1And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. (Ac 10:1; Ac 16:10; Ac 25:12; Ac 25:25)2And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. (Ac 19:29)3The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. (Ac 24:23; Ac 27:43; Ac 28:2; Ac 28:16; Ac 28:30)4And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.5And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.6There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. (Ac 28:11)7We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.8Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.9Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast[1] was already over, Paul advised them, (Le 16:29; Le 23:27; Nu 29:7)10saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” (Ac 27:21)11But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. (Re 18:17)12And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
The Storm at Sea
13Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.14But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. (Mr 4:37)15And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.16Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda,[2] we managed with difficulty to secure the ship’s boat.17After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear,[3] and thus they were driven along. (Ac 27:26; Ac 27:29)18Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. (Jon 1:5; Ac 27:38)19And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.20When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.21Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. (Ac 27:10)22Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. (Ac 27:25; Ac 27:36)23For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, (Ps 119:94; Da 5:23; Da 6:16; Ac 8:26; Ac 18:9; Ac 23:11; Ac 24:14; 2Ti 4:17)24and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ (Ge 18:26; Ge 19:21; Ge 19:29; Eze 14:14; Ac 23:11)25So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.26But we must run aground on some island.” (Ac 27:17; Ac 27:29; Ac 28:1)27When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land.28So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms.[4] A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms.[5]29And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. (Ac 27:17; Ac 27:26)30And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, (Ac 27:16)31Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”32Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go.33As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.34Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength,[6] for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” (1Sa 14:45; 2Sa 14:11; 1Ki 1:52; Mt 10:30; Lu 21:18)35And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. (Mt 15:36)36Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. (Ac 27:22)37(We were in all 276[7] persons in the ship.) (Ac 2:41; Ac 7:14; Ro 13:1; 1Pe 3:20)38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. (Ac 27:18)
The Shipwreck
39Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. (Ac 28:1)40So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.41But striking a reef,[8] they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. (2Co 11:25)42The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. (Ac 12:19)43But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, (Ac 27:3)44and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land. (Ac 27:22)
Acts 27
King James Version
1And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.2And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.3And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.4And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.5And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.6And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.7And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;8And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.9Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,10And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.11Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.12And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.13And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.14But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.15And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.16And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:17Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.18And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;19And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.20And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.21But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.22And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.23For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,24Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.25Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.26Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.27But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;28And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.29Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.30And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,31Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.32Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.33And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.34Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.35And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.36Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.37And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.39And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.40And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.41And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.42And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.43But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:44And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.