Agrippa almost a Christian. CHAP. XXVII. Paul saileth towards Rome. 24 And as he thus spake for into Italy, they delivered Paul himself, Festus said with a loud and certain other prisoners unto voice, Paul, thou art beside one named Julius, a centurion thyself; much learning doth of Augustus' band. make thee mad. 2 And entering into a ship 25 But he said, I am not mad, of Adramyttium, we launched, most noble Festus; but speak meaning to sail by the coasts of forth the words of truth and Asia, one Aristarchus, a Macesoberness. donian of Thessalonica, being 26 For the king knoweth of with us. these things, before whom also 3 And the next day we touchI speak freely. For I am per-ed at Sidon. And Julius coursuaded that none of these things teously entreated Paul, and gave are hidden from him; for this him liberty to go unto his friends thing was not done in a corner. to refresh himself. 27 King Agrippa, believest 4 And when we had launched thou the prophets? I know that from thence, we sailed under thou believest. Cyprus, because the winds were 28 Then Agrippa said unto contrary. Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pam 29 And Paul said, I would to phylia, we came to Myra, a city God, that not only thou, but also of Lycia. all that hear me this day, were 6 And there the centurion both almost, and altogether such found a ship of Alexandria sailas I am, except these bonds. ing into Italy; and he put us 30 And when he had thus therein. spoken, the king rose up, and 7 And when we had sailed the governor, and Bernice, and slowly many days, and scarce they that sat with them: were come over against Cnidus, 31 And when they were the wind not suffering us, we gone aside, they talked between sailed under Crete, over against themselves, saying, This man Salmone: doeth nothing worthy of death, or of bonds. 32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cesar. CHAP. XXVII. Paul's dangerous voyage. AND was mined, that we should sail 8 And hardly passing it, came unto a place 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, Paul's dangerous voyage THE ACTS, in sailing towards Rome. I perceive that this voyage will out with our own hands the be with hurt and much damage, tackling of the ship. not only of the lading and ship, 20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, but also of our lives. 11 Nevertheless, the centu- and no small tempest lay on us, rion believed the master and the all hope that we should be owner of the ship more than saved was then taken away. those things which were spoken 21 But after long abstinence, by Paul. Paul stood forth in the midst of 12 And because the haven them, and said, Sirs, ye should was not commodious to winter have hearkened unto me, and in, the more part advised to not have loosed from Crete, and depart thence also, if by any to have gained this harm and means they might attain to loss. Phenice, and there to winter; 22 And now I exhort you to which is a haven of Crete, and be of good cheer: for there lieth toward the south-west and shall be no loss of any man's life north-west. among you, but of the ship. 13 And when the south wind 23 For there stood by me blew softly, supposing that they this night the angel of God, had obtained their purpose, whose I am, and whom I serve, loosing thence, they sailed close 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; by Crete. thou must be brought before 14 But not long after there Cesar: and lo, God hath given arose against it a tempestuous thee all them that sail with thee. wind, called Euroclydon. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of 15 And when the ship was good cheer: for I believe God, caught, and could not bear up that it shall be even as it was into the wind, we let her drive. told me. 16 And running under a 26 Howbeit, we must be cast certain island which is called upon a certain island. Clauda, we had much work to 27 But when the fourteenth come by the boat: night was come, as we were 17 Which when they had driven up and down in Adria, taken up, they used helps, un- about midnight the shipmen dergirding the ship; and fearing deemed that they drew near to lest they should fall into the some country; quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. 28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when 18 And we being exceedingly they had gone a little further, tossed with a tempest, the next they sounded again, and found day they lightened the ship; it fifteen fathoms. 19 And the third day we cast 29 Then fearing lest they He foretelleth a shipwreck, CHAP. XXVIII. which is verified by the event. should have fallen upon rocks, knew not the land but they they cast four anchors out of the discovered a certain creek with stern, and wished for the day. a shore, into the which they 30 And as the shipmen were were minded, if it were possible, about to flee out of the ship, to thrust in the ship. when they had let down the 40 And when they had taken boat into the sea, under colour up the anchors, they committed as though they would have cast themselves unto the sea, and anchors out of the foreship, loosed the rudder-bands, and 31 Paul said to the centurion, hoised up the mainsail to the and to the soldiers, Except wind, and made toward shore. these abide in the ship, ye can- 41 And falling into a place not be saved. where two seas met, they ran 32 Then the soldiers cut off the ship aground; and the forethe ropes of the boat, and let part stuck fast, and remained her fall off. unmoveable, but the hinder part 33 And while the day was was broken with the violence coming on, Paul besought them of the waves. all to take meat, saying, This 42 And the soldiers' counsel day is the fourteenth day that was to kill the prisoners, lest ye have tarried, and continued any of them should swim out, fasting, having taken nothing. and escape. 