Study Desk

and, having withdrawn, they talked to one another and said, "This man is doing nothing for which he deserves death or imprisonment."

Now when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they handed over Paul and a few other prisoners into the custody of Julius, a Captain of the Augustan battalion;

There Julius found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy, and put us on board of her.

It took several days of slow sailing for us to come with difficulty off Cnidus; from which point, as the wind did not allow us to get on in the direct course, we ran under the lee of Crete by Salmone.

and as the harbour was inconvenient for wintering in, the majority were in favour of putting out to sea, to try whether they could get to Phoenix--a harbour on the coast of Crete facing north-east and south-east--to winter there.

Then, when for several days neither sun nor stars were seen and the terrific gale still harassed us, the last ray of hope was now vanishing.

When for a long time they had taken but little food, Paul, standing up among them, said, "Sirs, you ought to have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete. You would then have escaped this suffering and loss.

But now take courage, for there will be no destruction of life among you, but of the ship only.

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

and he said, "`Dismiss all fear, Paul, for you must stand before Caesar; and God has granted you the lives of all who are sailing with you.'

"Therefore, Sirs, take courage; for I believe God, and am convinced that things will happen exactly as I have been told.

Then for fear of possibly running on rocks, they threw out four anchors from the stern and waited impatiently for daylight.

And continually, up till daybreak, Paul kept urging all on board to take some food. "This is the fourteenth day," he said, "that you have been anxiously waiting for the storm to cease, and have fasted, eating little or nothing.

I therefore strongly advise you to take some food. This is essential for your safety. For not a hair will perish from the head of any one of you."

Having said this he took some bread, and, after giving thanks to God for it before them all, he broke it in pieces and began to eat it.

So they cut away the anchors and left them in the sea, unloosing at the same time the bands which secured the paddle-rudders. Then, hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

Now the soldiers recommended that the prisoners should be killed, for fear some one of them might swim ashore and effect his escape.

The strange-speaking natives showed us remarkable kindness, for they lighted a fire and made us all welcome because of the pelting rain and the cold.

When the natives saw the creature hanging to his hand, they said to one another, "Beyond doubt this man is a murderer, for, though saved from the sea, unerring Justice does not permit him to live."

Now in the same part of the island there were estates belonging to the Governor, whose name was Publius. He welcomed us to his house, and for three days generously made us his guests.