27And when it was decided that we would sail away to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named^a Julius of the Augustan^b Cohort. ²And we went aboard a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to the places along the coast^* of Asia^c and^* put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. ³And on the next day, we put in at Sidon. And Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him^* to go to his^* friends to be cared for.^d ⁴And from there we put out to sea and^* sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.^* ⁵And after we^* had sailed across the open sea along Cilicia and Pamphylia, we put in at Myra in Lycia. ⁶And there the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and^* put us on board^e it. ⁷And sailing slowly, in many days and with difficulty we came^* to Cnidus. Because^* the wind did not permit us to go further, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. ⁸And sailing along its coast with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near which was the town of Lasea.

⁹And because^* considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast^f was already over, Paul strongly recommended, ¹⁰saying to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage is going to end^g with disaster and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives!” ¹¹But the centurion was convinced even more by the shipmaster and the shipowner than by what was said by Paul. ¹²And because^* the harbor was unsuitable for spending the winter in, the majority decided on a plan to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could arrive at Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing toward the southwest and toward the northwest, to spend the winter there.^*

A Violent Storm at Sea

¹³And when^* a southwest wind began to blow gently, because they^* thought they could accomplish their purpose, they weighed anchor and^* sailed close along Crete. ¹⁴But not long afterward a wind like a hurricane, called the northeaster,^h rushed down from it.ⁱ ¹⁵And when^* the ship was caught and was not able to head into the wind, we gave way and^* were driven along. ¹⁶And running under the lee of a certain small island called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat under control. ¹⁷After^* hoisting it up,^j they made use of supports to undergird the ship. And because they^* were afraid lest they run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and^* thus were driven along. ¹⁸And because^* we were violently battered by the storm, on the next day they began^k jettisoning the cargo,^* ¹⁹and on the third day they threw overboard the gear of the ship with their own hands. ²⁰But when^* neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and with not a little bad weather confronting us,^* finally all hope was abandoned that we would be saved.

²¹And because^* many were experiencing lack of appetite, at that time Paul stood up in their midst and^* said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice not to put out to sea from Crete, and thus avoided this damage and loss! ²²And now I urge you to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life from among you, but only of the ship. ²³For this night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve came to me, ²⁴saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar, and behold, God has graciously granted you all who are sailing with you.’ ²⁵Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will be like this—according to the^l way it was told to me. ²⁶But it is necessary that we run aground on some island.”

²⁷And when the fourteenth night had come, as^* we were being driven in the Adriatic Sea about the middle of the night, the sailors suspected they were approaching some land.^m ²⁸And taking soundings, they found twenty fathoms. So going on a little further and taking soundings again, they found fifteen fathoms. ²⁹And because they^* were afraid lest somewhere we run aground against rough places, they threw down four anchors from the stern and^* prayed for day to come. ³⁰And when^* the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending as if they were going to lay out anchors from the bow, ³¹Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved!” ³²Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it fall away.ⁿ

³³And until the day was about to come, Paul was urging them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited anxiously, and^* you have continued without eating, having taken nothing. ³⁴Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is necessary for your preservation. For not a hair from your head will be lost.” ³⁵And after he^* said these things and took bread, he gave thanks to God in front of them all, and after^* breaking it,^* he began to eat. ³⁶So they all were^* encouraged and partook of food themselves. ³⁷(Now we were in all two hundred seventy six persons on the ship.) ³⁸And when they^* had eaten their fill of food, they lightened the ship by^* throwing the wheat^o into the sea.

The Shipwreck

³⁹Now when day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay having a beach, onto which they decided to run the ship ashore if they could. ⁴⁰And slipping the anchors, they left them^* in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes^p of the steering oars. And hoisting the foresail to the wind that was blowing, they held course for the beach. ⁴¹But falling into a place of crosscurrents,^q they ran the ship aground. And the bow stuck fast and^* stayed immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence.^r ⁴²Now the plan of the soldiers was that they would kill the prisoners lest any escape by^* swimming away, ⁴³but the centurion, because he^* wanted to save Paul, prevented them from doing what they intended,^s and gave orders that those who were able to swim should jump in first to get to the land, ⁴⁴and then the rest, some of whom floated^* on planks and some of whom on anything that was from the ship. And in this way all were brought safely to the land.