34 Wherefore I pray you to 43 But the centurion, willing take some meat; for this is for to save Paul, kept them from your health for there shall not their purpose, and commanded a hair fall from the head of any that they which could swim, should cast themselves first into of you. 35 And when he had thus the sea, and get to land: spoken, he took bread, and gave 44 And the rest, some on thanks to God in presence of boards, and some on broken them all; and when he had pieces of the ship. And so it broken it, he began to eat. came to pass, that they escaped 36 Then were they all of all safe to land. good cheer, and they also took some meat. CHAP. XXVIII. 37 And we were in all in the AND when they were es 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 caped, 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 re39 And when it was day, they ceived us every one, because of sea. THE ACTS, Paul leaves Melita, and arrives at Rome, the present rain, and because with such things as were necesof the cold. sary. 3 And when Paul had ga- 11 And after three months thered a bundle of sticks, and we departed in a ship of Alexlaid them on the fire, there came andria, which had wintered in a viper out of the heat, and the isle, whose sign was Castor fastened on his hand. and Pollux. 4 And when the barbarians 12 And landing at Syracuse, saw the venomous beast hang on we tarried there three days. his hand, they said among them- 13 And from thence we selves, No doubt this man is a fetched a compass, and came to murderer, whom, though he Rhegium: and after one day hath escaped the sea, yet ven- the south wind blew, and we geance suffereth not to live. came the next day to Puteoli : 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with 6 Howbeit, they looked when them seven days: and so we he should have swollen, or went toward Rome. fallen down dead suddenly: but 15 And from thence, when after they had looked a great the brethren heard of us, they while, and saw no harm come came to meet us as far as Appiito him, they changed their forum, and The Three Taverns; minds, and said that he was a whom when Paul saw, he thankgod. ed God, and took courage. 7 In the same quarters were 16 And when we came to possessions of the chief man of Rome, the centurion delivered the island, whose name was the prisoners to the captain of Publius; who received us, and the guard: but Paul was sufferlodged us three days cour-ed to dwell by himself, with a teously. soldier that kept him. 8 And it came to pass, that 17 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick after three days, Paul called the of a fever, and of a bloody-flux : chief of the Jews together. And to whom Paul entered in, and when they were come together, prayed, and laid his hands on he said unto them, Men and him, and healed him. brethren, though I have com 9 So when this was done, mitted nothing against the peoothers also which had diseases ple, or customs of our fathers, in the island, came, and were yet was I delivered prisoner healed: from Jerusalem into the hands 10 Who also honoured us of the Romans: with many honours; and when 18 Who when they had ex we departed, they laded us amined me, would have let me CHAP. XXVIII. where he preaches for two whole years. go, because there was no cause not among themselves, they deof death in me. parted, after that Paul had 19 But when the Jews spake spoken one word, Well spake against it, I was constrained to the Holy Ghost by Esaias the appeal unto Cesar; not that I prophet unto our fathers, had aught to accuse my nation of. 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall 20 For this cause therefore hear, and shall not understand; have I called for you, to see you, and seeing ye shall see, and not and to speak with you: because perceive. that for the hope of Israel I am 27 For the heart of this peobound with this chain. ple is waxed gross, and their 21 And they said unto him, ears are dull of hearing, and We neither received letters out their eyes have they closed; lest of Judea concerning thee, nei- they should see with their eyes, ther any of the brethren that and hear with their ears, and uncame shewed or spake any derstand with their heart, and harm of thee. should be converted, and I 22 But we desire to hear of should heal them. thee, what thou thinkest: for as 28 Be it known therefore concerning this sect, we know unto you, that the salvation of that every where it is spoken God is sent unto the Gentiles, against. and that they will hear it. 23 And when they had ap- 29 And when he had said pointed him a day, there came these words, the Jews departed, many to him into his lodging: and had great reasoning among to whom he expounded and tes-themselves. tified the kingdom of God, per- 30 And Paul dwelt two whole suading them concerning Jesus, years in his own hired house, both out of the law of Moses, and received all that came in and out of the prophets, from unto him, morning till evening. 31 Preaching the kingdom 24 And some believed the of God, and teaching those things which were spoken, and things which concern the Lord some believed not. Jesus Christ, with all confidence, 25 And when they agreed no man forbidding him. 255 |