Acts 27:1-44 Paul & Other Prisoners Sail for Italy Under the Watch of Julius

 

Paul & Other Prisoners Sail for Italy Under the Watch of Julius

Acts 27:1-44                    The Acts of the Apostles [in Smaller Chunks]

And when it was [decided] that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul & [some] other prisoners to [someone] named Julius, a Centurion of Augustus' band, [a.k.a. squadron.] And entering into a ship [from] Adramyttium, we [set sail intending] to sail [along] the coasts of Asia; & Aristarchus, a Macedonian [from] Thessalonica, [was] with us.

And the next day, we [landed] at Sidon. And Julius, [treated] Paul courteously, & gave him liberty, [a.k.a. freedom,] to go to his friends to refresh himself. And when we had launched from [there,] we said under [the shelter of] Cyprus, because the winds were contrary, [a.k.a. in opposition.]

And when we had sailed over the [Mediterranean] Sea of Cilicia, & Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. And the Centurion found a ship there [from] Alexandria, sailing to Italy. And he put us [in that] [ship.]

And when we had sailed slowly many days, & [we] scarcely, [had] come [next to,] Cnidus, & the wind not [allowing] us [to land, so] we sailed under Crete, [next to] Salmone. And [barely] passing it, [we] came to a place  [that] is called The Fair Havens. The city of Lasea was [close] to it.

Now, when sailing was dangerous, & much time was [used] & the fast was now already [over,] Paul [scolded] them. And said to them, Sirs, I perceive, [a.k.a. have become aware,] that this voyage will [happen] with much damage, not only [to:] the [cargo] & ship, but also [to] our lives.

[Still,] the Centurion believed the [pilot] & the owner of the ship, more than those things spoken by Paul. And because the haven, [a.k.a. harbor,] wasn't [suitable] to winter in, & also the [majority] advised to depart [from] [there,] if by any [chance] they might [arrive at] Phenice, & winter there. Which is a [harbor] of Crete, & [lies] toward [both:] the Southwest & Northwest [part of the island.]

And when the South wind blew softly, [assuming] that they had obtained their [desired goal, loosened] [from] [there,] & they sailed close, [near] Crete. But not long after [that,] there arose a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught [in the storm,] & couldn't [hold] up [in] the wind, we let her [drift.]

And running [below some] island, called Clauda, we had much work to [secure the ship's lifeboat.] When they had taken up [the lifeboat into the ship,] they used helps, [a.k.a. precautionary measures,] undergirding, [a.k.a. securing the underside with a rope or a chain passed underneath,] the ship.

And [being] [fearful,] lest they should fall into the [quicksand,] [they] [set] sail, & [drifted.] And being exceedingly tossed [by] a tempest, [a.k.a. storm,] we lightened the ship the next day. And with our own hands, we [threw] out the [ship's] tackling, the 3rd day.

And when neither [the] sun, nor the stars appeared in many days, & [an overwhelming storm beat] [down] [upon] us, & all hope that we should be saved was [lost.]

But after [a] long abstinence, [a.k.a. going without food,] Paul stood [out] in the [middle] of them, & said, Sirs, you should have [paid attention] to me, & not have [loosened] from Crete, & [had] this harm & loss.

And now I [urge] you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among, but [only loss] of the ship. For this night, the Angel of God, Whose [follower] I am, & Whom I serve, stood by me. Saying, [Don't] fear, Paul. You must be brought [in front of] Caesar, & [look,] God [has] given you [the lives of] all [those, who] sail with you.

[For this reason,] sirs, be of good cheer. For I believe God, & it shall even be [like] it was told [to] me. [However,] we must be [thrown] upon a certain island. But when the 14th night [came,] &, we were [drifting] up & down in Adria, [a.k.a. the Adriatic Sea, around] midnight, the shipmen, [a.k.a. sailors, believed] they drew near to some [land.]

And [they] sounded & found it [to be:] 20 fathoms. And when they had gone a little further, [they] found it: 15 fathoms. Then, [afraid,] lest we should [run aground] upon the rocks, they cast 4 anchors out of the stern, & wished for [daybreak.]

And as the [sailors] were about to flee [from] the ship, when they had let down the [lifeboat,] into the sea, under [the pretense of casting] anchors out of the [front of the ship,] Paul said to the Centurion, & the soldiers, [Unless] these [remain] in the ship, you can't be saved. Then, the soldiers cut off the ropes of the [lifeboat,] & let [it] fall.

And while [daybreak] was coming, Paul [urged] them all to take meat, [a.k.a. eat food.] Saying, This is the 14th day, that you have [waited,] & continued fasting, & have [eaten] nothing. [For this reason,] I pray [that] you, take some [food:] for this is for your [survival.] For not [a] hair [from] any of you shall fall from [your] head.

