Acts 27

1. Now when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered up Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, who was of the band of Augustus.

2. And after boarding a ship of Adramyttium that was about to pass by the coasts of Asia, we set sail; and Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.

3. And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly, allowing him to go to his friends to refresh himself.

4. Now after setting sail from there, we sailed below Cyprus because the winds were contrary.

5. And after sailing across the sea by Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to the city of Myra in Lycia.

6. And when the centurion found there a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy, he put us on board.

7. And after many days of slow sailing, and having great difficulty passing by Cnidus, for the wind hindered us, we sailed below Crete near to Salmone;

8. And after sailing along its coast with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near which was a city of Lasea.

9. And after much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because the annual fast day had already passed, Paul warned the soldiers,

10. Saying to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will be a disaster and will cause much loss, not only of the cargo and of the ship, but also of our lives.”

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

12. And since the port was ill adapted to winter in, the majority also advised to set sail from there, if by any means they might be able to reach Phoenice to winter in this port of Crete, which lies toward the southwest and toward the northwest.

13. And when a south wind was gently blowing, they thought they had obtained their purpose; and after weighing anchor, they sailed close to Crete.

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

15. And when the ship was caught in the storm, and we were not able to bring her head into the wind, we let her go and were driven along.

16. Now when we passed below a certain small island called Clauda, we were hardly able to gain control of the ship;

17. And taking up helps, they used them to undergird the ship; then, fearing that we would fall into quicksand, they lowered the sails, and so were driven.

18. But we were violently tossed by the tempest, and the next day they cast out the cargo to lighten the ship.

19. And on the third day, we threw the ship’s equipment overboard with our own hands.

20. But when neither the sun nor the stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest was lying on us, all hope of our being saved was taken away.

21. Then, after a long period of silence, Paul stood up in their midst and said, “O men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete, and you would have been spared this disaster and loss;

22. But I exhort you now to be of good cheer, because there shall not be any loss of life among you, only of the ship.

23. For there stood by me this night an angel of God, Whose I am and Whom I serve,

24. Saying, ‘Have no fear, Paul. You must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has given to you all those sailing with you.’

25. So then, be of good cheer, men; for I believe God, that it will be exactly as it was told to me.

26. But we must be cast upon a certain island.”

27. And when the fourteenth night had come, we were being driven about in the Adriatic; but toward the middle of the night, some of the sailors thought that they were nearing some country.

28. And when they sounded, they found it twenty fathoms; then they went a little farther and sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms;

29. And fearing that we would come upon rocky places, they cast four anchors out of the stern and wished for day to come.

30. But when the sailors sought to escape from the ship and let the boat down into the sea, pretending that they were going to cast the anchors from the bow of the ship,

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

32. Then the soldiers cut away the ropes from the boat and let it fall.

33. Now as day was coming on, Paul urged them all to partake of food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued to watch while fasting, and have taken nothing.

34. Now then, I advise you to take food because it is for your well being; for not a hair shall fall from the head of anyone among you.”

35. And after saying these things, he took a loaf and gave thanks to God before everyone; and afterwards he broke it and began to eat.

36. Then they were all of good cheer, and also took bread for themselves.

37. Now all that were in the ship were two hundred and seventy-six souls.

38. And after they were satisfied with food, they lightened the ship by 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 that had a shore, into which they proposed to drive the ship if they were able.

40. Then they cut away the anchors and left them in the sea; at the same time, they loosened the bands of the rudders and, hoisting the foresail into the wind, made for the shore.

41. But coming upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the bow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was broken by the violence of the waves.

42. Then the soldiers decided to kill the prisoners, lest anyone should swim away and escape.

43. But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from carrying out their purpose; and he commanded those who could swim to cast themselves off first and go on to the land.

44. As for the rest, some came from the ship on boards, and others on some of the things from the ship; and so it came to pass that everyone was brought safely to the land.