ACTS 28 1-15

 Universalism in the New Testament

       BooK of Acts of the First Believers

                      (Paraphrased)

1 - After we were brought safely through (the weeks long storm at sea and the shipwreck) we then learned the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they welcomed us all, and because it had begun to rain and was cold, they built up a fire. 3 When Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 However, he shook it off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or to suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long while and saw no misfortune come upon him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

     7 Now in the neighborhood of where we were, there was much land belonging to the chief man of the island, a man named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 Then it happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. So Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases or infirmity also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they supplied us with everything we needed.

     11 It was after three months that we set sail in a ship that had wintered on the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. [The twin gods were Castor and Pollux, who were considered divine figures in Greek and Roman mythology. They were believed to be the sons of Zeus (Jupiter) and Leda, and were associated with protection of sailors and ships.]

     12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days, 13 and from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. On the next day a south wind rose, and on the second day to Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them for a week. After which we came to Rome,15 and the believers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. And upon seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.

 🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

An ‘Enter the Story’ Reading & Study

ACTS 27 1-24

   BooK of Acts of the First Believers

                      Shipwreck! (Paraphrased)

1 - And so, when it was decided we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustus Cohort named Julius. 2 And embarking upon a ship which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and let him go and visit friends and receive hospitality.

     4 Putting out to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus (sailed the channel between Cyprus and the mainland) because the winds were against us. 5 And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. 6 And there the centurion Julius found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and he put us on board.

     7 We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with some difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind didn’t allow us to go further, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 8 Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

     9 Much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous being late in the season. Even the (Day of Atonement) fast day was already over. And Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship, than to what Paul was saying.12 And because the harbor wasn’t suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea, hoping to reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, which faced both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

     13 And when the south wind blew gently, supposing it a favorable wind, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, staying close to shore. 14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called a northeaster, swept down from the land. 15 And when the ship was caught and couldn’t resist the wind, we gave way and were driven along. 16 Then running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's lifeboat. 17 After hoisting it up, they used ropes (wrapped round a few times, called frapping) to undergird the ship. Then, fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis [two always moving quicksands - the terror of all Mediterranean sailors] they lowered the main mast, and thus were driven along. 18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to toss over the cargo. 19 And on the third day we threw the ship's furniture and luggages overboard with our own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars were seen for many days, and no small tempestuous wind lay upon us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. 21 And since all had been without food for a long while, Paul stood up and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you! But only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong, and of whom I worship, 24 and he said to me, ‘Don’t fear, Paul, for you will stand before Caesar. And God has granted you the lives of all those who sail with you.’”

 🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

An ‘Enter the Story’ Reading & Study