27
1 When
it was determined
that we should sail
for Italy, they
delivered Paul and
certain other
prisoners to a
centurion named
Julius, of the
Augustan band.
2 Embarking
in a ship
of Adramyttium, which
was about to
sail to places
on the coast
of Asia, we
put to sea, Aristarchus,
a Macedonian of
Thessalonica being
with us.
3 The
next day, we
touched at Sidon.
Julius treated
Paul kindly and
gave him
permission to go
to his friends
and refresh himself.
4 Putting to sea
from there, we
sailed under
the lee of Cyprus,
because the winds
were contrary.
5 When
we had
sailed across the
sea which is
off Cilicia and
Pamphylia, we came
to Myra, a city
of Lycia.
6 There
the centurion
found a ship
of Alexandria sailing
for Italy, and
he put us
on board.
7 When
we had sailed
slowly many days,
and had come
with difficulty opposite
Cnidus, the wind
not allowing us further,
we sailed under
the lee of Crete,
opposite Salmone.
8 With
difficulty sailing
along it we
came to a
certain place
called Fair Havens,
near the city
of Lasea.
9 When
much time had
passed and the
voyage was now
dangerous because
the Fast had
now already gone
by, Paul
admonished them
10 and
said to them,
“Sirs, I perceive
that the voyage
will be with injury
and much loss,
not only of
the cargo and
the ship, but
also of our
lives.”
11 But
the centurion gave
more heed to the
master and to
the owner of the
ship than to
those things which
were spoken by
Paul.
12 Because
the haven was
not suitable to
winter in, the
majority advised
going to sea
from there, if
by any means
they could reach
Phoenix and winter
there, which is
a port of Crete,
looking southwest
and northwest.
13 When
the south wind
blew softly,
supposing that
they had obtained
their purpose,
they weighed anchor and
sailed along Crete,
close to shore.
14 But
before long,
a stormy wind beat down
from shore, which
is called
Euroclydon.
15 When
the ship was
caught and couldn’t
face the wind, we
gave way to
it and were
driven along.
16 Running
under the lee of
a small island
called Clauda, we
were able, with
difficulty, to secure
the boat.
17 After
they had hoisted
it up, they
used cables to help reinforce
the ship. Fearing
that they would
run aground on
the Syrtis sand bars,
they lowered the
sea anchor, and
so were driven
along.
18 As
we labored exceedingly
with the storm,
the next day
they began to throw
things overboard.
19 On
the third day,
they threw out
the ship’s tackle
with their own hands.
20 When
neither sun
nor stars shone on
us for many
days, and no
small storm pressed
on us, all
hope that we
would be saved
was now taken
away.
21 When
they had been
long without food,
Paul stood up
in the middle
of them and
said, “Sirs, you
should have listened
to me, and
not have set sail
from Crete and
have gotten this injury
and loss.
22 Now
I exhort you to
cheer up, for
there will be
no loss of life
among you, but
only of the
ship.
23 For
there stood by
me this night
an angel, belonging
to the God
whose I am
and whom I
serve,
24 saying,
‘Don’t be afraid,
Paul. You must
stand before
Caesar. Behold,
God has granted
you all those
who sail with
you.’
25 Therefore,
sirs, cheer up! For
I believe God,
that it will
be just as
it has been
spoken to me.
26 But
we must run
aground on a
certain island.”
27 But
when the
fourteenth night
had come, as
we were driven back
and forth in
the Adriatic Sea, about
midnight the
sailors surmised that
they were drawing
near to some
land.
28 They
took soundings and
found twenty
fathoms.
After a little
while, they took
soundings again,
and found fifteen
fathoms.
29 Fearing
that we would
run aground
on rocky ground, they
let go four anchors
from the stern,
and wished for
daylight.
30 As
the sailors were
trying to flee
out of the
ship and
had lowered the
boat into the
sea, pretending
that they would
lay out anchors
from the bow,
31 Paul
said to the
centurion and to
the soldiers, “Unless
these stay in
the ship, you
can’t be
saved.”
32 Then
the soldiers cut
away the ropes
of the boat
and let it
fall off.
33 While
the day was
coming on, Paul
begged them all
to take some
food, saying, “Today
is the fourteenth
day that you wait
and continue fasting, having
taken nothing.
34 Therefore
I beg you
to take some
food, for this
is for your safety;
for not a
hair will perish
from any of
your heads.”
35 When
he had said
this and had
taken bread, he
gave thanks to
God in the
presence of all;
then he broke
it and began
to eat.
36 Then
they all cheered
up, and they
also took food.
37 In
all, we were
two hundred
seventy-six souls
on the ship.
38 When
they had eaten
enough, they
lightened the ship,
throwing out the
wheat into the
sea.
39 When
it was day,
they didn’t
recognize the land,
but they noticed a
certain bay with
a beach, and they
decided to try to
drive the ship
onto it.
40 Casting
off the anchors,
they left them
in the sea,
at the same time
untying the rudder
ropes. Hoisting up
the foresail to
the wind, they
made for the beach.
41 But coming
to a place
where two seas
met, they ran
the vessel aground.
The bow struck and
remained immovable, but
the stern began
to break up
by the violence of
the waves.
42 The
soldiers’ counsel
was to kill the
prisoners, so that
none of them
would swim out
and escape.
43 But
the centurion,
desiring to save
Paul, stopped them
from their purpose,
and commanded that
those who could
swim should throw
themselves overboard first
to go toward the
land;
44 and
the rest should
follow, some on
planks and some
on other things
from the ship.
So they all
escaped safely to
the land.