Daily Bread

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)