Acts 27
27
Sailing for Rome
1When it was decided that we were to sail to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Imperial Regiment.#27:1 Or Augustan Cohort#Ac 10:1; 16:10; 25:12,25 2When we had boarded a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, intending to sail to ports along the coast of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.#Ac 17:1; 19:29; 20:4; Col 4:10; Phm 24 3The next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul kindly and allowed him to go to his friends to receive their care.#Ac 24:23; 27:43; 28:16 4When we had put out to sea from there, we sailed along the northern coast#27:4 Lit sailed under the lee, also in v. 7 of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5After sailing through the open sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we reached Myra in Lycia.#Ac 6:9; 13:13 6There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7Sailing slowly for many days, with difficulty we arrived off Cnidus. Since the wind did not allow us to approach it, we sailed along the south side of Crete off Salmone. 8With still more difficulty we sailed along the coast and came to a place called Fair Havens near the city of Lasea.
Paul’s Advice Ignored
9By now much time had passed, and the voyage was already dangerous. Since the Day of Atonement#27:9 Lit the Fast#Lv 16:29–31; 23:27–29; Nm 29:7 was already over, Paul gave his advice 10and told them, “Men, I can see that this voyage is headed toward disaster and heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship but also of our lives.” 11But the centurion paid attention to the captain and the owner of the ship rather than to what Paul said.#Ac 27:21; Rv 18:17 12Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to set sail from there, hoping somehow to reach Phoenix, a harbor on Crete#Ac 2:11; Ti 1:5 facing the southwest and northwest, and to winter there.
Storm-Tossed Ship
13When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought they had achieved their purpose. They weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14But before long, a fierce wind called the “northeaster” rushed down from the island. 15Since the ship was caught and unable to head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16After running under the shelter of a little island called Cauda,#27:16 Or Clauda we were barely able to get control of the skiff. 17After hoisting it up, they used ropes and tackle and girded the ship. Fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the drift-anchor, and in this way they were driven along. 18Because we were being severely battered by the storm, they began to jettison the cargo the next day.#Jnh 1:5; Ac 27:38 19On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20For many days neither sun nor stars appeared, and the severe storm kept raging. Finally all hope was fading that we would be saved.
21Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, “You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss. 22Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship. 23For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me#Dn 6:16; Ac 18:9; 23:11; Rm 1:9; 2Tm 4:17 24and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. It is necessary for you to appear before Caesar. And indeed, God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’ 25So take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me.#Ac 27:22,36; Rm 4:20–21 26But we have to run aground on some island.”#Ac 27:17,29; 28:1
27When the fourteenth night came, we were drifting in the Adriatic Sea, and about midnight the sailors thought they were approaching land. 28They took soundings and found it to be a hundred twenty feet#27:28 Lit twenty fathoms deep; when they had sailed a little farther and sounded again, they found it to be ninety feet#27:28 Lit fifteen fathoms deep. 29Then, fearing we might run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come. 30Some sailors tried to escape from the ship; they had let down the skiff into the sea, pretending that they were going to put out anchors from the bow. 31Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the skiff and let it drop away.
33When it was about daylight, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, having eaten nothing. 34So I urge you to take some food. For this is for your survival, since none of you will lose a hair from your head.”#1Kg 1:52; Mt 10:30; Lk 21:18 35After he said these things and had taken some bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all of them, and after he broke it, he began to eat.#Mt 14:19; 15:36 36They all were encouraged and took food themselves. 37In all there were 276 of us on the ship.#Ac 2:41; 7:14; Rm 13:1; 1Pt 3:20 38When they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing the grain overboard into the sea.
Shipwreck
39When daylight came, they did not recognize the land but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could.#Ac 27:18; 28:1 40After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach. 41But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves. 42The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim away and escape. 43But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, and so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached the shore.#Ac 12:19; 27:3,22; 2Co 11:25
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Acts 27: CSB
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
The Acts 27
27
1AND when it was determined that he should sail into Italy, and that Paul, with the other prisoners, should be delivered to a centurion, named Julius, of the band Augusta,
2Going on board a ship of Adrumetum, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia, Aristarchus, the Macedonian of Thessalonica, continuing with us.
3And the day following we came to Sidon. And Julius treating Paul courteously, permitted him to go to his friends, and to take care of himself.
4And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5And sailing over the sea of Cilicia, and Pamphylia, we came to Lystra, which is in Lycia:
6And there the centurion finding a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy, removed us into it.
7And when for many days we had sailed slowly, and were scarce come over against Gnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed near Crete by Salmone:
8And with much ado sailing by it, we came into a certain place, which is called Good-havens, nigh to which was the city of Thalassa.
9And when much time was spent, and when sailing now was dangerous, because the fast was now past, Paul comforted them,
10Saying to them: Ye men, I see that the voyage beginneth to be with injury and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
11But the centurion believed the pilot and the master of the ship, more than those things which were said by Paul.
12And whereas it was not a commodious haven to winter in, the greatest part gave counsel to sail thence, if by any means they might reach Phenice to winter there, which is a haven of Crete, looking towards the southwest and northwest.
13And the south wind gently blowing, thinking that they had obtained their purpose, when they had loosed from Asson, they sailed close by Crete.
14But not long after, there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroaquilo.
15And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up against the wind, giving up the ship to the winds, we were driven.
16And running under a certain island, that is called Cauda, we had much work to come by the boat.
17Which being taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship, and fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, they let down the sail yard, and so were driven.
18And we being mightily tossed with the tempest, the next day they lightened the ship.
19And the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship.
20And when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm lay on us, all hope of our being saved was now taken away.
21And after they had fasted a long time, Paul standing forth in the midst of them, said: You should indeed, O ye men, have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and have gained this harm and loss.
22And now I exhort you to be of good cheer. For there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but only of the ship.
23For an angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, stood by me this night,
24Saying: Fear not, Paul, thou must be brought before Caesar; and behold, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God that it shall so be, as it hath been told me.
26And we must come unto a certain island.
27But after the fourteenth night was come, as we were sailing in Adria, about midnight, the shipmen deemed that they discovered some country.
28Who also sounding, found twenty fathoms; and going on a little further, they found fifteen fathoms.
29Then fearing lest we should fall upon rough places, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
30But as the shipmen sought to fly out of the ship, having let down the boat into the sea, under colour, as though they would have cast anchors out of the forepart of the ship,
31Paul said to the centurion, and to the soldiers: Except these stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.
32Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
33And when it began to be light, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying: This day is the fourteenth day that you have waited, and continued fasting, taking nothing.
34Wherefore I pray you to take some meat for your health's sake; for there shall not an hair of the head of any of you perish.
35And when he had said these things, taking bread, he gave thanks to God in the sight of them all; and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
36Then were they all of better cheer, and they also took some meat.
37And we were in all in the ship, two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, casting the wheat into the sea.
39And when it was day, they knew not the land; but they discovered a certain creek that had a shore, into which they minded, if they could, to thrust in the ship.
40And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, loosing withal the rudder bands; and hoisting up the mainsail to the wind, they made towards shore.
41And when we were fallen into a place where two seas met, they run the ship aground; and the forepart indeed, sticking fast, remained unmoveable: but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the sea.
42And the soldiers' counsel was, that they should kill the prisoners, lest any of them, swimming out, should escape.
43But the centurion, willing to save Paul, forbade it to be done; and he commanded that they who could swim, should cast themselves first into the sea, and save themselves, and get to land.
44And the rest, some they carried on boards, and some on those things that belonged to the ship. And so it came to pass, that every soul got safe to land.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.