Acts 27-28 (Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition)

Acts 27

 ¹And when it was determined that he should sail into Italy, and that Paul, with the other prisoners, should be delivered to a centurion, named Julius, of the band Augusta,

    ²Going on board a ship of Adrumetum, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia, Aristarchus, the Macedonian of Thessalonica, continuing with us.

    ³And the day following we came to Sidon. And Julius treating Paul courteously, permitted him to go to his friends, and to take care of himself.

    ⁴And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

    ⁵And sailing over the sea of Cilicia, and Pamphylia, we came to Lystra, which is in Lycia:

    ⁶And there the centurion finding a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy, removed us into it.

    ⁷And when for many days we had sailed slowly, and were scarce come over against Gnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed near Crete by Salmone:

    ⁸And with much ado sailing by it, we came into a certain place, which is called Good-havens, nigh to which was the city of Thalassa.

    ⁹And when much time was spent, and when sailing now was dangerous, because the fast was now past, Paul comforted them,

    ¹⁰Saying to them: Ye men, I see that the voyage beginneth to be with injury and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

    ¹¹But the centurion believed the pilot and the master of the ship, more than those things which were said by Paul.

    ¹²And whereas it was not a commodious haven to winter in, the greatest part gave counsel to sail thence, if by any means they might reach Phenice to winter there, which is a haven of Crete, looking towards the southwest and northwest.

    ¹³And the south wind gently blowing, thinking that they had obtained their purpose, when they had loosed from Asson, they sailed close by Crete.

    ¹⁴But not long after, there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroaquilo.

    ¹⁵And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up against the wind, giving up the ship to the winds, we were driven.

    ¹⁶And running under a certain island, that is called Cauda, we had much work to come by the boat.

    ¹⁷Which being taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship, and fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, they let down the sail yard, and so were driven.

    ¹⁸And we being mightily tossed with the tempest, the next day they lightened the ship.

    ¹⁹And the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship.

    ²⁰And when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm lay on us, all hope of our being saved was now taken away.

    ²¹And after they had fasted a long time, Paul standing forth in the midst of them, said: You should indeed, O ye men, have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and have gained this harm and loss.

    ²²And now I exhort you to be of good cheer. For there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but only of the ship.

    ²³For an angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, stood by me this night,

    ²⁴Saying: Fear not, Paul, thou must be brought before Caesar; and behold, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

    ²⁵Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God that it shall so be, as it hath been told me.

    ²⁶And we must come unto a certain island.

    ²⁷But after the fourteenth night was come, as we were sailing in Adria, about midnight, the shipmen deemed that they discovered some country.

    ²⁸Who also sounding, found twenty fathoms; and going on a little further, they found fifteen fathoms.

    ²⁹Then fearing lest we should fall upon rough places, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

    ³⁰But as the shipmen sought to fly out of the ship, having let down the boat into the sea, under colour, as though they would have cast anchors out of the forepart of the ship,

    ³¹Paul said to the centurion, and to the soldiers: Except these stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.

    ³²Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

    ³³And when it began to be light, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying: This day is the fourteenth day that you have waited, and continued fasting, taking nothing.

    ³⁴Wherefore I pray you to take some meat for your health's sake; for there shall not an hair of the head of any of you perish.

    ³⁵And when he had said these things, taking bread, he gave thanks to God in the sight of them all; and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

    ³⁶Then were they all of better cheer, and they also took some meat.

    ³⁷And we were in all in the ship, two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

    ³⁸And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, casting the wheat into the sea.

    ³⁹And when it was day, they knew not the land; but they discovered a certain creek that had a shore, into which they minded, if they could, to thrust in the ship.

    ⁴⁰And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, loosing withal the rudder bands; and hoisting up the mainsail to the wind, they made towards shore.

    ⁴¹And when we were fallen into a place where two seas met, they run the ship aground; and the forepart indeed, sticking fast, remained unmoveable: but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the sea.

    ⁴²And the soldiers' counsel was, that they should kill the prisoners, lest any of them, swimming out, should escape.

    ⁴³But the centurion, willing to save Paul, forbade it to be done; and he commanded that they who could swim, should cast themselves first into the sea, and save themselves, and get to land.

    ⁴⁴And the rest, some they carried on boards, and some on those things that belonged to the ship. And so it came to pass, that every soul got safe to land.

   

Acts 28

 ¹And when we had escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita. But the barbarians shewed us no small courtesy.

    ²For kindling a fire, they refreshed us all, because of the present rain, and of the cold.

    ³And when Paul had gathered together a bundle of sticks, and had laid them on the fire, a viper coming out of the heat, fastened on his hand.

    ⁴And when the barbarians saw the beast hanging on his hand, they said one to another: Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, who though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance doth not suffer him to live.

    ⁵And he indeed shaking off the beast into the fire, suffered no harm.

    ⁶But they supposed that he would begin to swell up, and that he would suddenly fall down and die. But expecting long, and seeing that there came no harm to him, changing their minds, they said, that he was a god.

    ⁷Now in these places were possessions of the chief man of the island, named Publius, who receiving us, for three days entertained us courteously.

    ⁸And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever, and of a bloody flux. To whom Paul entered in; and when he had prayed, and laid his hands on him, he healed him.

    ⁹Which being done, all that had diseases in the island, came and were healed:

    ¹⁰Who also honoured us with many honours, and when we were to set sail, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

    ¹¹And after three months, we sailed in a ship of Alexandria, that had wintered in the island, whose sign was the Castors.

    ¹²And when we were come to Syracusa, we tarried there three days.

    ¹³From thence, compassing by the shore, we came to Rhegium: and after one day, the south wind blowing, we came the second day to Puteoli;

    ¹⁴Where, finding brethren, we were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went to Rome.

    ¹⁵And from thence, when the brethren had heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and the Three Taverns: whom when Paul saw, he gave thanks to God, and took courage.

    ¹⁶And when we were come to Rome, Paul was suffered to dwell by himself, with a soldier that kept him.

    ¹⁷And after the third day, he called together the chief of the Jews. And when they were assembled, he said to them: Men, brethren, I, having done nothing against the people, or the custom of our fathers, was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans;

    ¹⁸Who, when they had examined me, would have released me, for that there was no cause of death in me;

    ¹⁹But the Jews contradicting it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had any thing to accuse my nation of.

    ²⁰For this cause therefore I desired to see you, and to speak to you. Because that for the hope of Israel, I am bound with this chain.

    ²¹But they said to him: We neither received letters concerning thee from Judea, neither did any of the brethren that came hither, relate or speak any evil of thee.

    ²²But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest; for as concerning this sect, we know that it is every where contradicted.

    ²³And when they had appointed him a day, there came very many to him unto his lodgings; to whom he expounded, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, out of the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning until evening.

    ²⁴And some believed the things that were said; but some believed not.

    ²⁵And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, Paul speaking this one word: Well did the Holy Ghost speak to our fathers by Isaias the prophet,

    ²⁶Saying: Go to this people, and say to them: With the ear you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive.

    ²⁷For the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears have they heard heavily, and their eyes they have shut; lest perhaps they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

    ²⁸Be it known therefore to you, that this salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it.

    ²⁹And when he had said these things, the Jews went out from him, having much reasoning among themselves.

    ³⁰And he remained two whole years in his own hired lodging; and he received all that came in to him,

    ³¹Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, without prohibition.