the acts of the apostles-第84章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
have loosed from Crete； and to have gained this harm and loss。 And now I
exhort you to be of good cheer： for there shall be no loss of any man's life
among you； but of the ship。 For there stood by me this night the angel of
God； whose I am； and whom I serve； saying； Fear not； Paul； thou must be
brought before Caesar： and； lo； God hath given thee all them that sail with
thee。 Wherefore； sirs； be of good cheer： for I believe God； that it shall be
even as it was told me。 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island。〃
At these words； hope revived。 Passengers and crew roused from their apathy。
There was much yet to be done； and every effort within their power must be
put forth to avert destruction。
It was on the fourteenth night of tossing on the black； heaving billows；
that 〃about midnight〃 the sailors； hearing the sound of breakers； 〃deemed
that they drew near to some country； and sounded； and found it twenty
fathoms： and when they had gone a little further； they sounded again； and
found it fifteen fathoms。 Then fearing；〃 Luke writes； 〃lest we should have
fallen upon rocks； they cast four anchors out of the stern； and wished for
the day。〃
At break of day the outlines of the stormy coast were dimly visible； but no
familiar landmarks could be seen。 So gloomy was the outlook that the heathen
sailors； losing all courage； 〃were about to flee out of the ship；〃 and
feigning to make preparations for casting 〃anchors out of the
444
foreship；〃 they had already let down the lifeboat； when Paul； perceiving
their base design； said to the centurion and the soldiers； 〃Except these
abide in the ship； ye cannot be saved。〃 The soldiers immediately 〃cut off
the ropes of the boat； and let her fall off〃 into the sea。
The most critical hour was still before them。 Again the apostle spoke words
of encouragement； and entreated all； both sailors and passengers； to take
some food； saying； 〃This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and
continued fasting； having taken nothing。 Wherefore I pray you to take some
meat： for this is for your health： for there shall not a hair fall from the
head of any of you。〃
〃When he had thus spoken； he took bread； and gave thanks to God in presence
of them all： and when he had broken it； he began to eat。〃 Then that worn and
discouraged company of two hundred and seventy…five souls； who but for Paul
would have become desperate； joined with the apostle in partaking of food。
〃And when they had eaten enough； they lightened the ship； and cast out the
wheat into the sea。〃
Daylight had now fully come； but they could see nothing by which to
determine their whereabouts。 However； 〃they discovered a certain creek with
a shore； into the which they were minded； if it were possible； to thrust in
the ship。 And when they had taken up the anchors； they committed themselves
unto the sea； and loosed the rudder bands； and hoisted up the mainsail to
the wind； and made toward shore。 And falling into a place where two seas
met； they ran the ship aground； and the fore part stuck fast； and remained
unmovable；
445
but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves。〃
Paul and the other prisoners were now threatened by a fate more terrible
than shipwreck。 The soldiers saw that while endeavoring to reach land it
would be impossible for them to keep their prisoners in charge。 Every man
would have all he could do to save himself。 Yet if any of the prisoners were
missing； the lives of those who were responsible for them would be
forfeited。 Hence the soldiers desired to put all the prisoners to death。 The
Roman law sanctioned this cruel policy； and the plan would have been
executed at once； but for him to whom all alike were under deep obligation。
Julius the centurion knew that Paul had been instrumental in saving the
lives of all on board； and； moreover； convinced that the Lord was with him；
he feared to do him harm。 He therefore 〃commanded that they which could swim
should cast themselves first into the sea； and get to land： and the rest；
some on boards； and some on broken pieces of the ship。 And so it came to
pass； that they escaped all safe to land。〃 When the roll was called； not one
was missing。
The shipwrecked crew were kindly received by the barbarous people of Melita。
〃They kindled a fire；〃 Luke writes； 〃and received us everyone； because of
the present rain； and because of the cold。〃 Paul was among those who were
active in ministering to the comfort of others。 Having gathered 〃a bundle of
sticks；〃 he 〃laid them on the fire；〃 when a viper came forth 〃out of the
heat； and fastened on his hand。〃 The bystanders were horror…stricken； and
seeing
446
by his chain that Paul was a prisoner； they said to one another； 〃No doubt
this man is a murderer； whom； though he hath escaped the sea； yet vengeance
suffereth not to live。〃 But Paul shook off the creature into the fire and
felt no harm。 Knowing its venomous nature； the people looked for him to fall
down at any moment in terrible agony。 〃But after they had looked a great
while； and saw no harm come to him； they changed their minds； and said that
he was a god。〃
During the three months that the ship's company remained at Melita； Paul and
his fellow laborers improved many opportunities to preach the gospel。 In a
remarkable manner the Lord wrought through them。 For Paul's sake the entire
shipwrecked company were treated with great kindness； all their wants were
supplied； and upon leaving Melita they were liberally provided with
everything needful for their voyage。 The chief incidents of their stay are
thus briefly related by Luke：
〃In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island； whose
name was Publius； who received us； and lodged us three days courteously。 And
it came to pass； that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a
bloody flux： to whom Paul entered in； and prayed； and laid his hands on him；
and healed him。 So when this was done； others also； which had diseases in
the island； came； and were healed： who also honored us with many honors； and
when we departed； they laded us with such things as were necessary。〃
（447）
Chapter 43
In Rome
With the opening of navigation； the centurion and his prisoners set out on
their journey to Rome。 An Alexandrian ship； the 〃Castor and Pollux；〃 had
wintered at Melita on her way westward； and in this the travelers embarked。
Though somewhat delayed by contrary winds； the voyage was safely
accomplished； and the ship cast anchor in the beautiful harbor of Puteoli；
on the coast of Italy。
In this place there were a few Christians； and they entreated the apostle to
remain with them for seven days； a privilege kindly granted by the
centurion。 Since receiving Paul's epistle to the Romans； the Christians of
Italy had eagerly looked forward to a visit from the apostle。 They had not
thought to see him come as a prisoner； but his sufferings only endeared him
to them the more。 The distance from Puteoli to Rome being but a hundred and
forty miles； and the seaport being in constant communication with the
metropolis； the Roman Christians were informed of Paul's
448
approach； and some of them started to meet and welcome him。
On the eighth day after landing； the centurion and his prisoners set out for
Rome。 Julius willingly granted the apostle every favor which it was in his
power to bestow； but he could not change his condition as a prisoner； or
release him from the chain that bound him to his soldier guard。 It was with
a heavy heart that Paul went forward to his long…expected visit to the
world's metropolis。 How different the circumstances from those he had
anticipated！ How was he； fettered and stigmatized； to proclaim the gospel？
His hopes of winning many souls to the truth in Rome； seemed destined to
disappointment。
At last the travelers reach Appii Forum； forty miles from Rome。 As they make
their way through the crowds that throng the great thoroughfare； the
gray…haired old ma
