Paul arrived in Rome

Luke accompanied Paul on his way to Rome.
And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius (Acts 27:1).
They took a ship from Adramyttium and reached Myra in Lycia (Acts 27:5). There, they changed to another ship from Alexandria to set sail to Italy. Their ship met a storm which lasted for 14 days and grounded in the Island of Malta. 276 of them all survived the shipwreck (Acts 27:37). Throughout the voyage, Paul was very confident despite the tempest. He knew that he had to stand trial before Caesar in Rome. No tempest would prevent him from reaching Rome. Thus, he was able to encourage the crew as well as the rest of the people on board to weather through this storm.
On the island of Malta, Paul shook off a viper from his hand unharmed (Acts 28:5). The natives were amazed and thought that Paul was a god. Publius was the chief man of Malta. He extended hospitality to Paul and his companions. Meanwhile, Paul prayed and lay hand on his father and cured his disease.
And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.
They presented many gifts to us; and when we sailed, they put on board whatever we needed (Acts 28:9-10).
Paul stayed in Malta for three months. Then, they took another ship from Alexandria and reached Rome in two weeks.
Luke was very meticulous with time and locations. Throughout the Acts, he was very specific in the hours, the number of days etc. He was not just a physician. He was a historian.
In Rome, Paul called together the leaders of the Jews and spoke to them. They were receptive because thus far, they had not heard anything against Paul in Rome. The influence of the jealous Jews in Asia had not reached Rome. Yet, Christianity was described as an unpopular sect by these Jews.
And they said to him, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brethren coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you.
But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against." (Acts 28:21-22)
What has gone wrong with Christianity? After Pentecost, Christians enjoyed admiration from the people in Jerusalem.
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:47).
However, Christianity had to wean herself off Judaism. She had to embrace all mankind and not exclusively the Jews. In uprooting herself from Judaism, she was being punished by the Jews continually. Weaning and uprooting are painful experiences. Yet, without these, one never matures. This was graphically illustrated by the development of the early Church. The martyrdom of Stephen and James were only early shots. It forced the early community to emerge from her cocoon to reach out for the Gentile world. In the process, early Jewish Christians were able to strengthen their own faith, realize their potentials, define their own identity more clearly and work more closely with God. No pain, no gain. Similarly, leaving LaSalle was a traumatic experience. Yet, I find my life more fulfilled at the moment.
Paul's testimony before the Roman Jews was not quite successful.
And some were convinced by what he said, while others disbelieved (Acts 28:24).
The weaning process was completed. After quoting Isaiah, Paul declared the following.
Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen (Acts 28:28).

Dear Lord, You are a wonderful teacher. You give us opportunities to realize our potentials. May we make good of them for Your glory. Amen.

Appendix:
Go to this people, and say, You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive.
For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.πορεύθητι πρὸς τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον καὶ εἰπόν· ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε·
ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν· μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν, καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς. (Acts 28:26-27)
Πορεύθητι καὶ εἰπὸν τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ Ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε,
ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν αὐτῶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν, μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς (Isaiah 6:9-10).