Acts of the Apostles - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 1173

ACTS. 33 34 35 27-—32 37 43 44 these remain in the ship, you cannot be saved. The soldiers accordingly cut the

ropes of the boat, allowing her to drift off. Then, until the day should come; Paul invited all of them to take some This is to—day the fourteenth day you have been in anxiety without regular rations, none having been served out. I invite you, therefore, to serve out food ; be- cause that will contribute to your safety: for not a single hair shall perish from one of your heads.’ Having said this, and taking a bis-

cuit, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and breaking it, he began to eat. Their courage then re- viving, they also provided a meal for themselves. And we were, all told, two hundred and seventy·six lives in the ship. Being then satisfied with the meal, they proceeded to lighten the ship by throwing the wheat overboard. When the day dawned, however,

they could not distinguish the land; but observing a bay with a sandy shore, they consulted whether it would be possible to beach the vessel upon it» So letting the anchors go in the sea, loosening at the same time the lashings of the rudders, and hoisting

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the foresail to the breeze, they made for the shore. But, whirling into the breakers, the ship grounded; and the stem having bilged,istuck fast,,while the stern was washed over by the breakers. The soldiers then resolved to kill

the prisoners, being afraid that they would escape by swimming. But the Captain, anxious to save Paul, pro- hibited their inten.tion,and gave orders that those who were able to swim should first throw themselves over- board to reach the shore; and that the rest should follow, some on planks, and some on fragments from the ship. And thus all escaped safely to the land. En malta. Having then escaped, we learned

that the island was named Melita. And the foreigners treated us with no ordinary kindness ; for, lighting a fire, they attended to all of us in difliculty through the drenching rain, and the cold. Paul then collected a bundle of sticks, and having heaped them upon the tire, a viper escaping from the heat, caught hold of his hand. 28--17

hanging from his hand, remarked to There is no doubt that this man isa murderer; who, although he has escaped the sea, still justice will not allow him to live! Shaking off the reptile into the fire,

however, he took no harm. And ex- pecting that he would swell up, or suddenly drop down dead, they waited in suspense for a considerable time; but observing nothing unusual happen to him, they then changed their minds, and declared him to be a god. Now in the neighbourhood of that

spot was situated the estate of the chief of the island, a man named Publius, who welcomed us, and enter- tained us for three days with great kindness. And it so happened that the father of Publius was lying pros- trated with an attack of fever and dysentery. Paul accordingly went in to him, and praying, placed his hands upon him, and cured him. But when this was done, the others in the island who were ahlicted with diseases also came and were cured. They also hon- oured us in many ways; and on our departure, they provided for us on board everything that we needed. Zirriiml at Mum. Three months having elapsed, we

then embarked in an Alexandrian vessel, which had wintered in the island, the name of which was the Twin Brothers. Landing then at Syracuse, we remained there for three days; but sailing round from there in a contrary wind, we arrived at Rhe- gium Lying, there for one day, a southern wind sprang up; so sailing on the second day, we arrived at Puteoli. Here we found brethren, who prevailed upon us to stay with them for seven days. We then pro- ceeded to Rome. There, too, the brethren, having heard about us, came out to meet us as far as the Market of Appius, and the Three Taverns ; and Paul, having seen them, thanked God, and took heart. I0 II I2

But when we arrived in Rome, the 16 Captain delivered the prisoners to the Commander-in—chief; but Paul was permitted to live by himself, with the soldier attending him, outside the garrison.

hit Buirrbizln with tbz inherits.

Three days afterwards, he invited 17 The foreigners then seeing the reptile l the principal men among the Judeans; I I 73 __,__M.. l