Paul and His Associates Sail for Rome

27 And when it was decided that we would sail away to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion ⌊named⌋a Julius of the Augustanb Cohort. 2 And we went aboard a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to the places along the coast* of Asiac and* put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. 3 And on the next day, we put in at Sidon. And Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him* to go to his* friends ⌊to be cared for⌋.d 4 And from there we put out to sea and* sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.* 5 And after we* had sailed across the open sea along Cilicia and Pamphylia, we put in at Myra in Lycia. 6 And there the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and* put us ⌊on board⌋e it. 7 And sailing slowly, in many days and with difficulty we came* to Cnidus. Because* the wind did not permit us to go further, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 8 And sailing along its coast with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near which was the town of Lasea.

9 And because* considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fastf was already over, Paul strongly recommended, 10 saying to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage is going ⌊to end⌋g with disaster and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives!” 11 But the centurion was convinced even more by the shipmaster and the shipowner than by what was said by Paul. 12 And because* the harbor was unsuitable for spending the winter in, the majority decided on a plan to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could arrive at Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing toward the southwest and toward the northwest, to spend the winter there.*

A Violent Storm at Sea

13 And when* a southwest wind began to blow gently, because they* thought they could accomplish their purpose, they weighed anchor and* sailed close along Crete. 14 But not long afterward a wind like a hurricane, called the northeaster,h rushed down from it.i 15 And when* the ship was caught and was not able to head into the wind, we gave way and* were driven along. 16 And running under the lee of a certain small island called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat under control. 17 After* hoisting ⌊it up⌋,j they made use of supports to undergird the ship. And because they* were afraid lest they run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and* thus were driven along. 18 And because* we were violently battered by the storm, on the next day ⌊they began⌋k jettisoning the cargo,* 19 and on the third day they threw overboard the gear of the ship with their own hands. 20 But when* neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and with not a little bad weather confronting us,* finally all hope was abandoned that we would be saved.

21 And because* many were experiencing lack of appetite, at that time Paul stood up in their midst and* said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice not to put out to sea from Crete, and thus avoided this damage and loss! 22 And now I urge you to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life from among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve came to me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar, and behold, God has graciously granted you all who are sailing with you.’ 25 Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will be like this—according to ⌊the⌋l way it was told to me. 26 But it is necessary that we run aground on some island.”

27 And when the fourteenth night had come, as* we were being driven in the Adriatic Sea about the middle of the night, the sailors suspected ⌊they were approaching some land⌋.m 28 And taking soundings, they found twenty fathoms. So going on a little further and taking soundings again, they found fifteen fathoms. 29 And because they* were afraid lest somewhere we run aground against rough places, they threw down four anchors from the stern and* prayed for day to come. 30 And when* the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending as if they were going to lay out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved!” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it fall away.n

33 And until the day was about to come, Paul was urging them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited anxiously, and* you have continued without eating, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is necessary for your preservation. For not a hair from your head will be lost.” 35 And after he* said these things and took bread, he gave thanks to God in front of them all, and after* breaking it,* he began to eat. 36 So they all were* encouraged and partook of food themselves. 37 (Now we were in all two hundred seventy six persons on the ship.) 38 And when they* had eaten their fill of food, they lightened the ship by* throwing the wheato into the sea.

The Shipwreck

39 Now when day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay having a beach, onto which they decided to run the ship ashore if they could. 40 And slipping the anchors, they left them* in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropesp of the steering oars. And hoisting the foresail to the wind that was blowing, they held course for the beach. 41 But falling into a place of crosscurrents,q they ran the ship aground. And the bow stuck fast and* stayed immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence.r 42 Now the plan of the soldiers was that they would kill the prisoners lest any escape by* swimming away, 43 but the centurion, because he* wanted to save Paul, prevented them ⌊from doing what they intended⌋,s and gave orders that those who were able to swim should jump in first to get to the land, 44 and then the rest, some of whom floated* on planks and some of whom on anything that was from the ship. And in this way all were brought safely to the land.

Paul on Malta

28 And after we* were brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 And the local inhabitants showed ⌊extraordinary⌋a kindness to us, for they lit a fire and* welcomed us all, because of the rain that had begun and because of the cold. 3 And when* Paul had gathered a large number of sticks and was placing them* on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and* fastened itself on his hand. 4 And when the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying* to one another, “Doubtless this man is a murderer whom, although he* was rescued from the sea, Justice* has not permitted to live!” 5 He, in turn, shook off the creature into the fire and* suffered no harm. 6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell upb or suddenly to fall down dead. So after* they had waited for a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and* began saying* that he was a god.

7 Now in the regions around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, ⌊named⌋c Publius, who welcomed us and* entertained us* hospitably for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying down, afflicted with fever and dysentery. Paul went* to ⌊him⌋d and after* praying, he placed his* hands on him and* healed him. 9 And after* this had taken place, the rest of those on the island who had diseases were coming and being healed also. 10 They also honored us with many honors, and when we* were putting out to sea, they gave us* the things ⌊we needed⌋.e

Paul Arrives in Rome at Last

11 Now after three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian one ⌊with the twin gods Castor and Pollux as its insignia⌋.f 12 And putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. 13 From there we got underwayg and* arrived at Rhegium, and after one day a south wind came up and* on the second day we came to Puteoli, 14 where we found brothers, and* were implored to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. 15 And from there the brothers, when they* heard the news about us, came to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When he* saw them, Paul gave thanks to God and* took courage. 16 And when we entered into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.

Paul and the Jewish Community in Rome

17 Now it happened that after three days, he called together those who were the most prominent of the Jews. And when* they had assembled, he said to them, “Men and brothers, although* I had done nothing against our* people or the customs of our fathers, from Jerusalem I was delivered as a prisoner into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they* had examined me, were wanting to release me,* because there was no basis for an accusation worthy of death with me. 19 But because* the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar (not as if I* had any charge to bring against my own people).h 20 Therefore for this reason I have requested to see you and to speak with you,* for because of the hope of Israel I am wearing this chain!” 21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters about you from Judea, nor has any of the brothers come and* reported or spoken anything evil about you. 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for concerning this sect it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”

23 And when they* had set a day with him, many more came to him at his lodging place, to whom he was explaining from early in the morning until evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and attempting to convince* them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 24 And some were convinced by* what …