Book of Common Prayer

⁹ It was now so late in the year that it was a bad time to go by boat. So Paul spoke to them about it.

¹⁰ He said, `Sirs, I see that if we go on by boat, we will have much trouble. Something bad will happen to the things on the boat and to the boat itself, and also to us.'

¹¹ The officer did not listen to what Paul said. But he listened to the captain and the owner of the boat.

¹² This place was not a good place for the boat to stay through the winter months of the year. So most of the men wanted to go on. They thought they might be able to reach Phoenicia and stay there for the winter. Phoenicia is a good place on the island of Crete. Boats can stay there. The winds do not blow against them.

¹³ When the south wind began to blow a little, they thought they had what they wanted. So they started off. They went along very close to the land of Crete.

¹⁴ But soon a very strong north-east wind blew from Crete.

¹⁵ The wind blew against the boat and it could not go into the wind. So they let the boat go where the wind took it.

¹⁶ We came close to a small island called Clauda. There we had a hard time to pull up the small boat.

¹⁷ However, at last they got it up. Then they put ropes around the boat to make it strong. They were also afraid they would get stuck in a bad place in the sand. So they took down the big sail cloth that was up to catch the wind. Then they let the boat go where the wind took it.

¹⁸ The next day the storm was very bad. They threw out the things that were in the boat.

¹⁹ And the third day they threw off the things they used on the boat, with their own hands.

²⁰ For many days we could not see the sun or the stars. The bad storm kept on. We did not think that we would be saved.

²¹ The men of the boat had not eaten anything for a long time. Then Paul stood up and said, `Sirs, you should have listened to me and not left Crete. But you did leave. So you have had much trouble and have lost all these things.

²² Now I tell you to be glad. Not one of you will die. Only the boat will break and be lost.

²³ I belong to God and worship him. Last night his angel stood before me.

²⁴ He said, "Paul, do not be afraid. You must stand before Caesar. And see, God has given you the lives of all these men who are travelling with you."

²⁵ So be glad, sirs. I believe God. It will be just the way he told me.

²⁶ However, we will have to go on an island.'

9 Jesus called his twelve disciples together. He gave them power over all the bad spirits, and power to heal sick people.

² He sent them out to tell people about the kingdom of God and to heal sick people.

³ He said, `Take nothing with you for your trip. Do not take a walking stick, or a bag, or food, or money. And do not take two shirts.

⁴ When you go into a certain house, stay there until you leave the town.

⁵ Some people might not take you in. When you leave that town, shake the dust off your feet. That will be a sign to them.'

⁶ The disciples left and went through the towns. They told the good news and healed people everywhere.

⁷ Herod the ruler heard about all that was happening. He did not know what to think. Some people said John the Baptizer had risen from death.

⁸ Some people said Elijah had come back. And other people said that one of the old prophets of God had risen from death.

⁹ Herod said, `I cut off John's head. Now who is this man of whom I hear such things?' He wanted to see Jesus.

¹⁰ When the apostles came back, they told Jesus all they had done. He took them away with him and they went by themselves to a town called Bethsaida.

¹¹ But the people found out and they followed him. He was glad to see them and talked to them about God's kingdom. He healed those who were sick.

¹² When it was late in the day, the twelve disciples came to him. They said, `Send the people away so they can go to the towns and the farms to sleep and get something to eat. This is a lonely place.'

¹³ But Jesus said to them, `You give them food to eat.' They said, `All we have is five loaves of bread and two fish. Shall we go and buy food for all these people?'

¹⁴ There were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, `Tell the people to sit down in groups of fifty.'

¹⁵ They did what he said, and they made all the people sit down.

¹⁶ He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and thanked God for them. Then he broke the bread. He gave it to the disciples to give to the people.

¹⁷ They all ate and had enough. They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces that were left.