14
There we found some 1brethren, and were invited to stay with them for sevendays; and thus we came to Rome.
15
And the 2brethren, when they heardabout us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and ThreeInns to meet us; and when Paulsaw them, he thankedGod and tookcourage.
16
When we enteredRome, Paul was 3allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
17
Afterthreedays Paul calledtogetherthose who were 4the leadingmen of the Jews, and when they cametogether, he began saying to them, "5Brethren*, 6though I had donenothingagainst our peopleor7the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18
"And when they had 8examined me, they 9were willing to release me because there was 10noground for putting me to death.
19
"But when the Jewsobjected, I was forced to 11appeal to Caesar, not that I hadanyaccusationagainst my nation.
20
"For thisreason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing12thischain for 13the sake of the hope of Israel."
21
They said to him, "We have neitherreceivedletters from Judeaconcerning you, nor have any of 14the brethrencomehere and reportedorspokenanythingbadabout you.
22
"But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerningthis15sect, it is known to us that 16it is spokenagainsteverywhere."
23
When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at 17his lodging in largenumbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly18testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerningJesus, 19from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morninguntilevening.
24
20Some were being persuaded by the thingsspoken, but otherswould not believe.
25
And when they did not agree with oneanother, they began leaving after Paul had spokenone parting word, "The HolySpiritrightlyspokethroughIsaiah the prophet to your fathers,
26
saying, '21GO TO THISPEOPLE AND SAY, "22YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;
27
23FOR THE HEART OF THISPEOPLE HAS BECOMEDULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELYHEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM."'
28
"Therefore let it be known to you that 24thissalvation of God has been sent25to the Gentiles; they will alsolisten."
29
[When he had spokenthese words, the Jewsdeparted, having a greatdisputeamongthemselves.]
30
And he stayedtwofullyears in his ownrentedquarters and was welcomingall who came to him,
31
26preaching the kingdom of God and teachingconcerning the LordJesusChrist27with allopenness, unhindered.