ard a ship as a prisoner to be taken to Rome. While
they were at sea a violent storm came up, and Paul warned the sailors
that they were in great danger; but they would not listen to him. At
last the ship was wrecked, all on board being cast ashore upon an
island, whither they had been carried, clinging to boards and broken
pieces of the ship.

The barbarous people of the island treated them kindly, building a fire
that they might dry their clothing and get warm; for it was cold and
they were, of course, drenched.

The men were very glad to be safe once more; but a strange thing
happened after a little: Paul gathered up an armful of sticks to put
upon the fire, and as he placed them upon the flames, a viper, which is
a kind of poisonous snake, came out of the bundle and clung to his hand;
he shook it off into the fire, however, without the slightest sign of
fear.

Those who were about him thought that the hand would swell and that
Paul would die from the effects of the bite, and they watched him
closely, believing that this trouble was sent to him as a punishment for
his sins. But no evil results came from the wound, and then the
barbarians thought he was a god and looked upon him with great respect.

Paul and the men who were with him remained upon the island for three
months. At the end of that time they went away in a ship, finally
reaching Rome, where the prisoners were given up to the authorities; but
Paul was allowed to live by himself, with only a soldier to guard him,
and after a while he called the chief men of the Jews together and told
them why he was there and preached to them the Word of God. His
preaching was received by some with faith, but others did not believe.

[Illustration: THE CRUCIFIXION.]

[Illustration: "HE IS RISEN!"]

Paul went on preaching and teaching in Rome for two years, living in a
house which he hired, and he brought many to Jesus. He was a man of
excellent education and a powerful preacher. His Epistles, given in the
Bible, are full of power and the fire of conviction, and he did a
wonderful work for the great cause in which he believed with all his
heart.

Paul was physically small and deformed; but mentally he was a giant. He
had been taught the knowledge of the Romans, and was therefore well
fitted to take up this new cause in a manner which would appeal to
educated people as well as to those who had no learning.

[Illustration: THE LAST SUPPER.]

[Illustration: THE DES