Acts 27
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. 2And 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. 3And the next day we touched
at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to
go unto his friends to refresh himself.
4And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus,
because the winds were contrary. 5And when we had sailed over the sea of
Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 6And there the
centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us
therein.
7And 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; 8And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which
is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
9Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous,
because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, 10And
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.
11Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
12And 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.
13And when the south wind blew
softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence,
they sailed close by Crete.
14But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind,
called Euroclydon. 15And when the ship was caught, and could not bear
up into the wind, we let her drive. 16And running under a certain island
which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 17Which
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.
18And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next
day they lightened the ship; 19And the third day we cast out with our
own hands the tackling of the ship. 20And 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.
21But 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.
22And 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.
23For there stood by me this night the angel
of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou
must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them
that sail with thee.
25Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe
God, that it shall be even as it was told me. 26Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
27But 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; 28And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they
had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen
fathoms. 29Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast
four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
30And 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, 31Paul said to the centurion and
to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 32Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her
fall off.
33And 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. 34Wherefore 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.
35And 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.
36Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. 37And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen
souls. 38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and
cast out the wheat into the sea.
39And 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.
40And 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. 41And 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.
42And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of
them should swim out, and escape. 43But 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: 44And
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.
Acts 28
1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was
called Melita. 2And 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.
3And 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. 4And 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. 5And he shook off the beast into the
fire, and felt no harm. 6Howbeit 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. 8And 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.
9So when this was
done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were
healed: 10Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed,
they laded us with such things as were necessary.
11And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria,
which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. 12And
landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. 13And 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: 14Where we found brethren,
and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward
Rome.
15And 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.
16And 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.
17And 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. 18Who, when they had examined
me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
19But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto
Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. 20For 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.
21And 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. 22But we desire to hear of thee what thou
thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is
spoken against.
23And 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.
24And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
25And 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, 26Saying, Go unto this people, and say,
Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall
see, and not perceive: 27For 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.
28Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is
sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
30And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and
received all that came in unto him, 31Preaching the kingdom of God, and
teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all
confidence, no man forbidding him.