Book of Common Prayer

²⁴ As he thus answered for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning has made you mad.

²⁵ And Paul said, I am not mad, most dear Festus, but speak the words of truth and soberness. ²⁶ The king knows of these things, before whom I speak freely. I do not think any of these things are hidden from him. For this was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know well that you believe.

²⁸ Agrippa said to Paul, You bring me in mind somewhat to become a Christian.

²⁹ And Paul said, I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, were not only somewhat, but altogether such as I am, except for these bonds.

³⁰ And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up with the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them. ³¹ And when they had gone apart, they talked between themselves, saying, This man does nothing worthy of death, nor of bonds. ³² Then Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been released, if he had not appealed to Caesar.

Paul begins the voyage toward Rome. The centurion Julius treats him graciously. They suffer shipwreck.

27 When it was concluded that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of Caesar’s soldiers. ² And we entered into a ship of Adramyttium and put out from land, appointed to sail by the coasts of Asia. One Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. ³ And the next day we came to Sidon. And Julius treated Paul graciously, and gave him liberty to go to his friends and to refresh himself. ⁴ And from there we put out to sea, and sailed hard by Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. ⁵ Then we sailed over the sea that is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, and came to Myra, a city in Lycia.

⁶ And there the centurion found a ship of Alexander ready to sail to Italy, and put us in it. ⁷ And when we had sailed slowly many days, and with difficulty arrived off Cnidus (because the wind was against us), we sailed hard by the coast of Crete off Salmone. ⁸ With much work we sailed beyond Salmone, and came to a Cretan port called Fair Havens, near which was a city called Lasea.

²⁸ Learn from a similitude of the fig tree. When its branches are yet tender and it has brought forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also in like manner, when you see these things come to pass, understand that it is near, even at the doors. ³⁰ Truly I say to you that this generation will not pass till all these things be done.

³¹ Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words will not pass. ³² But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not the angels who are in heaven, nor the Son himself, but the Father only. ³³ Take heed. Watch and pray, for you know not when the time is. ³⁴ It is as a man who has gone into a far country, and has left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each his work, and instructed the porter to watch.

³⁵ Watch therefore. For you know not when the master of the house will come – whether at evening or midnight, whether at the cock-crowing or in the dawning – ³⁶ lest, if he come suddenly, he should find you sleeping. ³⁷ And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!