1. And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy,
they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one
named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
2. And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched,
meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a
Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
3. And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously
entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends
to refresh himself.
4. And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under
Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5. And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and
Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
6. And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing
into Italy; and he put us therein.
7. And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were
come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we
sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
8. And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called
The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
9. Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now
dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul
admonished them,
10. And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will
be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and
ship, but also of our lives.
11. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner
of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by
Paul.
12. And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the
more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means
they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is
an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north
west.
13. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had
obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by
Crete.
14. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous
wind, called Euroclydon.
15. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the
wind, we let her drive.
16. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda,
we had much work to come by the boat:
17. Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding
the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the
quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
18. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day
they lightened the ship;
19. And the third day we cast out with our own hands the
tackling of the ship.
20. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no
small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved
was then taken away.
21. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of
them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and
not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and
loss.
22. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be
no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
23. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I
am, and whom I serve,
24. Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar:
and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that
it shall be even as it was told me.
26. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
27. But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up
and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that
they drew near to some country;
28. And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had
gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it
fifteen fathoms.
29. Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they
cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
30. And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when
they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as
though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
31. Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these
abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
32. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her
fall off.
33. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to
take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye
have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
34. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your
health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of
any of you.
35. And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks
to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it,
he began to eat.
36. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some
meat.
37. And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and
sixteen souls.
38. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and
cast out the wheat into the sea.
39. And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they
discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they
were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
40. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed
themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and
hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
41. And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the
ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained
unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence
of the waves.
42. And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest
any of them should swim out, and escape.
43. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from
their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim
should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44. And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of
the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe
to land.
Chapter 28
1. And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island
was called Melita.
2. And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for
they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of
the present rain, and because of the cold.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in
the island, came, and were healed:
10. Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we
departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
11. And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria,
which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and
Pollux.
12. And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13. 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:
14. Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them
seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go,
because there was no cause of death in me.
19. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to
appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation
of.
20. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you,
and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I
am bound with this chain.
21. And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of
Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that
came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
22. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as
concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken
against.
23. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to
him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the
kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out
of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning
till evening.
24. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some
believed not.
25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed,
after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy
Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26. Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear,
and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not
perceive:
27. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears
are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest
they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart, and should be converted,
and I should heal them.
28. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is
sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had
great reasoning among themselves.
30. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and
received all that came in unto him,
31. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things
which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no
man forbidding him.
