Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

4 of. And when we had loosed thence, we sailed under 5 Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. And when

we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we 6 came to Myra, a city of Lycia. And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and put us

therein 1.

7 And when we sailed slowly for many days, and were scarcely come over-against Cnidus, the wind not suffering 8 us, we sailed under Crete, over-against Salmonè: and, hardly passing by it, we came to a place which is called The fair havens; near which was the city of Laséa.

9

Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now become dangerous, because even the Jewish fast was 10 now ended, Paul warned them, saying unto them, "Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with harm and much damage, not to the lading and the ship only, but to our11 selves also." However, the centurion believed the pilot,

and the owner of the ship, more than the things spoken by 12 Paul. And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the greater part advised to loose thence also, if by any means they might reach Phenicè, and winter there: which is an haven of Crete, lying toward the south-west and 13 west. And when the south wind blew softly, having sup

posed that they should obtain their purpose, they weighed 14 anchor, and passed close by Crete. But, not long after, a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon, beat against the 15 island. And when the ship was borne away, and could not 16 face the wind, we gave her up, and were driven. And when we had run under a certain small island, called Clauda, 17 we were scarcely able to become masters of the boat: which when the sailors had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the 18 quicksands, they struck sail, and thus were driven. And

'Or, on board, N. m.

we being exceedingly tossed by a tempest, the next day they 19 lightened the ship': and the third day we cast out with our 20 own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither

21

sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be preserved was thenceforth taken away.

3

But after long abstinence, Paul stood in the midst of them, and said, "Sirs, ye should have hearkened to me, and not have loosed from Crete, but have prevented this 22 harm and damage. And now I exhort you to be of good courage for there shall be no loss of life among you, but 23 of the ship there shall be loss. For there stood by me this

night an angel of that God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 saying,Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before

Cæsar: and, lo, God hath graciously given to thee all who 25 sail with thee.' Wherefore, sirs, be of good courage: for 26. I believe God, that it will be as it hath been told me. However, we must be cast upon a certain island.”

27

But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic sea, about midnight the sailors thought 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 29 found it fifteen fathoms. Then fearing lest we should fall upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, 30 and wished for day. And as the sailors sought to escape out of the ship, and had let down the boat into the sea, under pretence as if they were about to cast anchors out of 31 the foreship, Paul said to the centurion, and to the soldiers, "Unless these remain in the ship, ye cannot be preserved." 32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her go off.

'Or, they threw part of the lading overboard, N. m. 2 they cast out with their own hands, Mss. Gr. and have gained. Saved, Markland. N. m. 4 lest

they should fall, R. T.

[ocr errors]

33

And, while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to partake of food, saying, "To-day is the fourteenth day of the storm, during which we have waited, and conti34 nued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I exhort you to partake of food; for this concerns your safety: for a hair shall not perish' from the head of any among you." 35 And, when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave

thanks to God before them all; and, when he had broken 36 it, he began to eat. Then they were all of good courage; 37 and they also took food. Now all of us in the ship were 38 two hundred and seventy persons. And when they were satisfied with food, they lightened the ship, and threw the corn into the sea.

39

And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they observed a certain creek with an even shore, into which they were determined, if they were able, to thrust the ship. 40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed the ship to the sea, and loosed the bands of the rudders, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. 41 And having reached a place which had the sea on both sides, they ran the ship on ground; and the fore part stuck fast, and remained immoveable, but the hinder part was broken 42 by the violence of the waves. Now the counsel of the soldiers was, to kill the prisoners; lest any of them should 43 swim out, and escape. But the centurion, wishing to preserve Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should cast themselves into the 44 sea, and get first to land: and that the rest should save themselves, some on boards, and some on things belonging to the ship and thus it came to pass that all escaped safe to land.

:

CH. XXVIII. And when they had escaped safe, they then knew 2 that the island was called Melita. And the barbarians

1 shall not fall, R. T. and N.

2 if it were possible, Mss. and N.

showed us no common humanity: for they kindled a fire, and brought us all to it, 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, a viper came out of the heat, and fastened 4 on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the serpent hanging on his hand, they said among themselves, “No doubt this man is a murtherer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance hath not permitted to live." 5 But Paul shook off the serpent into the fire, and suffered 6 no harm. However, they expected that he would have

7

swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but expecting a great while, and seeing no harm befall him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

Now in the neighbourhood of that place were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius: 8 who received us, and entertained us kindly three days. And

it came to pass that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever, and of a flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and 9 put his hands on him, and cured him. So when this was done, others also, that had diseases in the island, came and 10 were cured: who also bestowed on us many gifts1; and, when we departed, laded the ship with such things as were

11

necessary.

And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the island; whose sign was 12 Castor and Pollux. And having landed at Syracuse, we 13 remained there three days. And thence we coasted round,

and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind 14 blew, and we came the second day to Puteoli: where we found brethren, and were desired to remain with them seven 15 days: and then we went toward Rome. And when the brethren heard about us, they came thence to meet us as

1 honours; N. See Bishop Pearce.

2 Paul called, R. T. and N.

16

far as Appii forum, and the Three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

And when we came to Rome [the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard,] but Paul was suffered to remain apart, with the soldier who kept him. 17 And it came to pass after three days, that he called' the chief of the Jews together. And when they were assembled, he said to them, "Brethren, though I have committed nothing against my people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the 18 hands of the Romans: who, when they had examined me,

would have released me, since there was no cause of death 19 in me. But when the Jews spake against this, I was com

pelled to appeal unto Cæsar; not as having aught to accuse 20 my nation of. On this account therefore I have called for

2

you, that I might see you, and speak with you: because for 21 the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain." Then they said unto him, "We have neither received letters from Judæa concerning thee, nor hath any one of our brethren who 22 came hither related or spoken any thing bad of thee. But we desire to hear from thee what thou thinkest: for, as to this sect3, we know that every where it is spoken against." 23 And when they had appointed him a day, many came to him into his lodging: to whom he explained and gave testimony to the kingdom of God, using persuasion to them [about the things] concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, 24 and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some dis25 believed them. So when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after Paul had said one thing, "Well spake the holy spirit to our fathers by the prophet Isaiah, saying, 26 Go to this people, and say, Hearing ye will hear, and will not understand; and seeing ye will see, and will not per

[ocr errors]

Paul called, R. T. and N. 2 Or, we deem it proper, N.m.

3 Gr. heresy.

« PreviousContinue »