Acts 27

Paul Sails for Rome

1 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius.2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.3 The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.4 And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.5 And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.6 There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board.7 We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.8 Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

9 Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fastt was already over, Paul advised them,10 saying, "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 paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.12 And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

The Storm at Sea

13 Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land.15 And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.16 Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda,t we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat.17 After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear,t and thus they were driven along.18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo.19 And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands.20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss.22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,24 and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.26 But we must run aground on some island."

27 When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land.28 So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms.t A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms.t29 And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship's boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow,31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it go.

33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you."35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.37 (We were in all 276t persons in the ship.)38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

The Shipwreck

39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore.40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.41 But striking a reef,t they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf.42 The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape.43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought 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.