Study Desk

Indeed the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner.

Paul replied, "Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains."

When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius.

The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly, and allowed him to go to his friends to be cared for.

There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy and put us on board.

We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind was against us, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.

Since the harbor was not suitable for spending the winter, the majority was in favor of putting to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, where they could spend the winter. It was a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest.

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss.

I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,

So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.

Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.

Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads."

Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves.

So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes that tied the steering-oars; then hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,

Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

We put in at Syracuse and stayed there for three days;

There we found believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.