And when [Paul had] spoken [this,] he took bread, & gave thanks to God, in [front] of all [of] them. [Psalm 89:9 You [rule] the raging sea. When the waves [of it] arise, You [still, a.k.a. calm,] them.]

And when [Paul] had broken [the bread,] he began to eat. Then, they were all [encouraged,] & they also took some [food.] And we, 276 [people,] all were in the ship. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, & [threw] out the wheat into the sea.

And when it was [daybreak,] they [didn't recognize] the land. But they discovered [seashore, by] a certain creek. They [thought] if it were possible to thrust the ship [on the shore.] And when they had taken up the anchors, they [jumped] into the sea, & [loosened] the rudder bands, & [hoisted] up the mainsail [toward] the wind, & made [their way] toward shore.

And [they] [fell] into a place where 2 seas met, & they ran the ship aground. And the [bow] stuck fast, [a.k.a. tight,] & remained unmovable. But the [stern] was broken with the violence of the waves.

And the soldiers' [plan] was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim [away] & escape. But the Centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their [plan,] & commanded that [those, who] could swim, should 1st [throw] themselves into the sea, & get to land.

And the rest [followed,] some on boards; & some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it [happened,] that they all escaped [safely] to land.

Acts 26:1-32 Paul Defends Himself Openly to King Agrippa

 

Paul Defends Himself Openly to King Agrippa

Acts 26:1-32                    The Acts of the Apostles [in Smaller Chunks]

Then, [king] Agrippa said to Paul, You [are] permitted to speak for yourself. Then, Paul stretched [out] [his] hand, & answered for himself. I [consider] myself happy, king Agrippa, because this day, I shall answer for myself [in front of] you, [about] all things, [of which] I'm  accused of [by] the Jews. [Acts 21:28-29 Crying out, Men of Israel, help. This is the man, [in] this place, [who teaches] against the people [of the Jews,] & the Law [of Moses, to] all men, everywhere. [Furthermore,] [he has] also brought the Greeks, [a.k.a. Gentiles,] into the temple, & has [defiled] this Holy Place. (For they had [previously] seen [Paul] in the city [of] Trophimus, with an Ephesian, whom they supposed Paul had brought into the temple.)]

Especially, because I know you to be [an] expert in all customs & questions [that] are among the Jews. [For this reason,] I [urge] you to hear me patiently.  First, among [my] own nation, [in] Jerusalem, [as] all the Jews know, [who] knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, my [custom] of life from my youth [on, was] that [of] a Pharisee, [according] to the most [strict] sect of our religion.

And now, I stand & am judged, [because] [of] the hope of the promise made [by] God to our [forefathers.] Our 12 tribes [served] God [earnestly] day & night, [for] [this] promise & hope to come. [Isaiah 11:1-4 *And a Rod shall come forth out of the stem of Jesse, & a Branch shall grow out of his roots. *And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him: the Spirit of wisdom & understanding; the Spirit of [advice, & strength;] & the Spirit of knowledge & of the fear, [a.k.a respect,] of the Lord. *And shall make Him of [immediate] understanding in the fear, [a.k.a. respect,] of the Lord. *And He shall not judge [according] [to what] His eyes [see,] & neither [chastise according] [to what] His ears [hear.] *But He shall judge the poor with righteousness, & [repay] the meek, [a.k.a. humble,] of the earth with equity. *And He shall slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.]

I am accused [by] the Jews, king Agrippa, for [this] hope's sake. Why should it be thought [an] incredible thing [by] you, that God [would] raise the dead? [Philippians 3:10-11 That I may know Him, & the power of His Resurrection, & the fellowship of His sufferings, being made [obedient] unto His death; If by any means, I might attain the resurrection of the dead.]

I [truly] thought [within] myself, that I [should] do many things contrary, [a.k.a. in opposition,] to the Name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which [things,] I also did in Jerusalem, having received authority from the chief priests. And I shut up in prison many of the saints, & when they were put to death, I gave my voice, [a.k.a. testified,] against them.

And in every synagogue, I punished them [often,] & compelled them to blaspheme. And being exceedingly [angry] against them, I persecuted them even to [foreign] cities.

[When] I went to Damascus with [the] authority, & [mission] from the chief priests, at mid-day, O king, I saw [on] the [road] a light from heaven, [beyond] the brightness of the sun, shining [all around] me, & [those, who] journeyed with me.

