Study Desk

By now much time had passed, and the voyage was already dangerous. Since the Fast^[c](e) was already over, Paul gave his advice

and told them, "Men, I can see that this voyage is headed toward damage and heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship but also of our lives."

But the centurion paid attention to the captain and the owner of the ship rather than to what Paul said.^(f)

Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to set sail from there, hoping somehow to reach Phoenix, a harbor on Crete^(g) open to the southwest and northwest, and to winter there.

When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought they had achieved their purpose. They weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.

But not long afterward, a fierce wind called the "northeaster"^[d] rushed down from the island.

Since the ship was caught and was unable to head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.

After running under the shelter of a little island called Cauda,^[e] we were barely able to get control of the skiff.

After hoisting it up, they used ropes and tackle and girded the ship. Then, fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis,^[f] they lowered the drift-anchor, and in this way they were driven along.

Because we were being severely battered by the storm, they began to jettison the cargo the next day.^(h)

On the third day, they threw the ship's gear overboard with their own hands.

For many days neither sun nor stars appeared, and the severe storm kept raging. Finally all hope that we would be saved was disappearing.

Since many were going without food, Paul stood up among them and said, "You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss.

Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship.

For this night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me,⁽ⁱ⁾

and said, ‘Don't be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And, look! God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.'

Therefore, take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me.^(j)

However, we must run aground on a certain island."^(k)

When the fourteenth night came, we were drifting in the Adriatic Sea,^[g] and in the middle of the night the sailors thought they were approaching land.^[h]

They took a sounding and found it to be 120 feet^[i] deep; when they had sailed a little farther and sounded again, they found it to be 90 feet^[j] deep.

Then, fearing we might run aground in some rocky place, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.

Some sailors tried to escape from the ship; they had let down the skiff into the sea, pretending that they were going to put out anchors from the bow.

Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."

Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the skiff and let it drop away.

When it was about daylight, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, having eaten nothing.

Therefore I urge you to take some food. For this has to do with your survival, since none of you will lose a hair from your head."^(l)

After he said these things and had taken some bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all of them, and when he broke it, he began to eat.^(m)

They all became encouraged and took food themselves.

In all there were 276 of us on the ship.⁽ⁿ⁾

When they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing the grain overboard into the sea.

When daylight came, they did not recognize the land but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could.^(o)

After casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach.

But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves.

The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim away and escape.

But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached the shore.^(p)

Once ashore, we^(a) then learned that the island was called Malta.^(b)

The local people^(c) showed us extraordinary kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold.

As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself to his hand.

When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "This man is probably a murderer, and though he has escaped the sea, Justice^[a] does not allow him to live!"^(d)

However, he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.^(e)

They expected that he would swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.^(f)

Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

Publius's father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.^(g)

After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.

So they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed.

After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Brothers^[b] as its figurehead.

Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed three days.

From there, after making a circuit along the coast,^[c] we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli.

There we found believers^[d](h) and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.

Now the believers^[e] from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

When we entered Rome,^[f] Paul was permitted to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.⁽ⁱ⁾

After three days he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them: "Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.^(j)

After they examined me, they wanted to release me, since I had not committed a capital offense.^(k)

Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar;^(l) it was not as though I had any accusation against my nation.

For this reason I've asked to see you and speak to you. In fact, it is for the hope of Israel that I'm wearing this chain."^(m)

Then they said to him, "We haven't received any letters about you from Judea. None of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you.

But we would like to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, we are aware that it is spoken against everywhere."⁽ⁿ⁾

After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and witnessed about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.^(o)

Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe.^(p)

Disagreeing among themselves, they began to leave after Paul made one statement: "The Holy Spirit correctly spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your^[g] ancestors

when He said, Go to these people and say: You will listen and listen, yet never understand; and you will look and look, yet never perceive.

For the hearts of these people have grown callous, their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted, and I would heal them. ^(q)[h]

Therefore, let it be known to you that this saving work of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!"^(r)

[After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a prolonged debate among themselves.]^[i]

Then he stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him,

proclaiming the kingdom of God^(s) and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with full boldness^(t) and without hindrance.