Chapter XXIV: Paul's Voyage to Rome.--A.d. 61, 62

1 [27:1]AND when it was determined that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion by the name of Julius, of the cohort of Augustus. [27:2]And going on board of a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places in Asia, we set sail, Aristarchus a Macedonian of Thessalonica being with us; [27:3]and on the next day we came to Sidon, and Julius treating Paul with humanity allowed him to go to his friends, and receive attention.

2 [27:4]Proceeding thence we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary, [27:5]and sailing through the sea by Cilicia and Pamphylia we came to Myra in Lycia; [27:6]and the centurion finding there an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, put us into it. [27:7]And sailing slowly in those days, and scarcely being by Cnidus, the wind not permitting us [to proceed in a direct course] we sailed under Crete, by Salmone, [27:8]and sailing by it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which is the city Lasea.

3 [27:9]But some time being spent and navigation not being safe, because the fast had already passed by, Paul advised, [27:10]saying to them, Men, I see that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also of our lives. [27:11]But the centurion believed the master and owner rather than the words spoken by Paul. [27:12]And the harbor being inconvenient to winter in, the greater part advised to depart thence, and, if they were able, to come to Phenice to winter, a harbor of Crete, which opens to the South and Southwest.

4 [27:13]And the South wind blowing gently, supposing that they had attained their purpose, setting sail they proceeded along the coast of Crete. [27:14]But not long after a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon, rushed against it, [27:15] and the ship being caught and not being able to bear up against the wind, we gave up, and were borne along. [27:16]And running a little under the island called Clauda, we with difficulty became masters of the boat, [27:17]and taking it out they used helps, under-girding the ship; and fearing lest they should fall on the shoal, letting down the mast they were driven in that condition. [27:18]And we being exceedingly pressed with the storm, on the next day they cast the cargo overboard, [27:19]and on the third day with our own hands we cast overboard the furniture of the ship. [27:20]And neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no slight storm being upon us, at last all hope that we should be saved was taken away.

5 [27:21]Then there having been long abstinence from food, Paul stood up in the midst of them and said, You ought, men, taking my advice, not to have sailed from Crete, and to have saved this injury and loss. [27:22]And now I advise you to be of good courage; for there shall be no loss of a life of you, but only of the ship. [27:23]For an angel of the God whose I am, and whom I serve, came to me this night [27:24]and said, Fear not, Paul; you must stand before Caesar, and behold, God has given you all that sail with you. [27:25]Wherefore, men, be of good courage; for I believe God, that it will be as he has told me; [27:26] but we must be cast on a certain island.

6 [27:27]And on the fourteenth night, when we were borne along in the Adriatic, at about midnight the sailors suspected that some land was approaching them. [27:28]And sounding they found twenty fathoms, and going a little distance and sounding again they found fifteen fathoms; [27:29]and fearing lest we should fall on rough places, casting out four anchors from the stern, they prayed for day. [27:30]And 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, [27:31]Paul said to the centurion and soldiers, Unless these continue in the ship you cannot be saved. [27:32]Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the boat and let it fall off.

7 [27:33]And 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. [27:34]Wherefore 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. [27:35]And having said these things, and taken bread, he thanked God before all, and having broken began to eat. [27:36]And all being in good spirits they also partook of food; [27:37]and all the souls in the ship were two hundred and seventy-six. [27:38]And being satisfied with food they lightened the ship, casting the wheat into the sea.

8 [27:39]And 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. [27:40] And 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. [27:41]And 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 [27:42]And the design of the soldiers was to kill the prisoners, that none might escape by swimming; [27:43]but 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; [27:44]and the rest, some on boards, and some on parts of the ship; and in this way all were brought safely to land.

10 [28:1]And when they were saved, they learned that the island was called Melita. [28:2]And 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. [28:3]And Paul having collected a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper coming out from the heat fastened on his hand. [28:4]And 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. [28:5]Then shaking off the creature into the fire he suffered no harm; [28:6]but 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 [28:7]Near that place were the lands of the first man in the island, whose name was Poplius, who received and entertained us kindly three days. [28:8]And 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. [28:9]And this being done, the rest also who had sicknesses in the island came and were cured, [28:10]and they bestowed on us many rewards, and when we left supplied us with things that we needed.

12 [28:11]And after three months we sailed away in an Alexandrian vessel, that had wintered in the island, with the sign of Castor and Pollux. [28:12]And coming to Syracuse we remained there three days; [28:13]and proceeding thence we came to Rhegium, and after one day, a south wind blowing, we came the second day to Puteoli, [28:14]where finding brothers we were invited to remain with them seven days; and thus we came to Rome. [28:15]And 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.