And when we [had] all fallen to the [ground,] I heard a voice speaking to me, saying in the Hebrew tongue, [a.k.a. language,] Saul, Saul, why [do] you [persecute] Me? It is hard to kick against the pricks, [a.k.a. needles of sticker bushes.]

And I said, Who [are] You, Lord? And He said, I Am Jesus, Whom you [persecute.] But rise, & stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this [reason:] to make you a minister & a witness both: of these things [that] you [have] seen, & those things [that] I will [make] [apparent] to you.

[Sending] you from the people [of Israel,] & [to] the Gentiles, to [whom I now send you. To open their eyes, & to turn them from darkness, to Light. [1 John 1:7 But if we walk, [a.k.a. follow,] in the Light, [like] He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another. And the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, [cleanses us from all sin.]

And [to turn them] from the power of Satan, to God, [so] that they may receive forgiveness of sins, & inheritance among [those, who] are sanctified by faith that is in Me.

[For this reason,] O king Agrippa, I wasn't disobedient to the heavenly vision: but [declared] 1st to [those from] Damascus, & [in] Jerusalem, & throughout all the coasts of Judaea, [a.k.a. Judea.] And then to the Gentiles, [so] that they should repent & turn to God, & do works, [a.k.a. deeds, appropriate,] for repentance, [a.k.a. forgiveness.]

The Jews [seized] me in the temple for these [reasons,] & [plotted] to kill me.  Therefore, having obtained help [from] God, I continue to this day, witnessing to both the [powerless & powerful,] saying [only] those things [that] the prophets, & Moses [said] should [happen.] [Isaiah 42:6-8 In Righteousness, I the Lord have called You, & will hold Your hand, & will keep You, & give you for a Covenant, [a.k.a. contract, for] the people, & for a Light [for] the Gentiles. *To open the blind eyes, to bring: prisoners from the prison, & [those, who] sit in darkness, out of the prison house. I Am the Lord & that is My Name. And I won't give My Glory to another, & neither My praise to [carved] images.]

That Christ [would] suffer, & that He [would] be the first, [Who would] rise from the dead. And [Jesus Christ,] [would [show] Light to the people, & to the Gentiles. [Acts 17:2-3 And [like Paul's custom] was, [for] 3 Sabbath Days, went in to them, & reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening [them,] & alleging, that [it was necessary that] Christ must have suffered. And [Christ] [rose] again from the dead. And that this Jesus, Whom I preach to you, Is Christ.]

And [while Paul spoke this] for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you [are] beside yourself. [Too] much learning makes you mad, [a.k.a. insane.] But [Paul] said, Most noble Felix, I'm not [insane,] but speak [out] the Words of Truth, [in sincerity.]

For the king, before whom I also [now] speak freely, [knows about] these things, for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him. For this thing wasn't done [secretly] in a corner. [John 18:20-22 Jesus answered [the high priest, I [spoke] openly in the world. I [always] taught in the synagogue, & in the temple, [where] the Jews always [come.] And I have said nothing in secret. Why [do] you [ask] Me? Ask [those, who] heard Me, what I have said to them. [See,] they know what I said. And when [Jesus] had spoken, one of the officers, [who] stood [near] by, struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, And [do] You [answer] the high priest [this way?]

King Agrippa, [do] you [believe] the prophets? I know that you [believe.] Then, Agrippa said to Paul, You [have] almost persuaded me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I [wish that] God would not only [make you believers,] but also all, [who] hear me this day, were both: almost & [totally] [believers] such as I am, except [for] these [chains.] [Luke 15:7 I say to you, that [also] joy shall be in heaven over 1 sinner, [who repents,] more than over 99 just [people, who] need no repentance, [a.k.a. forgiveness.]

And when [Paul] had spoken [this,] the king, the governor, & Bernice rose up, & [those, who] sat with them. And when they [had] gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man [does] nothing worthy of death or [chains.] Then, Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been set [free,] if he hadn't appealed to Caesar.

Acts 25:1-27 Felix Explains to King Agrippa Why He Brought Paul Before Him

 

Felix Explains to King Agrippa Why He Brought Paul Before Him

Acts 25:1-27                    The Acts of the Apostles [in Smaller Chunks]

Now, after 3 days, when [Porcius] Festus [had] come into the province, he [went up] from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then, the high priest, & the [leader] of the Jews, informed him [of the accusation] against Paul.

And desiring a [favor,] against [Paul, so] that  [Festus,] would send [Paul] to Jerusalem, [while they were] laying [in] wait, [a.k.a. to ambush,] & kill [Paul on the road.] But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept [in] Caesarea, & that he, himself, would shortly [leave] [for] [there.]

