Acts — Chapter 27

1When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.

2We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.

3The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration, allowing him to visit his friends and receive their care.

4After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.

5And when we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.

6There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.

7After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.

8After we had moved along the coast with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

9By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. So Paul advised them,

10“Men, I can see that our voyage will be filled with disaster and great loss, not only to ship and cargo, but to our own lives as well.”

11But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship.

12Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, hoping that somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete facing both southwest and northwest.

13When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had their opportunity. So they weighed anchor and sailed along, hugging the coast of Crete.

14But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island.

15Unable to head into the wind, the ship was caught up. So we gave way and let ourselves be driven along.

16Passing to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we barely managed to secure the lifeboat.

17After hoisting it up, the crew used ropes to undergird the ship. And fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and were driven along.

18We were tossed so violently that the next day the men began to jettison the cargo.

19On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.

20When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the great storm continued to batter us, we abandoned all hope of being saved.

21After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss.

22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience any loss of life, but only of the ship.

23For just last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me

24and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’

25So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me.

26However, we must run aground on some island.”

27On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.

28They took soundings and found that the water was twenty fathoms deep. Going a little farther, they took another set of soundings that read fifteen fathoms.

29Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.

30Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea.

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

32So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and set it adrift.

33Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food.

34So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost.”

35After he had said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.

36They were all encouraged and took some food themselves.

37In all, there were 276 of us on board.

38After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

39When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they sighted a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.

40Cutting away the anchors, they left them in the sea as they loosened the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.

41But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves.

42The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom.

43But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul’s life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

44The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.

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.

1And when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.

2And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

3And the next day we touched at Sidon: and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go unto his friends and refresh himself.

4And putting to sea from thence, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

5And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, [a city] of Lycia.

6And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy; and he put us therein.

7And when we had sailed slowly many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not further suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone;

8and with difficulty coasting along it we came unto a certain place called Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

9And when much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already gone by, Paul admonished them,

10and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the lading and the ship, but also of our lives.

11But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul.

12And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter [there; which is] a haven of Crete, looking northeast and south-east.

13And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore.

14But after no long time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called Euraquilo:

15and when the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way [to it,] and were driven.

16And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat:

17and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven.

18And as we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw the [the freight] overboard;

19and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship.

20And when neither sun nor stars shone upon [us] for many days, and no small tempest lay on [us,] all hope that we should be saved was now taken away.

21And when they had been long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.

22And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of life among you, but [only] of the ship.

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

24saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee.

25Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me.

26But we must be cast upon a certain island.

27But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven to and fro in the [sea of] Adria, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some country:

28and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms.

29And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.

30And as the sailors were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under color as though they would lay out anchors from 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 away the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

33And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.

34Wherefore I beseech you to take some food: for this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you.

35And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he brake it, and began to eat.

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

37And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

39And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it.

40And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

41But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by 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, desiring to save Paul, stayed them from their purpose; and commanded that they who could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first to the land;

44and the rest, some on planks, and some on [other] things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to the land.

1When 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.

2We 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.

3The 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.

4From there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.

5After we had sailed across the open sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we put in at Myra in Lycia.

6There the centurion found a ship from Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it.

7We 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.

8With difficulty we sailed along the coast of Crete and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea.

9Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the fast was already over, Paul advised them,

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.”

11But the centurion was more convinced by the captain and the ship’s owner than by what Paul said.

12Because 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.

13When 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.

14Not long after this, a hurricane-force wind called the northeaster blew down from the island.

15When the ship was caught in it and could not head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.

16As we ran under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat under control.

17After 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.

18The next day, because we were violently battered by the storm, they began throwing the cargo overboard,

19and on the third day they threw the ship’s gear overboard with their own hands.

20When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and a violent storm continued to batter us, we finally abandoned all hope of being saved.

21Since 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.

22And 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.

23For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve came to me

24and 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.’

25Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be just as I have been told.

26But we must run aground on some island.”

27When the fourteenth night had come, while we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected they were approaching some land.

28They 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.

29Because 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.

30Then 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,

31Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”

32Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it drift away.

33As 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.

34Therefore 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.”

35After he said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke it, and began to eat.

36So all of them were encouraged and took food themselves.

37(We were in all 276 persons on the ship.)

38When they had eaten enough to be satisfied, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.

39When 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.

40So 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.

41But 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.

42Now the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that none of them would escape by swimming away.

43But 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,

44and 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.

1When it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.

2Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea; Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

3The next day, we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself.

4Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

5When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

6There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us on board.

7When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.

8With difficulty sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

9When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them,

10and said to them, “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.”

11But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul.

12Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking northeast and southeast.

13When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore.

14But before long, a stormy wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon.

15When the ship was caught, and couldn’t face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven along.

16Running under the lee of a small island called Clauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat.

17After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered the sea anchor, and so were driven along.

18As we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw things overboard.

19On the third day, they threw out the ship’s tackle with their own hands.

20When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days, and no small storm pressed on us, all hope that we would be saved was now taken away.

21When they had been long without food, Paul stood up in the middle of them, and said, “Sirs, you should have listened to me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.

22Now I exhort you to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

23For there stood by me this night an angel, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve,

24saying, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’

25Therefore, sirs, cheer up! For I believe God, that it will be just as it has been spoken to me.

26But we must run aground on a certain island.”

27But when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven back and forth in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some land.

28They took soundings, and found twenty fathoms. After a little while, they took soundings again, and found fifteen fathoms.

29Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight.

30As the sailors were trying to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they would lay out anchors from the bow,

31Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these stay in the ship, you can’t be saved.”

32Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let it fall off.

33While the day was coming on, Paul begged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.

34Therefore I beg you to take some food, for this is for your safety; for not a hair will perish from any of your heads.”

35When he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it, and began to eat.

36Then they all cheered up, and they also took food.

37In all, we were two hundred seventy-six souls on the ship.

38When they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

39When it was day, they didn’t recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay with a beach, and they decided to try to drive the ship onto it.

40Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time untying the rudder ropes. Hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

41But coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.

42The soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim out and escape.

43But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go toward the land;

44and the rest should follow, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. So they all escaped safely to the land.