[1] 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. [2] Embarking 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. [3] The next day, we touched at
Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him permission to go to his
friends and refresh himself. [4] Putting to sea from there, we sailed under
the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. [5] When we had sailed
across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city
of Lycia. [6] There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for
Italy, and he put us on board. [7] When 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. [8] With difficulty
sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near the
city of Lasea. [9] When much time was spent, and the voyage was now
dangerous, because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them,
[10] and 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." [11] But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the
owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul. [12]
Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to
put 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. [13] When
the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose,
they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore. [14] But after
no long time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called
Euroclydon. [15] When the ship was caught, and couldn`t face the wind, we
gave way to it, and were driven along. [16] Running under the lee of a
small island called Clauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the
boat. [17] When 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. [18] As we labored exceedingly
with the storm, the next day they began to throw things overboard. [19] On
the third day, they threw out the ship`s tackle with their own hands. [20]
When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days, and no small tempest
pressed on us, all hope that we should be saved was now taken away. [21]
When they had been long without food, Paul stood up in the midst 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. [22] Now I exhort you to cheer
up, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. [23]
For there stood by me this night an angel, belonging to the God whose I am
and whom I serve, [24] saying, `Don`t be afraid, Paul. You must stand
before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.`
[25] Therefore, sirs, cheer up! For I believe God, that it will be just as
it has been spoken to me. [26] But we must run aground on a certain
island." [27] But when the fourteenth night was 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. [28] They took soundings, and
found twenty fathoms. After a little while, they took soundings again, and
found fifteen fathoms. [29] Fearing that we would run aground on rocky
ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight.
[30] As 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, [31] Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these
stay in the ship, you can`t be saved." [32] Then the soldiers cut away the
ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. [33] While the day was coming on,
Paul begged them all to take some food, saying, "This day is the fourteenth
day that you wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing. [34]
Therefore I beg you to take some food, for this is for your safety; for
there will not a hair perish from the head of any of you." [35] When 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. [36] Then were they all of good
cheer, and they also took food. [37] We were in all in the ship two hundred
seventy-six souls. [38] When they had eaten enough, they lightened the
ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. [39] When 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. [40] Casting 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. [41]
But 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. [42] The soldiers` counsel was to kill the
prisoners, so that none of them would swim out and escape. [43] But 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 to the land; [44] and the rest, some on planks, and some on other
things from the ship. So it happened that they all escaped safely to the
land.