Therefore, [Festus] said, Let [those] among you, [who] are able, go down with me, & accuse this man, [to see] if [there's] any wickedness in him. And when [Festus] had [lingered,] among them more than 10 days, he went down to Caesarea.

And sitting on the judgment seat, the next day, commanded Paul to be brought [there.] And when [Paul had] come, the Jews, [who] came down from Jerusalem stood [all around,] & laid, [a.k.a. attributed,] many [serious] complaints against Paul, [that] they couldn't prove. [Acts 24:5-6 For we have found this man [to be] a pestilent fellow, [a.k.a. like a plague spreading,] & a mover of sedition, [a.k.a. someone who insights riots,] among all the Jews, throughout the world. And a ring leader of the sect, [a.k.a. religious beliefs,] of the Nazarenes, who also [has] gone [around] to profane, [a.k.a. defile,] the temple, & whom we took & would have judged according to our Law.]

[Meanwhile, Paul] answered for himself, Neither have I offended [in] anything at all against: the [Jew's] Law; the temple; nor against Caesar, [thus far.] But willing to do the Jews a [favor,] Festus answered Paul, & said, [Will] you go up to Jerusalem, & be judged [about] these things [in front of] me there?

Then, Paul said, I [will] stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I [should] be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well [know.] For if I [had] [been] an offender, or [had] committed anything worthy of death, I [wouldn't] refuse to die. But if [there's] none of these things, [of which they] accuse me [of,] I appeal to Caesar, & no man may deliver me [over] to them.

Then, when Festus had conferred, [a.k.a. consulted,] with the council, answered, [Since] you have appealed to Caesar, you [shall] go to Caesar.

And after [some] days, king Agrippa & Bernice came to Caesarea to [greet] Festus. And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's [case] to the king, saying, Felix left a certain man there, [bound] in [chains.]

When I was [in] Jerusalem, the chief priests, & elders of the Jews informed me about [Paul,] & [desired] to have judgment against him. To whom I answered, It is not the [custom] of Romans to deliver any man to die, before he, [who] is accused [shall] have [an opportunity] to answer for himself [about] the crime laid against him, face to face [with] the accusers.

Therefore, when they [had] come [here] without any delay, & the [next day,] I sat on the judgment seat, & commanded the man to be brought [forward.] When the accusers stood up, they brought [no] accusation against [Paul,] of such things as I [assumed.]

But had certain questions against [Paul about] their own superstition, [a.k.a. religion,] & [about] One Jesus, [Who] was dead, Whom Paul affirmed, [a.k.a. verified,] to be alive. [1 Corinthians 15:3-10 *For first, I delivered to you all of [what] I also received, & how Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. And that [Jesus] was buried, & He rose again the 3rd day, according to the Scriptures. And that [Jesus] was seen [by:] Cephas, & then [by] the 12. After that, [Jesus] was seen at once, [by over] 500 brethren, of whom the greater part, [a.k.a. the majority,] remain [until] this [day,] but some [have] fallen asleep, [a.k.a. died.] After that, [Jesus] was seen [by] James, & then by all the apostles. And last of all, He was seen by me, [a.k.a. Paul, formerly called Saul,] also [like someone] born: out of due time, [a.k.a. like a child past-due.] For I am the least of the apostles, & am not [worthy] to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am; & His grace [that] was bestowed upon me, was not [done] in vain. But I [labored] more abundantly than all [of] them, [still] not I, but the grace of God, which was [within] me.]

And because I [was uncertain about this type] of questions, I asked [Paul] whether he would go to Jerusalem & be judged [about] these matters there. But when Paul asked [for it] to be [postponed until] [being] [heard by] Augustus, I commanded [Paul] to be kept [under guard,] [until] I might send him to Caesar.

Then, [king] Agrippa said to Festus, I would also [like to] hear the man myself. [Festus] said, Tomorrow you shall hear him. And on [the next day,] when Agrippa & Bernice [had] come with great [pageantry,] & entered into [the auditorium,] with the: chief captains, [a.k.a. commanders;] & [important] men of the city, Paul was brought [forward] at Festus' [command.]

And Festus said, King Agrippa, & all men, [who] are present here with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of Jews have [discussed] with me, both [in] Jerusalem, & also here, crying [out,] that he [shouldn't] live any longer.

But when I found [out] that he [hadn't] committed [anything] worthy of death, & that [Paul,] himself, had appealed to Augustus, I have [decided] to send him. I have no [specific] thing to write to my lord, [about him.]

[For this reason,] I have brought [Paul forward in front of] you, O king Agrippa, [so] that, after examination, I might have [something] to write. For it [seems] unreasonable to me, to send a prisoner, & not [note the significant] crimes laid against him.