027:027 It was now the fourteenth night, and we were drifting through
the Sea of Adria, when, about midnight, the sailors suspected
that land was close at hand.
027:028 So they hove the lead and found twenty fathoms of water;
and after a short time they hove again and found fifteen fathoms.
027:029 Then for fear of possibly running on rocks, they threw out four
anchors from the stern and waited impatiently for daylight.
027:030 The sailors, however, wanted to make their escape from the ship,
and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they
were going to lay out anchors from the bow.
027:031 But Paul, addressing Julius and the soldiers, said, "Your lives
will be sacrificed, unless these men remain on board."
027:032 Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the ship's boat and let
her fall off.
027:033 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.
027:034 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."
027:035 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.
027:036 This raised the spirits of all, and they too took food.
027:037 There were 276 of us, crew and passengers, all told.
027:038 After eating a hearty meal they lightened the ship by throwing
the wheat overboard.
027:039 When daylight came, they tried in vain to recognise the coast.
But an inlet with a sandy beach attracted their attention,
and now their object was, if possible, to run the ship aground
in this inlet.
027:040 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.
027:041 But coming to a place where two seas met, they stranded the ship,
and her bow sticking fast remained immovable, while the stern
began to go to pieces under the heavy hammering of the sea.
027:042 Now the soldiers recommended that the prisoners should be killed,
for fear some one of them might swim ashore and effect his escape.
027:043 But their Captain, bent on securing Paul's safety, kept them
from their purpose and gave orders that those who could swim
should first jump overboard and get to land;
027:044 and that the rest should follow, some on planks, and others
on various things from the ship. In this way they all got
safely to land.
028:001 Our lives having been thus preserved, we discovered that
the island was called Malta.
028:002 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.
028:003 Now, when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and had thrown
them on the fire, a viper, driven by the heat, came out and
fastened itself on his hand.
028:004 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."
028:005 He, however, shook the reptile off into the fire and was unhurt.
028:006 They expected him soon to swell with inflammation or suddenly
fall down dead; but, after waiting a long time and seeing
no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said
that he was a god.
028:007 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.
028:008 It happened, however, that his father was lying ill of dysentery
aggravated by attacks of fever; so Paul went to see him, and,
after praying, laid his hands on him and cured him.
028:009 After this, all the other sick people in the island came
and were cured.
028:010 They also loaded us with honours, and when at last we sailed
they put supplies on board for us.
028:011 Three months passed before we set sail in an Alexandrian vessel,
called the `Twin Brothers,' which had wintered at the island.
028:012 At Syracuse we put in and stayed for two days.
028:013 From there we came round and reached Rhegium; and a day later,
a south wind sprang up which brought us by the evening
of the next day to Puteoli.
028:014 Here we found brethren, who invited us to remain with them
for a week; and so we reached Rome.
028:015 Meanwhile the brethren there, hearing of our movements,
came as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Huts to meet us;
and when Paul saw them he thanked God and felt encouraged.
028:016 Upon our arrival in Rome, Paul received permission to live
by himself, guarded by a soldier.
028:017 After one complete day he invited the leading men among the Jews
to meet him; and, when they were come together, he said to them,
"As for me, brethren, although I had done nothing prejudicial
to our people or contrary to the customs of our forefathers,
I was handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the power
of the Romans.
028:018 They, after they had sharply questioned me, were willing to set
me at liberty, because they found no offence in me for which I
deserve to die.
028:019 But, at last, the opposition of the Jews compelled me to appeal
to Caesar; not however that I had any charge to bring
against my nation.
028:020 For these reasons, then, I have invited you here, that I
might see you and speak to you; for it is for the sake of Him
who is the hope of Israel that this chain hangs upon me."
028:021 "For our part," they replied, "we have not received any letters
from Judaea about you, nor have any of our countrymen come
here and reported or stated anything to your disadvantage.
028:022 But we should be glad to hear from you what it is that
you believe; for as for this sect all we know is that it
is everywhere spoken against."
028:023 So they arranged a day with him and came to him in considerable
numbers at the house of the friends who were entertaining him.
And then, with solemn earnestness, he explained to them
the subject of the Kingdom of God, endeavouring from morning
till evening to convince them about Jesus, both from the Law
of Moses and from the Prophets.
028:024 Some were convinced; others refused to believe.
028:025 Unable to agree among themselves, they at last left him,
but not before Paul had spoken a parting word to them, saying,
"Right well did the Holy Spirit say to your forefathers
through the Prophet Isaiah:
028:026 "`Go to this people and tell them, you will hear and hear,
and by no means understand; and will look and look,
and by no means see.
028:027 For this people's mind has grown callous, their hearing has
become dull, and their eyes they have closed; to prevent
their ever seeing with their eyes, or hearing with their ears,
or understanding with their minds, and turning back,
so that I might cure them.'
028:028 "Be fully assured, therefore, that this salvation--God's salvation--
has now been sent to the Gentiles, and that they, at any rate,
will give heed."
028:029 []
028:030 After this Paul lived for fully two years in a hired house
of his own, receiving all who came to see him.
028:031 He announced the coming of the Kingdom of God, and taught
concerning the Lord Jesus Christ without let or hindrance.