6 27:27And on the fourteenth night, when we were borne along in the Adriatic, at about midnight the sailors suspected that some land was approaching them. 27:28And sounding they found twenty fathoms, and going a little distance and sounding again they found fifteen fathoms; 27:29and fearing lest we should fall on rough places, casting out four anchors from the stern, they prayed for day. 27:30And the sailors seeking to escape from the ship, and letting down the boat into the sea, with the pretence that they were about to put out anchors from the fore part of the ship, 27:31Paul said to the centurion and soldiers, Unless these continue in the ship you cannot be saved. 27:32Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the boat and let it fall off.
7 27:33And when day was about to appear, Paul exhorted all to take food, saying, It is the fourteenth day to-day that you have watched and continued without food, taking nothing. 27:34Wherefore I exhort you to partake of food; for this is necessary to your safety, for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any one of you. 27:35And having said these things, and taken bread, he thanked God before all, and having broken began to eat. 27:36And all being in good spirits they also partook of food; 27:37and all the souls in the ship were two hundred and seventy-six. 27:38And being satisfied with food they lightened the ship, casting the wheat into the sea.
8 27:39And when it was day they did not know the land, but they perceived a bay having a shore, on which they wished if possible to thrust the ship. 27:40And taking up the anchors, they committed [the ship] to the sea, loosening at the same time the fastenings of the rudder and raising the top sail to the wind, they bore down towards the shore. 27:41And falling on a place with a sea on both sides, they run the ship aground. And the bow being firmly fixed, remained immoveable; and the stern was broken by violence.
9 27:42And the design of the soldiers was to kill the prisoners, that none might escape by swimming; 27:43but the centurion wishing to save Paul, prohibited them from this design, and commanded those able to swim to cast themselves into the water first, and go to the land; 27:44and the rest, some on boards, and some on parts of the ship; and in this way all were brought safely to land.
10 28:1And when they were saved, they learned that the island was called Melita. 28:2And the barbarians showed us no ordinary humanity; for kindling a fire they received us all, on account of the rain which was falling, and the cold. 28:3And Paul having collected a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper coming out from the heat fastened on his hand. 28:4And when the barbarians saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, This man is undoubtedly a murderer, whom though saved from the sea justice has not permitted to live. 28:5Then shaking off the creature into the fire he suffered no harm; 28:6but they expected that he would swell up, or suddenly fall down dead. And waiting a long time, and seeing nothing extraordinary happen to him, they thought differently, and said, He is a god.
11 28:7Near that place were the lands of the first man in the island, whose name was Poplius, who received and entertained us kindly three days. 28:8And the father of Poplius lay sick with a fever and dysentery, and Paul came to him, and prayed, and put his hands on him, and cured him. 28:9And this being done, the rest also who had sicknesses in the island came and were cured, 28:10and they bestowed on us many rewards, and when we left supplied us with things that we needed.
12 28:11And after three months we sailed away in an Alexandrian vessel, that had wintered in the island, with the sign of Castor and Pollux. 28:12And coming to Syracuse we remained there three days; 28:13and proceeding thence we came to Rhegium, and after one day, a south wind blowing, we came the second day to Puteoli, 28:14where finding brothers we were invited to remain with them seven days; and thus we came to Rome. 28:15And thence, the brothers hearing of us came out to meet us even to the Forum of Appius, and the Three Taverns [fifty-one miles]; and when Paul saw them, thanking God he took courage.
CHAPTER XXV.
PAUL AT ROME.—A.D. 62, 64.
1 28:16AND when we came to Rome the centurion committed the prisoners to the prefect of the camp, and Paul was allowed to remain by himself, with a soldier to guard him. 28:17And after three days he called the chief men of the Jews together; and when they had convened, said to them, Men and brothers, having done nothing contrary to the people or to the customs of the fathers, I was delivered up from Jerusalem a prisoner into the hands of the Romans, 28:18who on trial wished to release me, because they found no cause of death in me; 28:19but the Jews opposing it I was compelled to appeal to Cæsar; not that I have any thing of which to accuse my nation. 28:20For this reason, therefore, I have called you to see and converse with you, because I am loaded with this chain on account of the hope of Israel.