The Shipwreck

²⁷ On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic^[a] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. ²⁸ They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet^[b] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet^[c] deep. ²⁹ Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. ³⁰ In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat^(A) down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. ³¹ Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”^{(B) 32} So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.

³³ Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. ³⁴ Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.”^{(C) 35} After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it^(D) and began to eat. ³⁶ They were all encouraged^(E) and ate some food themselves. ³⁷ Altogether there were 276 of us on board. ³⁸ When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.^(F)

³⁹ When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach,^(G) where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. ⁴⁰ Cutting loose the anchors,^(H) they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. ⁴¹ But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.^(I)

⁴² The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. ⁴³ But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life^(J) and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. ⁴⁴ The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.^(K)

Paul Ashore on Malta

28 Once safely on shore, we^(L) found out that the island^(M) was called Malta. ² The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. ³ Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. ⁴ When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand,^(N) they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”^{(O) 5} But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.^{(P) 6} The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.^(Q)

⁷ There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. ⁸ His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer,^(R) placed his hands on him^(S) and healed him.^{(T) 9} When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. ¹⁰ They honored us^(U) in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

Paul’s Arrival at Rome

¹¹ After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship^(V) with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. ¹² We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. ¹³ From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. ¹⁴ There we found some brothers and sisters^(W) who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. ¹⁵ The brothers and sisters^(X) there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. ¹⁶ When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.^(Y)

Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard

¹⁷ Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders.^(Z) When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers,^(AA) although I have done nothing against our people^(AB) or against the customs of our ancestors,^(AC) I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. ¹⁸ They examined me^(AD) and wanted to release me,^(AE) because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.^{(AF) 19} The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar.^(AG) I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. ²⁰ For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel^(AH) that I am bound with this chain.”^(AI)

²¹ They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people^(AJ) who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. ²² But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”^(AK)

²³ They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God,^(AL) and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets^(AM) he tried to persuade them about Jesus.^{(AN) 24} Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.^{(AO) 25} They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said^(AP) through Isaiah the prophet:

²⁸ “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation^(AS) has been sent to the Gentiles,^(AT) and they will listen!” ^[29] [e]

³⁰ For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹ He proclaimed the kingdom of God^(AU) and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness^(AV) and without hindrance!

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle^(AW) and set apart^(AX) for the gospel of God^(AY)— ² the gospel he promised beforehand^(AZ) through his prophets^(BA) in the Holy Scriptures^{(BB) 3} regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life^[f](BC) was a descendant of David,^{(BD) 4} and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power^[g](BE) by his resurrection from the dead:^(BF) Jesus Christ our Lord.^{(BG) 5} Through him we received grace^(BH) and apostleship to call all the Gentiles^(BI) to the obedience that comes from^[h] faith^(BJ) for his name’s sake. ⁶ And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.^(BK)

⁷ To all in Rome who are loved by God^(BL) and called to be his holy people:^(BM)

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.^(BN)

Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome

⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,^(BO) because your faith is being reported all over the world.^{(BP) 9} God, whom I serve^(BQ) in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness^(BR) how constantly I remember you ¹⁰ in my prayers at all times;^(BS) and I pray that now at last by God’s will^(BT) the way may be opened for me to come to you.^(BU)

¹¹ I long to see you^(BV) so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift^(BW) to make you strong— ¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware,^(BX) brothers and sisters,^[i](BY) that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now)^(BZ) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

¹⁴ I am obligated^(CA) both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.^(CB)

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel,^(CC) because it is the power of God^(CD) that brings salvation to everyone who believes:^(CE) first to the Jew,^(CF) then to the Gentile.^{(CG) 17} For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed^(CH)—a righteousness that is by faith^(CI) from first to last,^[j] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”^[k](CJ)

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

¹⁸ The wrath of God^(CK) is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.^{(CL) 20} For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,^(CM) so that people are without excuse.^(CN)

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.^{(CO) 22} Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools^{(CP) 23} and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images^(CQ) made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over^(CR) in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.^{(CS) 25} They exchanged the truth about God for a lie,^(CT) and worshiped and served created things^(CU) rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.^(CV) Amen.^(CW)

²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over^(CX) to shameful lusts.^(CY) Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.^{(CZ) 27} In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.^(DA)

²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over^(DB) to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,^{(DC) 30} slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;^{(DD) 31} they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love,^(DE) no mercy. ³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death,^(DF) they not only continue to do these very things but also approve^(DG) of those who practice them.