Acts 27

1 And when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.3 And the next day we touched at Sidon: and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go unto his friends and refresh himself.4 And putting to sea from thence, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.5 And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy; and he put us therein.7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not further suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone;8 and with difficulty coasting along it we came unto a certain place called Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.9 And when much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already gone by, Paul admonished them,10 and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the lading and the ship, but also of our lives.11 But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul.12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there; which is a haven of Crete, looking north-east and south-east.13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore.14 But after no long time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called Euraquilo:15 and when the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven.16 And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat:17 and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven.18 And as we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw the the freight overboard;19 and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship.20 And when neither sun nor stars shone upon us for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was now taken away.21 And when they had been long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve,24 saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee.25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me.26 But we must be cast upon a certain island.27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven to and fro in the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some country:28 and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms.29 And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.30 And as the sailors were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under color as though they would lay out anchors from the foreship,31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.34 Wherefore I beseech you to take some food: for this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you.35 And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he brake it, and began to eat.36 Then were they all of good cheer, and themselves also took food.37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it.40 And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.41 But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.43 But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stayed them from their purpose; and commanded that they who could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first to the land;44 and the rest, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to the land.

Acts 28

1 And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita.2 And the barbarians showed us no common kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand.4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live.5 Howbeit he shook off the creature into the fire, and took no harm.6 But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation and beheld nothing amiss came to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and entertained us three days courteously.8 And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him.9 And when this was done, the rest also that had diseases in the island came, and were cured:10 who also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board such things as we needed.11 And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was The Twin Brothers.12 And touching at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.13 And from thence we made a circuit, and arrived at Rhegium: and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli;14 where we found brethren, and were entreated to tarry with them seven days: and so we came to Rome.15 And from thence the brethren, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.16 And when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded him.17 And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans:18 who, when they had examined me, desired to set me at liberty, because there was no cause of death in me.19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had aught whereof to accuse my nation.20 For this cause therefore did I entreat you to see and to speak with me: for because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters from Judaea concerning thee, nor did any of the brethren come hither and report or speak any harm of thee.22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.23 And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded the matter, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening.24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers,26 saying,27 For this people’s heart is waxed gross,

28 Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles: they will also hear.29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having much disputing among themselves.30 And he abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and received all that went in unto him,31 preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.

Romans 1

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,2 which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures,3 concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,4 who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead;5 through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake;6 among whom are ye also called to be Jesus Christ’s:7 To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.9 For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers10 making request, if by any means now at length I may be prospered by the will of God to come unto you.11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;12 that is, that I with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.13 And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (and was hindered hitherto), that I might have some fruit in you also, even as in the rest of the Gentiles.14 I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also that are in Rome.16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.17 For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness;19 because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them.20 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made,21 because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.24 Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves:25 for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature:27 and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.28 And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers,30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,31 without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful:32 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.