"  But  after  the  fourteenth  night  was  come,  as  we  were  sailing  in
Adria  (2),  about  hiidnight  the  ship-men  deemed  that  they  discovered
some  country.  Who  also  sounding,  found  twenty  fathoms  ;  and
going  on  a  little  further,  they  found  fifteen  ftithoms.  Then  fearing
lest  we  should  fiill  upon  rough  places,  they  cast  four  anchoi's  out  of
the  stern,  and  wished  for  the  day.  But  as  the  ship-men  sought  to
fly  out  of  the  ship,  having  let  down  the  boat  into  the  sea,  under
color  as  though  they  would  have  cast  anchore  out  of  the  fore  part
of  the  ship,  Paul  said  to  the  centurion  and  to  the  soldiers  :  Except
these  stay  in  the  ship  you  cannot  be  saved  (3)."  They  believed
him  at  last,  and,  "then  the  soldiers  cut  off  the  ropes  of  the  boat,
and  let  her  fall  off."

"  And  when  it  began  to  be  light,  Paul  besought  them  all  to  take
meat,  saying  :  This  day  is  the  fourteenth  day  that  you  expect  and
remain  fasting  (4),  taking  nothing.     Wherefore  I  pray  you  to  take


(1)  lie  had,  therefore,  asked  it,  since  the  angel  declares  that  God  had  granted  it  to
liim.  Hence  lie  had  done  more  by  praying  than  the  others  by  tlieir  hibor,  as  llie  hands
of  Moses  raised  to  heaven  contributed  more  to  gain  the  victory  than  the  armed  hands
which  dealt  the  blows.
Those  who,  in  their  state,  have  no  other  occupation  than  prayer,  if  tliey  pray  with
fervor  and  devotion,  are  more  useful  to  their  country  than  those  who  serve  her  with  arm
and  head.
