Festus conferred with the Council, and then said to Paul, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? Unto Cæsar thou shalt go. After certain days King Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cæsarea to salute Festus. The latter told the king about Paul, saying, There is a prisoner here whom the chief priests and elders of the Jews have asked me to condemn to death. But I told them before condemning a man the accused and the accusers must be brought face to face, and the accused allowed to answer for himself. Agrippa said he was anxious to hear Paul himself, and Festus told the king that he could hear him. to-morrow. On the morrow Agrippa and Bernice came in great pomp with the chief captains and principal men of the city; and Festus commanded Paul to be brought before him. When he came Festus introduced the prisoner as one who had greatly enraged the Jews, but who, as far as he could see, was not guilty of crime. And Agrippa said unto Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul said, I am happy, King Agrippa, because I am allowed to answer the accusations made against me by the Jews, particularly because I know you are familiar with all the customs and questions among the Jews.

My manner of life since a child is known to the Jews. I was a strict Pharisee, and thought that I ought to do many things against Jesus of Nazareth. I have imprisoned many of the saints, and when they were put to death spoke against them. I punished them and persecuted them, even unto strange cities, and I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests. And. at midday, O King, a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun shone around me and those travelling with me; and when we had fallen to the ground I heard a voice saying, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he replied, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest, and have come to make you a minister and a witness of the things that you have seen. I at once obeyed the vision, and went and preached to the Jews at Damascus and Jerusalem and through all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God. On account of this the Jews caught me in the temple and were about to kill me; but having ob

tained help of God I have continued until this day witnessing that Christ has suffered and died and showed light unto the Gentiles.

While Paul spoke thus Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning hath made thee mad. But Paul said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but am speaking truth with soberness. The king knows these things. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Agrippa replied, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Paul said, I wish that not only thou, but all who hear me, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these chains.

Then the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and those that sat with him, and went aside and talked among themselves, and said, This man has done nothing for which he should be put to death, or kept in bonds. And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been set at liberty if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.

CHAPTER L.

PAUL AND

PAUL SETS SAIL FOR ROME IS SHIPWRECKED
THE VIPER-HE HEALS PUBLIUS' FATHER AND OTHERS—
PAUL ARRIVES AT ROME-PREACHES TO THE JEWS THERE
-IS BEHEADED UNDER NERO-MARTYRDOM OF ST. PETER.

FESTUS gave Paul and some other prisoners into the care of the centurion, who took soldiers with him to guard them on the way to Rome to appear before Cæsar. The ship in which they sailed stopped at various ports along the coasts of Asia. At Sidon the centurion allowed Paul to visit his friends in that city. Leaving Sidon, they sailed close to the island of Cyprus because the winds were against them, and then went northwest to the city of Myra. There the centurion took his prisoners on board another ship bound for Italy. Sailing slowly for many days, they came to a place, Fair

Havens, in the island of Crete. Leaving this port a storm arose, and Paul told the master of the ship that the voyage would be one of great danger to the persons on board as well as to the ship and cargo.

The sailors found it impossible to steer the ship, and they let her go wherever the wind might drive her. They saw neither the sun nor moon for many days. A great tempest lay upon them, and they threw out some of the cargo to light

en the ship. Paul said to them, Sirs, ye should have remained at Crete as I told you; but be of good cheer, not one on the ship shall be lost. This night an angel of the Lord stood by me, and said, Fear not, Paul; you must be brought before Cæsar, and lo, God hath given thee all that sail with thee; and I believe it shall be as God hath said.

When the fourteenth night was come the ship was driven along through the Adriatic Sea; and the sailors, hearing the breakers, thought they were near land, and they took soundings and found they were in shallow waters. Fearing they would strike the rocks, they cast forth anchors out of the stern and wished for day. But the sailors, expecting the ship to go to pieces, let down the small boat into the sea, intending to

escape.

But Paul said to the centurion, Except these sailors stay in the ship ye cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut the ropes which held the boat, and it drifted off empty into the darkness. When it was near morning Paul begged them all to take some food, saying, This is the fourteenth day since the storm began, and ye have eaten little or nothing. Take some food to keep up your strength, for no harm shall come to any of you. Then he took bread, and gave thanks to God before them all, and began to eat. And all the rest ate with him. When it was day they could not see the land, but seeing a creek with a beach they determined if they could to thrust the ship into it. They took up the anchors, and hoisting the sail steered towards the place. But the ship ran aground and the fore-part stuck fast and could not be moved, while the hinder part was broken by the violence of the waves.

The soldiers advised the centurion to kill the prisoners lest they should escape, but the centurion wanted to save Paul, and told them to do the prisoners no harm; and gave orders that those who could swim should first cast themselves into the water and make for the shore.

The rest went on boards and on broken pieces of the ship, and all reached land in safety. They found they were on the island Melita, where the people were very kind to them and kindled a fire, at which they might dry and warm themselves. Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire;

and after he laid them on, a viper came out of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the people saw this they said, No doubt this man is a murderer, and though he escaped drowning in the sea, yet now he is being punished as he deserves. But Paul shook off the viper and was unhurt, and when they saw that he did not drop down dead, they said, He is a God.

Publius was the chief man of the island, and he invited Paul and those that were with him to his house, where they staid three days and were kindly treated. The father of Publius was sick of a fever, but Paul laid his hands on him and he became well. Then others that had diseases came and were healed. They were grateful and made many presents to Paul and his friends, of such things as they would need on the voyage.