27 1

And when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, 2 of the Augustan 1band. And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. 3 And the next day we touched at Sidon: and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go unto his friends 4 and 2refresh himself. And putting to sea from thence, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds 5 were contrary. And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a 6 city of Lycia. And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy; 7 and he put us therein. And when we had sailed slowly many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not 3 further suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over 8 against Salmone; and with difficulty coasting along it we came unto a certain place called Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

9 And when much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already gone

by, Paul admonished them, and said unto them, Sirs, I 10 perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the lading and the ship, but also of our lives. But the centurion gave more 11 heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul. And be- 12 cause the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they could reach Phonix, and winter there; which is a haven of Crete, looking

north-east and south-east. And when the south wind 13 blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore. But after no long 14 time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called Euraquilo: and when 15 the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven. And running under 16 the lee of a small island called "Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat: and when they had 17 hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven. And as we laboured 18 exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to

3 Or, suffering us to get there 5 Many

throw the freight overboard; 19 and the third day they cast out with their own hands the 201tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars shone upon us for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was now 21 taken away. And when they had been long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten 22 this injury and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of life among you, 23 but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God whose I 24 am, whom also I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Cæsar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with 25 thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me. 26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

fifteen fathoms. And fearing 29 lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and 2 wished for the day. And as the sailors were 30 seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would lay out anchors from the foreship, Paul said to the centurion 31 and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Then the 32 soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. And while the day was coming 33 on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I beseech you to 34 take some food: for this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you. And 35 when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all: and he brake it, and began to eat. Then were 36 they all of good cheer, and themselves also took food. And we were in all in the 37 ship 3 two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. And when 38 they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. And when it was day, they 39 knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with

3 Some ancient authorities read about

a beach, and they took counsel whether they could 1drive 40 the ship upon it. And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they 41 made for the beach. But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by the violence 42 of the waves. And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. 43 But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stayed them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first to 44 the land: and the rest, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to the land. 28 1

And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island

2 was called 2 Melita. And the barbarians shewed us no common kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw

the beast 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 5 off the beast into the fire, and took no harm. But they ex-6 pected 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 neighbourhood 7 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 8 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 9 when this was done, the rest also which had diseases in the island came, and were cured: who also honoured us with 10 many honours; and when we sailed, they put on board such things as we needed.

And after three months we 11 set sail in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the island, whose sign was The Twin Brothers. And 12 touching at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. And 13 from thence we 5 made a circuit, and arrived at Rhegium:

2 Some

4 Gr. Dioscuri.

and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli: 14 where we found brethren, and were intreated to tarry with them seven days: and so we 15 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.

16

17

And when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered 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 delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of 18 the Romans: who, when they had examined me, desired to set me at liberty, because there was no cause of death 19 in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar; not that I had aught to 20 accuse my nation of. For this cause therefore did I 3intreat you to see and to speak with me: for because of the hope of Israel I am bound 21 with this chain. And they

said unto him, We neither received letters from Judæa concerning thee, nor did any of the brethren come hither and report or speak any harm of thee. But we desire 22 to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.

And when they had ap- 23 pointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded the matter, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed 24 the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. And 25 when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost 4by Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers, saying,

Go thou unto this people,
and say,

By hearing ye shall hear,
and shall in no wise
understand;

And seeing ye shall see,
and shall in no wise per-
ceive:

26

For this people's heart is 27 waxed gross,

And their ears are dull of hearing,

2 Or, those that were of the

4 Or,

through

And their eyes they have
closed;
Lest haply they should per-
ceive with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their
heart,

And should turn again, And I should heal them. 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of

God is sent unto the Gentiles: they will also hear.1

And he abode two whole 30 years in his own hired dwelling, and received all that went in unto him, preaching the 31 kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.

11

PAUL, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of 2 God, which he promised afore 3 by his prophets in the holy 3 scriptures,concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared to be the Son of God 5 with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead; even Jesus Christ 5 our Lord, through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name's 6 sake: among whom are ye also, called to be Jesus Christ's: 7 to all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, I thank my God 8 through Jesus Christ for you all, 7that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, 9 whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers making request, if by any 10 means now at length I may be prospered by the will of God to come unto you. For 11 I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that 12 I with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine. And I would not have 13 you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (and was hindered

5 Or, in

these words, 2 Gr. bond6 Or, to the