Caught in a Violent Storm

27:9 Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous34 because the fast35 was already over,36 Paul advised them,37 27:10 “Men, I can see the voyage is going to end38 in disaster39 and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”40 27:11 But the centurion41 was more convinced42 by the captain43 and the ship’s owner than by what Paul said.44 27:12 Because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided45 to put out to sea46 from there. They hoped that47 somehow they could reach48 Phoenix,49 a harbor of Crete facing50 southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. 27:13 When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought51 they could carry out52 their purpose, so they weighed anchor53 and sailed close along the coast54 of Crete. 27:14 Not long after this, a hurricane-force55 wind called the northeaster56 blew down from the island.57 27:15 When the ship was caught in it58 and could not head into59 the wind, we gave way to it and were driven60 along. 27:16 As we ran under the lee of61 a small island called Cauda,62 we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat63 under control. 27:17 After the crew64 had hoisted it aboard,65 they used supports66 to undergird the ship. Fearing they would run aground67 on the Syrtis,68 they lowered the sea anchor,69 thus letting themselves be driven along. 27:18 The next day, because we were violently battered by the storm,70 they began throwing the cargo overboard,71 27:19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s gear72 overboard with their own hands. 27:20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and a violent73 storm continued to batter us,74 we finally abandoned all hope of being saved.75

27:21 Since many of them had no desire to eat,76 Paul77 stood up78 among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me79 and not put out to sea80 from Crete, thus avoiding81 this damage and loss. 27:22 And now I advise82 you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship will be lost.83 27:23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong84 and whom I serve85 came to me86 27:24 and said,87 ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before88 Caesar,89 and God has graciously granted you the safety90 of all who are sailing with you.’ 27:25 Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God91 that it will be just as I have been told. 27:26 But we must92 run aground on some island.”

27:27 When the fourteenth night had come, while we were being driven93 across the Adriatic Sea,94 about midnight the sailors suspected they were approaching some land.95 27:28 They took soundings96 and found the water was twenty fathoms97 deep; when they had sailed a little farther98 they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms99 deep. 27:29 Because they were afraid100 that we would run aground on the rocky coast,101 they threw out102 four anchors from the stern and wished103 for day to appear.104 27:30 Then when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending105 that they were going to put out anchors from the bow, 27:31 Paul said to the centurion106 and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you107 cannot be saved.” 27:32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes108 of the ship’s boat and let it drift away.109

27:33 As day was about to dawn,110 Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense111 and have gone112 without food; you have eaten nothing.113 27:34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is important114 for your survival.115 For not one of you will lose a hair from his head.” 27:35 After he said this, Paul116 took bread117 and gave thanks to God in front of them all,118 broke119 it, and began to eat. 27:36 So all of them were encouraged and took food themselves. 27:37 (We were in all two hundred seventy-six120 persons on the ship.)121 27:38 When they had eaten enough to be satisfied,122 they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat123 into the sea.