Acts 27

Paul and Company Sail for Rome

27:1 When it was decided we1 would sail to Italy,2 they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion3 of the Augustan Cohort4 named Julius. 27:2 We went on board5 a ship from Adramyttium6 that was about to sail to various ports7 along the coast of the province of Asia8 and put out to sea,9 accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian10 from Thessalonica.11 27:3 The next day we put in12 at Sidon,13 and Julius, treating Paul kindly,14 allowed him to go to his friends so they could provide him with what he needed.15 27:4 From there we put out to sea16 and sailed under the lee17 of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 27:5 After we had sailed across the open sea18 off Cilicia and Pamphylia,19 we put in20 at Myra21 in Lycia.22 27:6 There the centurion23 found24 a ship from Alexandria25 sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 27:7 We sailed slowly26 for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus.27 Because the wind prevented us from going any farther,28 we sailed under the lee29 of Crete off Salmone.30 27:8 With difficulty we sailed along the coast31 of Crete32 and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea.33

Caught in a Violent Storm

27:9 Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous34 because the fast35 was already over,36 Paul advised them,37 27:10 “Men, I can see the voyage is going to end38 in disaster39 and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”40 27:11 But the centurion41 was more convinced42 by the captain43 and the ship’s owner than by what Paul said.44 27:12 Because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided45 to put out to sea46 from there. They hoped that47 somehow they could reach48 Phoenix,49 a harbor of Crete facing50 southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. 27:13 When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought51 they could carry out52 their purpose, so they weighed anchor53 and sailed close along the coast54 of Crete. 27:14 Not long after this, a hurricane-force55 wind called the northeaster56 blew down from the island.57 27:15 When the ship was caught in it58 and could not head into59 the wind, we gave way to it and were driven60 along. 27:16 As we ran under the lee of61 a small island called Cauda,62 we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat63 under control. 27:17 After the crew64 had hoisted it aboard,65 they used supports66 to undergird the ship. Fearing they would run aground67 on the Syrtis,68 they lowered the sea anchor,69 thus letting themselves be driven along. 27:18 The next day, because we were violently battered by the storm,70 they began throwing the cargo overboard,71 27:19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s gear72 overboard with their own hands. 27:20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and a violent73 storm continued to batter us,74 we finally abandoned all hope of being saved.75

27:21 Since many of them had no desire to eat,76 Paul77 stood up78 among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me79 and not put out to sea80 from Crete, thus avoiding81 this damage and loss. 27:22 And now I advise82 you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship will be lost.83 27:23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong84 and whom I serve85 came to me86 27:24 and said,87 ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before88 Caesar,89 and God has graciously granted you the safety90 of all who are sailing with you.’ 27:25 Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God91 that it will be just as I have been told. 27:26 But we must92 run aground on some island.”

27:27 When the fourteenth night had come, while we were being driven93 across the Adriatic Sea,94 about midnight the sailors suspected they were approaching some land.95 27:28 They took soundings96 and found the water was twenty fathoms97 deep; when they had sailed a little farther98 they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms99 deep. 27:29 Because they were afraid100 that we would run aground on the rocky coast,101 they threw out102 four anchors from the stern and wished103 for day to appear.104 27:30 Then when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending105 that they were going to put out anchors from the bow, 27:31 Paul said to the centurion106 and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you107 cannot be saved.” 27:32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes108 of the ship’s boat and let it drift away.109

27:33 As day was about to dawn,110 Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense111 and have gone112 without food; you have eaten nothing.113 27:34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is important114 for your survival.115 For not one of you will lose a hair from his head.” 27:35 After he said this, Paul116 took bread117 and gave thanks to God in front of them all,118 broke119 it, and began to eat. 27:36 So all of them were encouraged and took food themselves. 27:37 (We were in all two hundred seventy-six120 persons on the ship.)121 27:38 When they had eaten enough to be satisfied,122 they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat123 into the sea.

Paul is Shipwrecked

27:39 When day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed124 a bay125 with a beach,126 where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 27:40 So they slipped127 the anchors128 and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the linkage129 that bound the steering oars130 together. Then they hoisted131 the foresail132 to the wind and steered toward133 the beach. 27:41 But they encountered a patch of crosscurrents134 and ran the ship aground; the bow stuck fast and could not be moved, but the stern was being broken up by the force135 of the waves. 27:42 Now the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners136 so that none of them would escape by swimming away.137 27:43 But the centurion,138 wanting to save Paul’s life,139 prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land,140 27:44 and the rest were to follow,141 some on planks142 and some on pieces of the ship.143 And in this way144 all were brought safely to land.

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