Acts 27

Paul Sails for Rome

1 It was decided that we would sail for Italy. An officer named Julius, who served in the emperor’s 2 We got on a ship that was from the city of Adramyttium and was about to sail to different ports in Asia. Aristarchus, a man from the city of Thessalonica in Macedonia, went with us.3 The next day we came to Sidon. Julius was very good to Paul and gave him freedom to go visit his friends, who took care of his needs.4 We left Sidon and sailed close to the island of Cyprus, because the wind was blowing against us.5 We went across the sea by Cilicia and Pamphylia and landed at the city of Myra, in Lycia.

6 There the officer found a ship from Alexandria that was going to Italy, so he put us on it.
7 We sailed slowly for many days. We had a hard time reaching Cnidus because the wind was blowing against us, and we could not go any farther. So we sailed by the south side of the island of Crete near Salmone.

8 Sailing past it was hard. Then we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
9 We had lost much time, and it was now dangerous to sail, because it was already after the Day of Cleansing. 10 “Men, I can see there will be a lot of trouble on this trip. The ship, the cargo, and even our lives may be lost.”11 But the captain and the owner of the ship did not agree with Paul, and the officer believed what the captain and owner of the ship said.

12 Since that harbor was not a good place for the ship to stay for the winter, most of the men decided that the ship should leave. They hoped we could go to Phoenix and stay there for the winter. Phoenix, a city on the island of Crete, had a harbor which faced southwest and northwest.

The Storm

13 When a good wind began to blow from the south, the men on the ship thought, “This is the wind we wanted, and now we have it.” So they pulled up the anchor, and we sailed very close to the island of Crete.14 But then a very strong wind named the “northeaster” came from the island.15 The ship was caught in it and could not sail against it. So we stopped trying and let the wind carry us.16 When we went below a small island named Cauda, we were barely able to bring in the lifeboat.17 After the men took the lifeboat in, they tied ropes around the ship to hold it together. The men were afraid that the ship would hit the sandbanks of Syrtis, 18 The next day the storm was blowing us so hard that the men threw out some of the cargo.19 A day later with their own hands they threw out the ship’s equipment.

20 When we could not see the sun or the stars for many days, and the storm was very bad, we lost all hope of being saved.
21 After the men had gone without food for a long time, Paul stood up before them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me. You should not have sailed from Crete. Then you would not have all this trouble and loss.22 But now I tell you to cheer up because none of you will die. Only the ship will be lost.23 Last night an angel came to me from the God I belong to and worship.24 The angel said, ‘Paul, do not be afraid. You must stand before Caesar. And God has promised you that he will save the lives of everyone sailing with you.’25 So men, have courage. I trust in God that everything will happen as his angel told me.

26 But we will crash on an island.”
27 On the fourteenth night we were still being carried around in the Adriatic Sea. 28 so they lowered a rope with a weight on the end of it into the water. They found that the water was one hundred twenty feet deep. They went a little farther and lowered the rope again. It was ninety feet deep.29 The sailors were afraid that we would hit the rocks, so they threw four anchors into the water and prayed for daylight to come.30 Some of the sailors wanted to leave the ship, and they lowered the lifeboat, pretending they were throwing more anchors from the front of the ship.31 But Paul told the officer and the other soldiers, “If these men do not stay in the ship, your lives cannot be saved.”

32 So the soldiers cut the ropes and let the lifeboat fall into the water.
33 Just before dawn Paul began persuading all the people to eat something. He said, “For the past fourteen days you have been waiting and watching and not eating.34 Now I beg you to eat something. You need it to stay alive. None of you will lose even one hair off your heads.”35 After he said this, Paul took some bread and thanked God for it before all of them. He broke off a piece and began eating.36 They all felt better and started eating, too.37 There were two hundred seventy-six people on the ship.

38 When they had eaten all they wanted, they began making the ship lighter by throwing the grain into the sea.

The Ship Is Destroyed

39 When daylight came, the sailors saw land. They did not know what land it was, but they saw a bay with a beach and wanted to sail the ship to the beach if they could.40 So they cut the ropes to the anchors and left the anchors in the sea. At the same time, they untied the ropes that were holding the rudders. Then they raised the front sail into the wind and sailed toward the beach.

41 But the ship hit a sandbank. The front of the ship stuck there and could not move, but the back of the ship began to break up from the big waves.
42 The soldiers decided to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim away and escape.43 But Julius, the officer, wanted to let Paul live and did not allow the soldiers to kill the prisoners. Instead he ordered everyone who could swim to jump into the water first and swim to land.44 The rest were to follow using wooden boards or pieces of the ship. And this is how all the people made it safely to land.

Acts 27

1 And 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 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.3 And the next day we touched at Sidon: and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go unto his friends and refresh himself.4 And putting to sea from thence, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.5 And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy; and he put us therein.7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not further suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone;8 and with difficulty coasting along it we came unto a certain place called Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.9 And when much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already gone by, Paul admonished them,10 and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the lading 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 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there; which is a haven of Crete, looking north-east and south-east.13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore.14 But after no long time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called Euraquilo:15 and when the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven.16 And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat:17 and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven.18 And as we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw the the freight overboard;19 and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship.20 And when neither sun nor stars shone upon us for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was now taken away.21 And when they had been long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve,24 saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee.25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me.26 But we must be cast upon a certain island.27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven to and fro in the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some country:28 and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms.29 And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.30 And as the sailors were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under color as though they would lay out anchors from the foreship,31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.34 Wherefore I beseech you to take some food: for this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you.35 And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he brake it, and began to eat.36 Then were they all of good cheer, and themselves also took food.37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it.40 And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.41 But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.43 But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stayed them from their purpose; and commanded that they who could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first to the land;44 and the rest, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to the land.