the acts of the apostles-第75节

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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；

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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

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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

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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　man；　chained　with　a　group　of　hardened…looking　criminals；
receives　many　a　glance　of　scorn　and　is　made　the　subject　of　many　a　rude；
mocking　jest。

Suddenly　a　cry　of　joy　is　heard；　and　a　man　springs　from　the　passing　throng
and　falls　upon　the　prisoner's　neck；　embracing　him　with　tears　and　rejoicing；
as　a　son　would　welcome　a　long…absent　father。　Again　and　again　is　the　scene
repeated　as；　with　eyes　made　keen　by　loving　expectation；　many　discern　in　the
chained　captive　the　one　who　at　Corinth；　at　Philippi；　at　Ephesus；　had　spoken
to　them　the　words　of　life。

As　the　warmhearted　disciples　eagerly　flock　around　their　father　in　the
gospel；　the　whole　company　is　brought　to　a

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standstill。　The　soldiers　are　impatient　of　delay；　yet　they　have　not　the　heart
to　interrupt　this　happy　meeting；　for　they；　too；　have　learned　to　respect　and
esteem　their　prisoner。　In　that　worn；　pain…stricken　face；　the　disciples　see
reflected　the　image　of　Christ。　They　assure　Paul　that　they　have　not　forgotten
him　nor　ceased　to　love　him；　that　they　are　indebted　to　him　for　the　joyful
hope　which　animates　their　lives　and　gives　them　peace　toward　God。　In　the
ardor　of　their　love　they　would　bear　him　upon　their　shoulders　the　whole　way
to　the　city；　could　they　but　have　the　privilege。

Few　realize　the　significance　of　those　words　of　Luke；　that　when　Paul　saw　his
brethren；　〃he　thanked　God；　and　took　courage。〃　In　the　midst　of　the　weeping；
sympathizing　company　of　believers；　who　were　not　ashamed　of　his　bonds；　the
apostle　praised　God　aloud。　The　cloud　of　sadness　that　had　rested　upon　his
spirit　was　swept　away。　His　Christian　life　had　been　a　succession　of　trials；
sufferings；　and　disappointments；　but　in　that　hour　he　felt　abundantly　repaid。
With　firmer　step　and　joyful　heart　he　continued　on　his　way。　He　would　not
complain　of　the　past；　nor　fear　for　the　future。　Bonds　and　afflictions　awaited
him；　he　knew；　but　he　knew　also　that　it　had　been　his　to　deliver　souls　from　a
bondage　infinitely　more　terrible；　and　he　rejoiced　in　his　sufferings　for
Christ's　sake。

At　Rome　the　centurion　Julius　delivered　up　his　prisoners　to　the　captain　of
the　emperor's　guard。　The　good　account　which　he　gave　of　Paul；　together　with
the　letter　from　Festus；　caused　the　apostle　to　be　favorably　regarded　by　the
chief

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captain；　and；　instead　of　being　thrown　into　prison；　he　was　permitted　to　live
in　his　own　hired　house。　Although　still　constantly　chained　to　a　soldier；　he
was　at　liberty　to　receive　his　friends　and　to　labor　for　the　advancement　of
the　cause　of　Christ。

Many　of　the　Jews　who　had　been　banished　from　Rome　some　years　previously；　had
been　allowed　to　return；　so　that　large　numbers　were　now　to　be　found　there。　To
these；　first　of　all；　Paul　determined　to　present　the　facts　concerning　himself
and　his　work；　before　his　enemies　should　have　opportunity　to　embitter　them
against　him。　Three　days　after　his　arrival　in　Rome；　therefore；　he　called
together　their　leading　men　and　in　a　simple；　direct　manner　stated　why　he　had
come　to　Rome　as　a　prisoner。