44:028:003 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 44:028:004 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 44:028:005 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 44:028:006 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. 44:028:007 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. 44:028:008 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. 44:028:009 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: 44:028:010 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary. 44:028:011 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. 44:028:012 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. 44:028:013 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli: 44:028:014 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. 44:028:015 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. 44:028:016 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. 44:028:017 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 44:028:018 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. 44:028:019 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.