Acts 27:7-44 ▼

7 And sailing slowly for many days, and with difficulty having arrived off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us, we sailed under Crete off Salmone.

8 And coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near to which was the city of Lasea.

9 Now much time having passed and the voyage being already dangerous because of even the Fast already being over, Paul was admonishing them,

10 saying to them, “Men, I see that the voyage is about to be with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and of the ship, but also of our lives.”

11 But the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and the ship owner rather than by the things spoken by Paul.

12 And the harbor being unsuitable to winter in, the majority made a decision to set sail from there, if somehow they might be able, having arrived at Phoenix—a harbor of Crete looking toward the southwest and toward the northwest—to winter there.

13 And a south wind having blown gently, having thought to have obtained their purpose, having weighed anchor, they began coasting along very near Crete.

14 But not long after, there came down from it a tempestuous wind called Euroclydon.

15 And the ship having been caught and not being able to face the wind, having given way, we were driven along.

16 And having run under a certain island called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to gain control of the lifeboat,

17 which having taken up, they began using supports, undergirding the ship. And fearing lest they might fall into the sandbars of Syrtis, having lowered the gear, thus they were driven along.

18 And in our being storm-tossed violently, on the next day they began to make a jettison of cargo,

19 and on the third day they cast away the tackle of the ship with their own hands.

20 And neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no small storm lying on us, from then on all hope of our being saved was abandoned.

21 There being also much time without food, at that time having stood up in their midst, Paul said, “It was necessary indeed, O men, having been obedient to me, not to have set sail from Crete and to have incurred this disaster and loss.

22 And now I exhort you? to take heart, for there will be no loss of life from among you?—only of the ship.

23 For this night an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood by me,

24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted to you all those sailing with you.’

25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be thus, according to the way it has been said to me.

26 But it is necessary for us to fall upon a certain island.”

27 And when the fourteenth night had come of us being driven about in the Adriatic, toward the middle of the night the sailors began sensing some land to be drawing near to them.

28 And having taken soundings, they found twenty fathoms. And having gone a little farther and having taken soundings again, they found fifteen fathoms.

29 And fearing, lest we might fall somewhere on rocky places, having cast four anchors out of the stern, they were praying for day to come.

30 And the sailors seeking to flee out of the ship and having let down the lifeboat into the sea under pretense as being about to cast out anchors from the bow,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these remain in the ship, you? are not able to be saved.”

32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the lifeboat and allowed it to fall away.

33 And until that day was about to come, Paul kept urging all to partake of food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you? continue waiting without eating, having taken nothing.

34 Therefore I exhort you? to take food, for this is for your? preservation; for not one hair of your? head will perish.”

35 And having said these things and having taken bread, he gave thanks to God before all; and having broken it, he began to eat.

36 And all, having been encouraged, also took food themselves.

37 And we were altogether two hundred seventy-six souls in the ship.

38 And having been filled with food, they began to lighten the ship, casting out the wheat into the sea.

39 And when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay, having a shore on which they decided to drive the ship if they could.

40 And having cut away the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time having loosened the ropes of the rudders. And having hoisted the foresail to the blowing wind, they began making for the shore.

41 But having fallen into a place between two seas, they ran the vessel aground. And indeed the bow, having stuck fast, remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.

42 Now the plan of the soldiers was that they should kill the prisoners, lest anyone, having swum away, should escape.

43 But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, hindered them of the plan; and he commanded those being able to swim, having cast themselves off first, to go out on the land,

44 and the rest, some indeed on boards and some on things from the ship. And thus it came to pass that all were brought safely to the land.