Paul on Malta

28And after we^* were brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. ²And the local inhabitants showed extraordinary^a kindness to us, for they lit a fire and^* welcomed us all, because of the rain that had begun and because of the cold. ³And when^* Paul had gathered a large number of sticks and was placing them^* on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and^* fastened itself on his hand. ⁴And when the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying^* to one another, “Doubtless this man is a murderer whom, although he^* was rescued from the sea, Justice^* has not permitted to live!” ⁵He, in turn, shook off the creature into the fire and^* suffered no harm. ⁶But they were expecting that he was going to swell up^b or suddenly to fall down dead. So after^* they had waited for a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and^* began saying^* that he was a god.

⁷Now in the regions around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, named^c Publius, who welcomed us and^* entertained us^* hospitably for three days. ⁸And it happened that the father of Publius was lying down, afflicted with fever and dysentery. Paul went^* to him^d and after^* praying, he placed his^* hands on him and^* healed him. ⁹And after^* this had taken place, the rest of those on the island who had diseases were coming and being healed also. ¹⁰They also honored us with many honors, and when we^* were putting out to sea, they gave us^* the things we needed.^e

Paul Arrives in Rome at Last

¹¹Now after three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian one with the twin gods Castor and Pollux as its insignia.^f ¹²And putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. ¹³From there we got underway^g and^* arrived at Rhegium, and after one day a south wind came up and^* on the second day we came to Puteoli, ¹⁴where we found brothers, and^* were implored to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. ¹⁵And from there the brothers, when they^* heard the news about us, came to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When he^* saw them, Paul gave thanks to God and^* took courage. ¹⁶And when we entered into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

aLiterally “by name”
bThe meaning and significance of the title “Augustan” is highly debated, as is the precise identification of this military unit; it may be an honorary unit designation given to auxiliary or provincial troops
*The word “coast” is not in the Greek text but is implied
cA reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor)
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went aboard”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
dLiterally “to experience care”
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“put out to sea”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had sailed across”) which is understood as temporal
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“found”) has been translated as a finite verb
eLiterally “into”
*Here this participle (“came”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“permit … to go further”)
*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“had passed”)
fA reference to the Jewish Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) which occurs in mid-autumn
gLiterally “to be”
*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“began to blow gently”)
*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“thought”) which is understood as causal
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“weighed anchor”) has been translated as a finite verb
hLiterally “Euraquilo,” a violent northern wind
iThat is, from the island of Crete
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was caught”)
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“gave way”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“hoisting”) which is understood as temporal
jLiterally “which”
*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were afraid”) which is understood as causal
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“lowered”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“battered by the storm”)
kLiterally “they began to carry out”
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“appeared”)
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“were experiencing”)
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood up”) has been translated as a finite verb
lLiterally “which”
*Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were being driven”)
mLiterally “some land was approaching them”
*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were afraid”) which is understood as causal
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“threw down”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were seeking”)
nOr “let it drift away”
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“have waited”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“said”) which is understood as temporal
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“breaking”) which is understood as temporal
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here this participle (“were”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had eaten their fill”) which is understood as temporal
*Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“throwing”) which is understood as means
oOr “grain”
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
pOr “bands” (referring to the linkage that tied the steering oars together)
qOr “a reef”; literally “a place of two seas,” an expression of uncertain meaning but most likely a nautical technical term for some adverse sea condition
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stuck fast”) has been translated as a finite verb
rSome manuscripts have “the violence of the waves”
*Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“swimming away”) which is understood as means
*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal
sLiterally “of the intention”
*The word “floated” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were brought safely through”) which is understood as temporal
aLiterally “not the ordinary”
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“lit”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had gathered”)
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came out”) has been translated as a finite verb
*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began saying”)
*Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was rescued”) which is understood as concessive
*Here personified as a goddess
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“shook off”) has been translated as a finite verb
bOr “to burn with fever” (either meaning is possible here)
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had waited”)
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“changed their minds”) has been translated as a finite verb
*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began saying”)
cLiterally “by name”
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“welcomed”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here this participle (“went”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
dLiterally “whom”
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“praying”) which is understood as temporal
*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“placed”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had taken place”)
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“putting out to sea”) which is understood as temporal
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
eLiterally “for the needs”
fLiterally “marked with the Dioscuri” (a joint name for the twin gods Castor and Pollux)
gOr “we sailed along” (with “the coast” understood); the exact meaning of the text as it stands is disputed and various additional terms have to be supplied in any case
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“got underway”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“found”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“gave thanks”) has been translated as a finite verb