Paul's Defense before Agrippa

261 And Agrippa said unto Paul, 'It is permitted to thee to speak for thyself;' then Paul having stretched forth the hand, was making a defence: 2 'Concerning all things of which I am accused by Jews, king Agrippa, I have thought myself happy, being about to make a defence before thee to-day, 3 especially knowing thee to be acquainted with all things—both customs and questions—among Jews; wherefore, I beseech thee, patiently to hear me. 4 'The manner of my life then, indeed, from youth—which from the beginning was among my nation, in Jerusalem—know do all the Jews, 5 knowing me before from the first, (if they may be willing to testify,) that after the most exact sect of our worship, I lived a Pharisee; 6 and now for the hope of the promise made to the fathers by God, I have stood judged, 7 to which our twelve tribes, intently night and day serving, do hope to come, concerning which hope I am accused, king Agrippa, by the Jews; 8 why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead? 9 'I, indeed, therefore, thought with myself, that against the name of Jesus of Nazareth it behoved 'me' many things to do, 10 which also I did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I in prison did shut up, from the chief priests having received the authority; they also being put to death, I gave my vote against them, 11 and in every synagogue, often punishing them, I was constraining 'them' to speak evil, being also exceedingly mad against them, I was also persecuting 'them' even unto strange cities.

Paul Tells of His Conversion

12 'In which things, also, going on to Damascus—with authority and commission from the chief priests— 13 at mid-day, I saw in the way, O king, out of heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me a light—and those going on with me; 14 and we all having fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute? hard for thee against pricks to kick! 15 'And I said, Who art thou, Lord? and he said, I am Jesus whom thou dost persecute; 16 but rise, and stand upon thy feet, for for this I appeared to thee, to appoint thee an officer and a witness both of the things thou didst see, and of the things 'in which' I will appear to thee, 17 delivering thee from the people, and the nations, to whom now I send thee, 18 to open their eyes, to turn 'them' from darkness to light, and 'from' the authority of the Adversary unto God, for their receiving forgiveness of sins, and a lot among those having been sanctified, by faith that 'is' toward me.

Paul's Witness to Jews and Gentiles

19 'Whereupon, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem, to all the region also of Judea, and to the nations, I was preaching to reform, and to turn back unto God, doing works worthy of reformation; 21 because of these things the Jews—having caught me in the temple—were endeavouring to kill 'me'. 22 'Having obtained, therefore, help from God, till this day, I have stood witnessing both to small and to great, saying nothing besides the things that both the prophets and Moses spake of as about to come, 23 that the Christ is to suffer, whether first by a rising from the dead, he is about to proclaim light to the people and to the nations.'

Paul Appeals to Agrippa to Believe

24 And, he thus making a defence, Festus with a loud voice said, 'Thou art mad, Paul; much learning doth turn thee mad;' 25 and he saith, 'I am not mad, most noble Festus, but of truth and soberness the sayings I speak forth; 26 for the king doth know concerning these things, before whom also I speak boldly, for none of these things, I am persuaded, are hidden from him; for this thing hath not been done in a corner; 27 thou dost believe, king Agrippa, the prophets? I have known that thou dost believe!' 28 And Agrippa said unto Paul, 'In a little thou dost persuade me to become a Christian!' 29 and Paul said, 'I would have wished to God, both in a little, and in much, not only thee, but also all those hearing me to-day, to become such as I also am—except these bonds.' 30 And, he having spoken these things, the king rose up, and the governor, Bernice also, and those sitting with them, 31 and having withdrawn, they were speaking unto one another, saying—'This man doth nothing worthy of death or of bonds;' 32 and Agrippa said to Festus, 'This man might have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.'

