he moist gate".

"Praetors, proconsuls to their provinces
Hasting, or on return in robes of state;
Lictors and rods, the ensigns of their power,
Legions and cohorts, turms of horse and wings;
Or embassies from regions far remote,
In various habits on the Appian Way."
--_Milton's "Paradise Regained"_
[End illustration]

{477}

And when the barbarians saw the reptile hanging from his hand, they said
one to another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath
escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live."

Howbeit he shook off the reptile into the fire, and took no harm. But
they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly:
but when they were long in expectation, and beheld nothing amiss come to
him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief
man of the island, named Publius; who received us, and entertained us
three days courteously. And it was so, that the father of Publius lay
sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and
laying his hands on him healed him. And when this was done, the rest
also which had diseases in the island came, and were cured: who also
honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board such
things as we needed.

And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria, which had
wintered in the island, whose sign was "The Twin Brothers." And touching
at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. And from thence we made a
circuit, and arrived at Rhegium: and after one day a south wind sprang
up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli: where we found brethren,
and were intreated to tarry with them seven days: and so we came to
Rome. And from thence the brethren, when they heard of us, came to meet
us as far as The Market of Appius, and The Three Taverns: whom when Paul
saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

{478}

IV

PAUL AT THE CITY ON THE TIBER.

_He Preaches the Gospel in the Capital of the World_.

And when we entered into Rome, Paul was permitted to abide by himself
with the soldier that guarded him.

And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that
were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said
unto them, "I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people,
or the customs of our fathers, yet was deliv