Acts 27

Paul Sails for Rome

Acts 27:1–12

1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of the Imperial military unit.

2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

3 And the next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul courteously, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.

7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and had barely arrived opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, opposite Salmone;

8 And, passing along it with difficulty, we came unto a place which is called The fair havens; near which was the city of Lasea.

9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the cargo and ship, but also of our lives.

11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

12 And because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.

The Storm at Sea

Acts 27:13–26

13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drift.

16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had great difficulty securing the boat:

17 Which when they had taken up, they used supporting ropes around the ship; and, fearing lest they should run aground on the sandbanks of Syrtis, lowered sail, and so were driven.

18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;

19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the ship’s equipment.

20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

21 But after a long time without food Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete, and so have avoided this damage and loss.

22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.

23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

26 However, we must be cast upon a certain island.

The Shipwreck

Acts 27:27–44

27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the sailors suspected they were nearing some land;

28 And they measured the depth, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they measured the depth again, and found it fifteen fathoms.

29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

30 And as the sailors were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under the pretense that they would have cast anchors out of the bow,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Unless these stay in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

33 And while the day was coming on, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

34 Wherefore I pray you to take some food: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some food.

37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred and seventy-six people.

38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a bay with a beach, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.

40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder ropes, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the bow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was broken with the violence of the waves.

42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:

44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.