Acts 27
1
And when it was decided that we should sail
to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other
prisoners to one named Julius, a
centurion of the Augustan Regiment.
2
So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to
sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia.
Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was
with us.
3
And the next day we landed at
Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave
him liberty to go to his friends and
receive care.
4
When we had put to sea from there, we sailed
under the shelter of Cyprus,
because the winds were contrary.
5
And when we had sailed over the sea which is off
Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a
city of Lycia.
6
There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship
sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.
7
When we had sailed slowly many days, and
arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not
permitting us to proceed, we sailed under
the shelter of Crete off Salmone.
8
Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place
called Fair Havens, near the city of
Lasea.
9
Now when much time had been spent, and
sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was
already over, Paul advised them,
10
saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will
end with disaster and much loss, not only of the
cargo and ship, but also our lives.”
11
Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by
the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by
the things spoken by Paul.
12
And because the harbor was not suitable to
winter in, the majority advised to set sail from
there also, if by any means they could reach
Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the
southwest and northwest, and
winter there
.
13
When the south wind blew softly, supposing that
they had obtained their desire,
putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.
14
But not long after, a tempestuous head wind
arose, called Euroclydon.
15
So when the ship was caught, and could not head
into the wind, we let her drive.
16
And running under the shelter of
an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff
with difficulty.
17
When they had taken it on board, they used
cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest
they should run aground on the Syrtis
Sands , they struck sail and so were
driven.
18 And because we were exceedingly
tempest-tossed, the next day they
lightened the ship.
19
On the third day we threw the
ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.
20
Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many
days, and no small tempest beat on us
, all hope that we would be saved was finally
given up.
21
But after long abstinence from food, then
Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men,
you should have listened to me, and not have
sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and
loss.
22 And now I urge you to take heart, 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 of the
God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
24
saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be
brought before Caesar; and indeed God has
granted you all those who sail with you.’
25
Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God
that it will be just as it was told me.
26
However, we must run aground on a certain
island.”
27
Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we
were driven up and down in the Adriatic
Sea , about midnight the sailors sensed
that they were drawing near some land.
28
And they took soundings and found it
to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone
a little farther, they took soundings again and
found it to be fifteen fathoms.
29
Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the
rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern,
and prayed for day to come.
30
And as the sailors were seeking to escape from
the ship, when they had let down the skiff into
the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors
from the prow,
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
skiff and let it fall off.
33
And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored
them all to take food, saying, “Today
is the fourteenth day you have waited and
continued without food, and eaten nothing.
34
Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for
this is for your survival, since not a hair will
fall from the head of any of you.”
35
And when he had said these things, he took bread
and gave thanks to God in the presence of them
all; and when he had broken it
he began to eat.
36
Then they were all encouraged, and also took
food themselves.
37
And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six
persons on the ship.
38
So when they had eaten enough, they lightened
the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.
39
When it was day, they did not recognize the
land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto
which they planned to run the ship if possible.
40
And they let go the anchors and left them
in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder
ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind
and made for shore.
41
But striking a place where two seas met, they
ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast
and remained immovable, but the stern was being
broken up by the violence of the waves.
42
And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the
prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and
escape.
43 But the centurion, wanting to save
Paul, kept them from their
purpose, and commanded that those who could swim
should jump overboard first and
get to land,
44
and the rest, some on boards and some on
parts of the ship.
And so it was that they all escaped safely to
land.
