27:1 | When it was decided we* would sail to Italy,* they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion* of the Augustan Cohort* named Julius. |
27:2 | We went on board* a ship from Adramyttium* that was about to sail to various ports* along the coast of the province of Asia* and put out to sea,* accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian* from Thessalonica.* |
27:3 | The next day we put in* at Sidon,* and Julius, treating Paul kindly,* allowed him to go to his friends so they could provide him with what he needed.* |
27:4 | From there we put out to sea* and sailed under the lee* of Cyprus because the winds were against us. |
27:5 | After we had sailed across the open sea* off Cilicia and Pamphylia,* we put in* at Myra* in Lycia.* |
27:6 | There the centurion* found* a ship from Alexandria* sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. |
27:7 | We sailed slowly* for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus.* Because the wind prevented us from going any farther,* we sailed under the lee* of Crete off Salmone.* |
27:8 | With difficulty we sailed along the coast* of Crete* and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea.* |
27:9 | Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous* because the fast* was already over,* Paul advised them,* |
27:10 | “Men, I can see the voyage is going to end* in disaster* and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”* |
27:11 | But the centurion* was more convinced* by the captain* and the ship’s owner than by what Paul said.* |
27:12 | Because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided* to put out to sea* from there. They hoped that* somehow they could reach* Phoenix,* a harbor of Crete facing* southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. |
27:13 | When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought* they could carry out* their purpose, so they weighed anchor* and sailed close along the coast* of Crete. |
27:14 | Not long after this, a hurricane-force* wind called the northeaster* blew down from the island.* |
27:15 | When the ship was caught in it* and could not head into* the wind, we gave way to it and were driven* along. |
27:16 | As we ran under the lee of* a small island called Cauda,* we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat* under control. |
27:17 | After the crew* had hoisted it aboard,* they used supports* to undergird the ship. Fearing they would run aground* on the Syrtis,* they lowered the sea anchor,* thus letting themselves be driven along. |
27:18 | The next day, because we were violently battered by the storm,* they began throwing the cargo overboard,* |
27:19 | and on the third day they threw the ship’s gear* overboard with their own hands. |
27:20 | When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and a violent* storm continued to batter us,* we finally abandoned all hope of being saved.* |
27:21 | Since many of them had no desire to eat,* Paul* stood up* among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me* and not put out to sea* from Crete, thus avoiding* this damage and loss. |
27:22 | And now I advise* you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship will be lost.* |
27:23 | For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong* and whom I serve* came to me* |
27:24 | and said,* ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before* Caesar,* and God has graciously granted you the safety* of all who are sailing with you.’ |
27:25 | Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God* that it will be just as I have been told. |
27:26 | But we must* run aground on some island.” |
27:27 | When the fourteenth night had come, while we were being driven* across the Adriatic Sea,* about midnight the sailors suspected they were approaching some land.* |
27:28 | They took soundings* and found the water was twenty fathoms* deep; when they had sailed a little farther* they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms* deep. |
27:29 | Because they were afraid* that we would run aground on the rocky coast,* they threw out* four anchors from the stern and wished* for day to appear.* |
27:30 | Then when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending* that they were going to put out anchors from the bow, |
27:31 | Paul said to the centurion* and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you* cannot be saved.” |
27:32 | Then the soldiers cut the ropes* of the ship’s boat and let it drift away.* |
27:33 | As day was about to dawn,* Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense* and have gone* without food; you have eaten nothing.* |
27:34 | Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is important* for your survival.* For not one of you will lose a hair from his head.” |
27:35 | After he said this, Paul* took bread* and gave thanks to God in front of them all,* broke* 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-six* persons on the ship.)* |
27:38 | When they had eaten enough to be satisfied,* they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat* into the sea. |
27:39 | When day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed* a bay* with a beach,* where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. |
27:40 | So they slipped* the anchors* and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the linkage* that bound the steering oars* together. Then they hoisted* the foresail* to the wind and steered toward* the beach. |
27:41 | But they encountered a patch of crosscurrents* and ran the ship aground; the bow stuck fast and could not be moved, but the stern was being broken up by the force* of the waves. |
27:42 | Now the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners* so that none of them would escape by swimming away.* |
27:43 | But the centurion,* wanting to save Paul’s life,* prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land,* |
27:44 | and the rest were to follow,* some on planks* and some on pieces of the ship.* And in this way* all were brought safely to land. |