUL.

TO THE ROMANS.

I. PAUL, a servant of Christ Jesus, a called apostle, set 2 apart to preach the gospel of God, which he had promised before by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures, the gospel 3 conerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David 4 as to the flesh, and shown with power to be the Son of God as to his spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the 5 dead, Jesus Christ our Lord; through whom we received grace and the office of an apostle in behalf of his name, in order to produce obedience to the faith among all 6 nations; among whom are ye also, the called of Jesus 7 Christ; to all the beloved of God at Rome, called, holy: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8 In the first place, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is spoken of throughout the 9 whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how constantly I make 10 mention of you, always in my prayers supplicating that, if

it be possible, I may at last through the will of God be 11 favored with an opportunity of coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, which may be for your confirmation; that is, that I

12 may be edified among you, and you also, through each 13 other's faith, both yours and mine. But I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that I often purposed to come to you, though I have been hindered hitherto, that I might have some fruit of my labors among you also, as among 14 the other gentiles. I am debtor both to Greeks and bar15 barians, both to the wise and the unwise. So, according to my ability, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also 16 in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel; for to

every believer, to the Jew first and also to the Greek, 17 it is the power of God unto salvation. For therein is revealed the righteousness which is of God from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous shall live by faith."*

18

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all impiety and unrighteousness of men, who keep down 19 the truth in unrighteousness. Because that which may be known of Gol is manifest within them; for God made 20 it manifest to them. For, ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, even his eternal power and divinity, being perceived from his works, are clearly seen, 21 so that they might be without excuse. Because though

they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, nor were they thankful to him; but became perverse in their

Chap. I. 17. righteousness which is of God; i.e. which cometh from him, Phil. iii. 9, or, which is acceptable to him as a righteousness of faith, implying forgiveness and pardon on the part of God, in contradistinction from a righteousness of merit acquired by a fulfilment of the requirements of the law, whether of the Jews, or of nature. Comp. chap. iii. 21-26. In the lan guage of Martin Luther, "Christian righteousness consisteth in two things namely, faith of the heart, and God's acceptance, or pardon of imperfections. Faith is indeed a formal righteousness; and yet this righteousness is not enough. For after faith there remain certain remnants of sin in our flesh. Wherefore the other part of righteousness must needs be added also to finish the same in us, namely, God's acceptance or forgiveness." —from faith to faith; i.e. proceeding from faith, and going on to stronger faith.

Hab. ii. 4.