Paul Sails for Rome

271 And when our sailing to Italy was determined, they were delivering up both Paul and certain others, prisoners, to a centurion, by name Julius, of the band of Sebastus, 2 and having embarked in a ship of Adramyttium, we, being about to sail by the coasts of Asia, did set sail, there being with us Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, 3 on the next 'day' also we touched at Sidon, and Julius, courteously treating Paul, did permit 'him', having gone on unto friends, to receive 'their' care. 4 And thence, having set sail, we sailed under Cyprus, because of the winds being contrary, 5 and having sailed over the sea over-against Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myria of Lycia, 6 and there the centurion having found a ship of Alexandria, sailing to Italy, did put us into it, 7 and having sailed slowly many days, and with difficulty coming over-against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over-against Salmone, 8 and hardly passing it, we came to a certain place called 'Fair Havens,' nigh to which was the city 'of' Lasaea. 9 And much time being spent, and the sailing being now dangerous—because of the fast also being already past—Paul was admonishing, 10 saying to them, 'Men, I perceive that with hurt, and much damage, not only of the lading and of the ship, but also of our lives—the voyage is about to be;' 11 but the centurion to the pilot and to the shipowner gave credence more than to the things spoken by Paul;

12 and the haven being incommodious to winter in, the more part gave counsel to sail thence also, if by any means they might be able, having attained to Phenice, 'there' to winter, 'which is' a haven of Crete, looking to the south-west and north-west,

The Storm at Sea

13 and a south wind blowing softly, having thought they had obtained 'their' purpose, having lifted anchor, they sailed close by Crete, 14 and not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, that is called Euroclydon, 15 and the ship being caught, and not being able to bear up against the wind, having given 'her' up, we were borne on, 16 and having run under a certain little isle, called Clauda, we were hardly able to become masters of the boat, 17 which having taken up, they were using helps, undergirding the ship, and fearing lest they may fall on the quicksand, having let down the mast—so were borne on. 18 And we, being exceedingly tempest-tossed, the succeeding 'day' they were making a clearing, 19 and on the third 'day' with our own hands the tackling of the ship we cast out, 20 and neither sun nor stars appearing for more days, and not a little tempest lying upon us, thenceforth all hope was taken away of our being saved.

21 And there having been long fasting, then Paul having stood in the midst of them, said, 'It behoved 'you', indeed, O men—having hearkened to me—not to set sail from Crete, and to save this hurt and damage; 22 and now I exhort you to be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of life among you—but of the ship; 23 for there stood by me this night a messenger of God—whose I am, and whom I serve— 24 saying, Be not afraid Paul; before Caesar it behoveth thee to stand; and, lo, God hath granted to thee all those sailing with thee; 25 wherefore be of good cheer, men! for I believe God, that so it shall be, even as it hath been spoken to me, 26 and on a certain island it behoveth us to be cast.' 27 And when the fourteenth night came—we being borne up and down in the Adria—toward the middle of the night the sailors were supposing that some country drew nigh to them; 28 and having sounded they found twenty fathoms, and having gone a little farther, and again having sounded, they found fifteen fathoms, 29 and fearing lest on rough places we may fall, out of the stern having cast four anchors, they were wishing day to come. 30 And the sailors seeking to flee out of the ship, and having let down the boat to the sea, in pretence as 'if' out of the foreship they are about to cast anchors, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, 'If these do not remain in the ship—ye are not able to be saved;' 32 then the soldiers did cut off the ropes of the boat, and suffered it to fall off. 33 And till the day was about to be, Paul was calling upon all to partake of nourishment, saying, 'Fourteen days to-day, waiting, ye continue fasting, having taken nothing, 34 wherefore I call upon you to take nourishment, for this is for your safety, for of not one of you shall a hair from the head fall;' 35 and having said these things, and having taken bread, he gave thanks to God before all, and having broken 'it', he began to eat; 36 and all having become of good cheer, themselves also took food, 37 (and we were—all the souls in the ship—two hundred, seventy and six), 38 and having eaten sufficient nourishment, they were lightening the ship, casting forth the wheat into the sea.

