Study Desk

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;

The harbor was not suitable for wintering, so 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 slowly abandoned.

"And 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, whom I also serve, came to 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 prayed for daybreak.

"Therefore, I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your survival, 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 they hoisted the foresail to the wind and were heading for the beach.

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

Now in the neighboring parts of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us warmly for three days.

After 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 brothers and sisters, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and that is how we came to Rome.

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

"For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, since 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 regarding this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere."

When they had set a day for Paul, people 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.

FOR THE HEARTS OF THIS PEOPLE HAVE BECOME INSENSITIVE, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY HARDLY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM."'