Part 34 (2/2)
(24)And as he thus spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice: Paul, thou art mad; much learning makes thee mad.
(25)But he said: I am not mad, most n.o.ble Festus; but utter words of truth and soberness. (26)For the king knows well concerning these things, to whom also I speak boldly; for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this has not been done in a corner. (27)King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
(28)And Agrippa said to Paul: With little pains[26:28a] thou persuadest[26:28b] me to become a Christian. (29)And Paul said: I could pray G.o.d, that with little or much[26:29], not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, may become such as I am, except these bonds.
(30)And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they who sat with them. (31)And having withdrawn, they talked together, saying: This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds. (32)And Agrippa said to Festus: This man could have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar.
XXVII.
AND when it was determined that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band. (2)And entering into a s.h.i.+p of Adramyttium, about to sail along the coasts of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. (3)And on the second day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul humanely, and permitted him to go to his friends and receive their care. (4)And thence having put to sea, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary, (5)And having sailed over the sea along Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. (6)And there the centurion found a s.h.i.+p of Alexandria sailing to Italy; and he put us on board of it. (7)And sailing slowly many days, and having come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us to put in[27:7], we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone; (8)and coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near to which was the city Lasa.
(9)And much time having been spent, and the voyage being now dangerous, because also the fast had already pa.s.sed by, Paul exhorted them, (10)saying: Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with violence and much loss, not only of the lading and the s.h.i.+p, but also of our lives. (11)But the centurion believed the master and the owner of the s.h.i.+p, more than the things spoken by Paul. (12)And as the haven was not well situated for wintering, the greater number advised to sail thence also, if by any means they might reach Phoenix, a haven of Crete, looking toward the southwest and northwest, and there winter.
(13)And a south wind beginning to blow moderately, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor, and coasted along close by Crete. (14)But not long after, there struck against it a tempestuous wind, called Euracylon. (15)And the s.h.i.+p being caught, and unable to face the wind, we yielded to it, and were driven along.
(16)And running under a certain small island called Clauda, we were hardly able to come by the boat; (17)which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the s.h.i.+p; and, fearing lest they should be cast away on the quicksand, they lowered the sail, and so were driven.
(18)And we being violently tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the s.h.i.+p; (19)and the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the s.h.i.+p. (20)And neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no small tempest lying on us, thenceforward all hope that we should be saved was utterly taken away. (21)But after much abstinence, then Paul, standing up in the midst of then, said: Sirs, ye should have hearkened to me and not put to sea from Crete, and so have escaped this violence and loss. (22)And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the s.h.i.+p. (23)For there stood by me this night an angel of G.o.d, whose I am, and whom I serve, (24)saying: Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar; and, lo, G.o.d has given thee all those who sail with thee. (25)Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe G.o.d, that it will be even so, as it has been told me. (26)But we must be cast away upon a certain island.
(27)And when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven onward in the Adriatic sea, about midnight the seamen suspected that they were near to some country; (28)and sounding, they found twenty fathoms; and having gone a little further, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms. (29)Then fearing lest we should fall upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for day.
(30)And as the seamen were seeking to flee out of the s.h.i.+p, and had let down the boat into the sea, under color as if they were about to extend anchors out of the fores.h.i.+p, (31)Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers: Except these abide in the s.h.i.+p, ye can not be saved.
(32)Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let it fall off.
(33)And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take food, saying: This day is the fourteenth day that ye have waited, and continued fasting, having taken nothing. (34)Wherefore I pray you to take food; for this is for your safety; for there shall not a hair fall from the head of one of you.
(35)And having thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to G.o.d in presence of them all; and having broken it, he began to eat. (36)Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took food. (37)And we were in all in the s.h.i.+p two hundred and seventy-six souls. (38)And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the s.h.i.+p, casting out the grain into the sea.
(39)And when it was day, they knew not the land; but they perceived a certain creek, having a beach, on which they determined, if they were able, to drive the s.h.i.+p ash.o.r.e. (40)And cutting the anchors entirely away, they abandoned them to the sea, at the same time unfastening the bands of the rudders; and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made toward the beach. (41)And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the s.h.i.+p aground; and the prow sticking fast remained immovable, but the stern was broken by the violence of the waves.
(42)And it was the plan of the soldiers, that they should kill the prisoners, lest any one should swim out, and escape. (43)But the centurion, wis.h.i.+ng to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that those who could swim should cast themselves first into the sea and get to land, (44)and the rest, some on boards, and others on some of the pieces from the s.h.i.+p. And so it came to pa.s.s, that all escaped safe to land.
XXVIII.
AND having escaped, they then learned that the island is called Melita. (2)And the barbarians showed us no little kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
(3)And Paul having gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came out a viper from the heat, and fastened on his hand.
(4)And when the barbarians saw the animal hanging from his hand, they said among themselves: No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though escaped from the sea, justice suffered not to live. (5)He, however, shaking off the animal into the fire, suffered no harm. (6)But they were expecting that he would become inflamed, or suddenly fall down dead; but after looking a great while, and seeing no harm befall him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a G.o.d.
(7)In the region around that place, there were lands of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius, who received and entertained us kindly three days. (8)Now it happened, that the father of Publius was lying sick with a fever and a b.l.o.o.d.y flux; to whom Paul entered in, and having prayed, laid his hands on him and healed him. (9)And this having been done, the others also, who had diseases in the island, came and were healed; (10)who also honored us with many honors; and when we put to sea, they loaded us with such things as were necessary.
(11)And after three months, we put to sea in a s.h.i.+p of Alexandria, which had wintered in the island, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
(12)And landing at Syracuse, we remained three days. (13)And from thence, making a circuit[28:13], we came to Rhegium. And after one day, a south wind arose, and we came on the second day to Puteoli; (14)where we found brethren, and were entreated to remain with them seven days; and so we went toward Rome. (15)And from thence, the brethren, having heard of us, came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and the Three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he gave thanks to G.o.d, and took courage.
(16)And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the commander of the camp; but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
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