Paul Sails for Rome

1And when it was determined that we should sail away into Italy, they committed both Paul and certain other prisoners to the centurion, Julius by name, of the band of Augustus. 2And having embarked on an Adramyttium ship, about to sail to those places along Asia, we set sail; Aristarchus, the Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. 3And on the following day we disembarked at Sidon; and Julius, treating Paul kindly, permitted him having gone to his friends to receive their benefactions. 4And having embarked from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary: 5and having sailed through the sea which is opposite Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came down into Myra of Lycia. 6And there the centurion having found an Alexandrian ship sailing into Italy; transferred us into it. 7And sailing slowly during many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not favoring us, we sailed under Crete, opposite Salmone; 8and, with difficulty passing by it, we came into a certain place called Fair Havens, near to which was the city Lasea.

9And much time passing away, and navigation being already unsafe, because the Fast had already passed by, Paul exhorted them, 10saying to them, Men, I perceive that this voyage is going to be with peril and much loss, not only with the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives. 11But the centurion trusted the pilot and midshipman, rather than the things spoken by Paul. 12And the harbor being unsafe for spending the winter, most of them projected to the council to depart thence, if perchance they might be able, having arrived into Phoenix, to spend the winter there; a harbor of Crete, looking toward the southeast and the northeast.

The Storm at Sea

13And the south wind blowing, thinking they could achieve their purpose, lifting up a sail, they went coasting along near Crete.

14Not long afterward a typhonic wind, called Euraquilo, set in against her; 15and the ship having been seized, and being unable to resist the wind, having given away to it, we were borne along. 16And running under a certain island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to get possession of the boat: 17which lifting up they used helps, under-girding the ship; and fearing lest they might fall into Syrtis, lowering the gear, they were thus carried along. 18And we being tossed violently by the storm, they were successively making the casting out, 19and on the third day with their own hands they threw overboard the tackling of the ship; 20and neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and there being no small tempest on us, finally all hope of saving us was taken away.

21And there being much fasting, Paul standing in their midst, said, O men, truly it behooved you obeying me, not to depart from Crete, and incur this injury and loss. 22And now I exhort you to take courage: for there will be no loss of the life of you, except the ship. 23For the angel of God, whose I am, and whom indeed I serve, stood by me this night, 24saying, Fear not, Paul; for it behooveth thee to stand before Caesar: and, behold, God has given thee all those sailing along with thee. 25Therefore cheer up, O men: for I believe God, that it shall be according to the manner which He has spoken to me. 26But it behooves us to fall upon a certain island.

The Shipwreck

27And when it was the fourteenth night, we being borne along in the Adriatic Sea, about the middle of the night the sailors surmised that some country was coming to them. 28And having sounded, they found it twenty fathoms; and moving on a short distance, and sounding again, they found it fifteen fathoms; 29and fearing lest they may fall out against rough places, casting four anchors from the stern, they were praying that the day should come. 30And the sailors seeking to escape from the ship, and lowering the boat into the sea, with a pretext as about to cast anchors from the prow, 31Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, Unless these may remain in the ship, you are not able to be saved. 32Then the soldiers cut the ropes away from the boat, and let it fall out.

33But until the day was about to come, Paul exhorted all to take food, saying, Already this day you remain in a state of solicitude, the fourteenth day, receiving nothing. 34Therefore I exhort you to take food: for this is for your safety: for not a hair of your head shall perish. 35And having spoken these words, and taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and breaking it, began to eat. 36And all becoming cheerful, themselves also took food. 37And we were two hundred and seventy-six souls in the ship. 38And having been revived by the food, they lightened the ship, casting the wheat over into the sea.

39And when it was day, they did not recognize the land: but discovered a certain gulf having a shore, into which they determined, if possible, to thrust out the ship. 40And having knocked off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders, and raising up the main sail to the blowing wind, they made for the shore. 41And having fallen into a place where two seas met, they broke the ship, and indeed the prow, sticking fast, remained motionless, but the stern was torn off by the violence (of the wind). 42And the counsel of the soldiers was that they should kill the prisoners, lest some one, having outswum them, might escape: 43but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, forbade them from their counsel; and commanded that those who were able to swim, having first thrown themselves overboard, to go to the land; 44and the rest, some on planks, and others on some parts from the ship. And thus it came to pass that all came safe to the land.