The Shipwreck

39 And when the day came, they were not discerning the land, but a certain creek were perceiving having a beach, into which they took counsel, if possible, to thrust forward the ship, 40 and the anchors having taken up, they were committing 'it' to the sea, at the same time—having loosed the bands of the rudders, and having hoisted up the mainsail to the wind—they were making for the shore, 41 and having fallen into a place of two seas, they ran the ship aground, and the fore-part, indeed, having stuck fast, did remain immoveable, but the hinder-part was broken by the violence of the waves. 42 And the soldiers' counsel was that they should kill the prisoners, lest any one having swam out should escape, 43 but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, hindered them from the counsel, and did command those able to swim, having cast themselves out first—to get unto the land, 44 and the rest, some indeed upon boards, and some upon certain things of the ship; and thus it came to pass that all came safe unto the land.

Paul on the Island of Melita

281 And having been saved, then they knew that the island is called Melita, 2 and the foreigners were shewing us no ordinary kindness, for having kindled a fire, they received us all, because of the pressing rain, and because of the cold; 3 but Paul having gathered together a quantity of sticks, and having laid 'them' upon the fire, a viper—out of the heat having come—did fasten on his hand. 4 And when the foreigners saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said unto one another, 'Certainly this man is a murderer, whom, having been saved out of the sea, the justice did not suffer to live;' 5 he then, indeed, having shaken off the beast into the fire, suffered no evil, 6 and they were expecting him to be about to be inflamed, or to fall down suddenly dead, and they, expecting 'it' a long time, and seeing nothing uncommon happening to him, changing 'their' minds, said he was a god. 7 And in the neighbourhood of that place were lands of the principal man of the island, by name Publius, who, having received us, three days did courteously lodge 'us'; 8 and it came to pass, the father of Publius with feverish heats and dysentery pressed, was laid, unto whom Paul having entered, and having prayed, having laid 'his' hands on him, healed him; 9 this, therefore, being done, the others also in the island having infirmities were coming and were healed; 10 who also with many honours did honour us, and we setting sail—they were lading 'us' with the things that were necessary.

Paul Arrives at Rome

11 And after three months, we set sail in a ship (that had wintered in the isle) of Alexandria, with the sign Dioscuri, 12 and having landed at Syracuse, we remained three days, 13 thence having gone round, we came to Rhegium, and after one day, a south wind having sprung up, the second 'day' we came to Puteoli; 14 where, having found brethren, we were called upon to remain with them seven days, and thus to Rome we came; 15 and thence, the brethren having heard the things concerning us, came forth to meet us, unto Appii Forum, and Three Taverns—whom Paul having seen, having given thanks to God, took courage. 16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the captain of the barrack, but Paul was suffered to remain by himself, with the soldier guarding him.

Paul Preaches in Rome

17 And it came to pass after three days, Paul called together those who are the principal men of the Jews, and they having come together, he said unto them: 'Men, brethren, I—having done nothing contrary to the people, or to the customs of the fathers—a prisoner from Jerusalem, was delivered up to the hands of the Romans; 18 who, having examined me, were wishing to release 'me', because of their being no cause of death in me, 19 and the Jews having spoken against 'it', I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar—not as having anything to accuse my nation of; 20 for this cause, therefore, I called for you to see and to speak with 'you', for because of the hope of Israel with this chain I am bound.' 21 And they said unto him, 'We did neither receive letters concerning thee from Judea, nor did any one who came of the brethren declare or speak any evil concerning thee, 22 and we think it good from thee to hear what thou dost think, for, indeed, concerning this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against;'

23 and having appointed him a day, they came, more of them unto him, to the lodging, to whom he was expounding, testifying fully the reign of God, persuading them also of the things concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and the prophets, from morning till evening, 24 and, some, indeed, were believing the things spoken, and some were not believing. 25 And not being agreed with one another, they were going away, Paul having spoken one word—'Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, 26 saying, Go on unto this people and say, With hearing ye shall hear, and ye shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and ye shall not perceive, 27 for made gross was the heart of this people, and with the ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they did close, lest they may see with the eyes, and with the heart may understand, and be turned back, and I may heal them. 28 'Be it known, therefore, to you, that to the nations was sent the salvation of God, these also will hear it;' 29 and he having said these things, the Jews went away, having much disputation among themselves;

30 and Paul remained an entire two years in his own hired 'house', and was receiving all those coming in unto him, 31 preaching the reign of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness—unforbidden.