Paul Sails for Rome

1Now when our sailing to Italy was determined, they delivered both Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the cohort of Augustus. 2And having boarded a ship of Adramyttium being about to sail to the places along Asia, we set sail—Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

3And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius, having treated Paul considerately, allowed him, having gone to his friends, to receive care. 4And having set sail from there, we sailed under Cyprus because of the winds being contrary. 5And having sailed across the sea and along Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra of Lycia. 6And there the centurion, having found a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy, placed us into it.

7Now sailing slowly for many days, and with difficulty having arrived off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us, we sailed under Crete, off Salmone. 8And coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near to which was the city of Lasea.

9Now much time having passed, and the voyage being already dangerous because of even the Fasta already being over, Paul was admonishing them, 10saying to them, “Men, I understand that the voyage is about to be filled with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and of the ship, but also of our lives.”

11But the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and the ship owner, rather than by the things spoken by Paul. 12And the harbor being unsuitable to winter in, the majority reached a decision to set sail from there, if somehow they might be able, having arrived at Phoenix—a harbor of Crete looking toward the southwest and toward the northwest—to winter there.

The Storm at Sea
(Jeremiah 6:10-21; Jeremiah 25:15-33; Jonah 1:4-10; Romans 1:18-32)

13Now a south wind having blown gently, having thought to have obtained the purpose, having weighed anchor, they began coasting along very near Crete. 14But not long after, there came down from it a tempestuous wind called the Northeaster. 15And the ship having been caught and not being able to face to the wind, having given way, we were driven along.

16And having run under a certain island called Cauda,b we were able with difficulty to gain control of the lifeboat, 17which having taken up, they began using supports, undergirding the ship. And fearing lest they should fall into the sandbars of Syrtis, having lowered the gear,c thus they were driven along.

18And we being storm-tossed violently, on the next day they began to make a jettison of cargo, 19and on the third day they cast away the tackle of the ship with the own hands. 20And neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no small tempest lying on us, from then on all hope of our being saved was abandoned.

21There being also much time without food, at that time having stood up in their midst, Paul said, “It behooved you indeed, O men, having been obedient to me, not to have set sail from Crete and to have incurred this disaster and loss. 22And yet now I exhort you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life from among you, only of the ship. 23For this night an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood by me, 24saying, ‘Fear not, Paul. It behooves you to stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted to you all those sailing with you.’

25Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be thus, according to the way it has been said to me. 26But it behooves us to fall upon a certain island.”

The Shipwreck

27And when the fourteenth night had come, of us being driven about in the Adriatic,d toward the middle of the night the sailors began sensing some land to be drawing near to them. 28And having taken soundings, they found twenty fathoms.e Then having gone a little farther and having taken soundings again, they found fifteen fathoms.f 29And fearing lest we might fall somewhere on rocky places, having cast four anchors out of the stern, they were praying for day to come.

30And of the sailors seeking to flee out of the ship and having let down the lifeboat into the sea under pretense as being about to cast out anchors from the bow, 31Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these remain in the ship, you are not able to be saved.” 32Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the lifeboat, and allowed her to fall away.

33And until that day was about to come, Paul kept urging all to partake of food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you continue watching without eating, having taken nothing. 34Therefore I exhort you to take food, for this is for your preservation; for not one hair of your head will perish.”

35Now having said these things and having taken bread, he gave thanks to God before all; and having broken it, he began to eat. 36And all, having been encouraged, also took food themselves. 37And we were altogether two hundred seventy-sixg souls in the ship. 38Then having been filled with food, they began to lighten the ship, casting out the wheat into the sea.

39And when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay, having a shore on which they determined to drive the ship if they should be able. 40And having cut away the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time having loosened the ropes of the rudders. And having hoisted the foresail to the blowing wind, they began making for the shore. 41But having fallen into a place between two seas, they ran the vessel aground. And indeed the bow, having stuck fast, remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.

42Now the plan of the soldiers was that they should kill the prisoners, lest anyone, having swum away, should escape. 43But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, hindered them of the purpose; and he commanded those being able to swim, having cast themselves off first, to go out on the land, 44and the rest, some indeed on boards, and some on things from the ship. And thus it came to pass that all were brought safely to the land.