Study Desk

And Paul said, "I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains."

When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius.

There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it.

When we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone;

Because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.

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

"For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me,

"Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.

Fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and wished for daybreak.

"Therefore I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your preservation, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish."

And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders; and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they were heading for the beach.

The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all.

At the end of three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead.

After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.

There we found some brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome.

"And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death.

"For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel."

"But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere."

When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.