Acts 28:12-22

12 Our first stop was Syracuse, where we stayed three days.
13 From there we sailed across to Rhegium. A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli.
14 There we found some believers, who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
15 The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.
16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.
17 Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors.
18 The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence.
19 But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people.
20 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.”
21 They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here.
22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. Syracuse was on the island of Sicily.
  • [b]. Rhegium was on the southern tip of Italy.
  • [c]. Greek brothers.
  • [d]. Greek brothers.
  • [e]. The Forum was about 43 miles (70 kilometers) from Rome.
  • [f]. The Three Taverns was about 35 miles (57 kilometers) from Rome.
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