We embarked on a ship hailing from Adramyttium, bound for the Asian ports, and set sail. On the following day we put in at Sidon [3], where Julius treated Paul most considerately by allowing him to visit his friends and accept their hospitality. From Sidon we put to sea again and sailed to leeward of Cyprus [4], since the wind was against us. Then, when we had crossed the gulf that lies off the coasts of Cilicia [5] and Pamphylia [6], we arrived at Myra [7] in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy and put us aboard her. For several days we beat slowly up to windward and only just succeeded in arriving off Cnidus [8]. Then, since the wind was still blowing against us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, and rounded Cape Salmone [9]. Coasting along with difficulty we came to a place called Fair Havens [10], near which is the city of Lasea.
(In spite of Paul’s warnings, the ship continued on its way) …… the majority were in favour of setting sail again in the hope of reaching Phoenix [11] and wintering there. Phoenix is a harbour in Crete, facing south-west and north-west. So, when a moderate breeze sprang up, thinking they had obtained just what they wanted, they weighed anchor, and coasted along, hugging the shores of Crete. But before long a terrific gale, which they called a north-easter, swept down upon us from the land. The ship was caught by it and since she could not be brought up into the wind we had to let her fall off and run before it. Then, running under the lee of a small island called Clauda [12], we managed with some difficulty to secure the ship’s boat. After hoisting it aboard they used cables to brace the ship. To add to the difficulties they were afraid all the time of drifting on to the Syrtis banks [13], so they shortened sail and lay to, drifting. (The writer of Acts then describes the terrible storm which finally casts them up alive on the shore of Malta) …. On the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were drifting in the Adriatic [14], about midnight the sailors sensed that we were nearing land.
After our escape we discovered that the island was called Melita [15]. (Paul’s stay on Malta is described) It was no less than three months later that we set sail in an Alexandrian ship which had wintered in the island. We put in at Syracuse [16] and stayed there three days, and from there we tacked round to Rhegium [17]. A day later the south wind sprang up and we sailed to Puteoli [18], reaching it in only two days. There we found some of the brothers and they begged us to stay a week with them, and so we finally came to Rome.
The brothers there had heard about us and came out from the city to meet us, as far as the Market of Appius [19] and the Three Taverns [20]. When we reached Rome [21] Paul was given permission to live alone with the soldier who was guarding him (where he stayed for at least two years after which he was either executed or released).
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