Chronological

Paul Sails for Rome

27 When it was decided that we should sail into Italy, they handed Paul and some other prisoners over to a centurion of the Augustan Regiment, named Julius. ² Boarding a ship from Adramyttium, we put out to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.

³ The next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be given care. ⁴ From there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. ⁵ Sailing across the sea off of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. ⁶ There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy, and he put us on board. ⁷ We sailed slowly for many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to proceed, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. ⁸ Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

⁹ As much time had been lost and as the voyage was now dangerous, because the Day of Atonement was already over, Paul advised them, ¹⁰ saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also of our lives.” ¹¹ But the centurion was persuaded more by the captain and the owner of the ship than by what Paul said. ¹² Since the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on from there, if somehow we might reach Phoenix, a harbor in Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and winter there.

The Storm at Sea

¹³ When a south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained the necessary conditions, they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. ¹⁴ But soon afterward a tempestuous wind swept through, called the Euroclydon.^{[a] 15} When the ship was overpowered and could not head into the wind, we let her drift. ¹⁶ Drifting under the lee of an island called Cauda, we could scarcely secure the rowboat. ¹⁷ When they had hoisted it aboard, they used ropes to undergird the ship. And fearing that they might run aground on the sand of Syrtis, they let down the mast, and so were driven. ¹⁸ We were violently tossed by the storm. The next day they threw cargo overboard. ¹⁹ On the third day we threw the tackle of the ship overboard with our own hands. ²⁰ When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was upon us, all hope that we should be saved was lost.

²¹ After they had long abstained from food, Paul stood in their midst and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete, incurring this injury and loss. ²² But now I advise you to take courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. ²³ For there stood by me this night the angel of God to whom I belong and whom I serve, ²⁴ saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And, look! God has given you all those who sail with you.’ ²⁵ Therefore, men, take courage, for I believe God that it will be exactly as it was told to me. ²⁶ Nevertheless, we must be shipwrecked on a certain island.”

²⁷ When the fourteenth night came, while we were drifting in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors supposed that they were approaching land. ²⁸ They took soundings and found the water to be one hundred and twenty feet deep.^[b] When they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be ninety feet deep.^{[c] 29} Fearing that we might run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. ³⁰ When the sailors strove to abandon ship and lowered the rowboat into the sea, under the pretext of lowering anchors out of the bow, ³¹ Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these sailors remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.” ³² Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the rowboat and let her fall off.

³³ As day was about to dawn, Paul asked them all to eat, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have waited and continued without food, having eaten nothing. ³⁴ So I urge you to eat. This is for your preservation, for not a hair shall fall from your head.” ³⁵ When he had said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all. And when he had broken it he began to eat. ³⁶ Then they were all encouraged, and they also ate food themselves. ³⁷ In all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship. ³⁸ When they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw the wheat into the sea.

The Shipwreck

³⁹ When it was day, they did not recognize the land. But they noticed a bay with a shore, into which they were determined to run the ship if possible. ⁴⁰ Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while loosening the ropes that secured the rudders. Then they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. ⁴¹ But striking a sandbar where two seas met, they ran the ship aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was broken up by the violent surf.

⁴² The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. ⁴³ But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, prevented them from their intent and ordered those who could swim to abandon ship first and get to land, ⁴⁴ and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And in this way they all escaped safely to land.

Paul in Malta

28 When they had escaped, they learned that the island was called Malta. ² The natives showed extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because of the rain and the cold. ³ When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper driven out by the heat fastened on his hand. ⁴ When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, justice does not allow him to live.” ⁵ But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. ⁶ They expected him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But while they waited and saw no harm befall him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

⁷ In that area was an estate of the chief man of the island, named Publius, who had welcomed us and courteously housed us for three days. ⁸ It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, placing his hands on him, prayed and healed him. ⁹ When this happened, the rest on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. ¹⁰ They honored us in many ways. And when we sailed, they provided us with necessary supplies.

Paul Arrives in Rome

¹¹ After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. ¹² Landing at Syracuse, we waited there for three days. ¹³ From there we circled around and sailed to Rhegium. After one day the south wind blew, and the next day we arrived at Puteoli. ¹⁴ There we found brothers, and were invited to remain with them for seven days. And so we went to Rome. ¹⁵ From there, when the brothers heard of us, they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius^[d] and the Three Taverns^[e] to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. ¹⁶ When we arrived at Rome, the centurion handed the prisoners over to the captain of the guard. But Paul was allowed to remain by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

Paul Preaches in Rome

¹⁷ After three days Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, having done nothing contrary to our people or the customs of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. ¹⁸ When they had examined me, they were determined to release me, because there was no charge against me deserving death. ¹⁹ But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any charge to bring against my nation. ²⁰ For this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, because I am bound with this chain for the hope of Israel.”

²¹ They said to him, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers that have come have reported or spoken any evil of you. ²² But we think it is proper to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”

²³ When they had arranged a day to be with him, many came to him at his residence. From morning until evening he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God to them, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. ²⁴ Some believed what was said, but some did not believe. ²⁵ Being in disagreement with one another, they were dismissed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit accurately spoke to our fathers through Isaiah the prophet,

²⁸ “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They will hear it!”

²⁹ When he had said these words, the Jews departed and disputed greatly among themselves. ³⁰ Paul remained two whole years in his own rented house. He welcomed all who came to him, ³¹ boldly and freely preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.