CHAPTER 27
When
it was decided
that
we
would sail
for
Italy,
Paul
and
some
other
prisoners
were handed over
to a centurion
named
Julius,
who belonged to the Augustan
Regiment.
We boarded
an Adramyttian
ship
about
to sail
for
ports
along
the coast of Asia,
and we put out to sea.
Aristarchus,
a Macedonian
from Thessalonica,
was
with
us.
The
next day
we landed
at
Sidon,
and
Julius
treated
Paul
with consideration,
allowing him
to visit
his
friends
and receive
their care.
And when
we had sailed across the open sea
off the coast
of Cilicia
and
Pamphylia,
we came
to
Myra
in Lycia.
After
sailing slowly
for
many
days,
we arrived
off
Cnidus.
When the
wind
impeded
us,
we sailed to the lee
of Crete,
opposite
Salmone.
After
we had moved along the coast
with difficulty,
we came
to
a
place
called
Fair
Havens,
near
the town
of Lasea.
By now
much
time
had passed,
and
the
voyage
had already become
dangerous
because
it was after
the
Fast.
So Paul
advised them,
“Men,
I can see
that
our
voyage
will
be filled
with
disaster
and
great
loss,
not
only
to
ship
and
cargo,
but
to our
own
lives
as well."
But
contrary to
Paul’s
advice,
the
centurion
was persuaded
by the
pilot
and
the
owner of the ship.
Since
the
harbor
was
unsuitable
to
winter in,
the
majority
decided
to sail
on,
if
somehow
they could
reach
Phoenix
to winter there.
Phoenix was a harbor
in Crete
facing
both
southwest
and
northwest.
When
a gentle south wind
began to blow,
they thought
they had
their
opportunity.
So they weighed anchor
and sailed along,
hugging the coast
of Crete.
Unable
to head into
the
wind,
the
ship
was caught up.
So we gave way
and let ourselves be driven along.
After hoisting it up,
the crew used
ropes
to undergird
the
ship.
Fearing
they would run aground
on
the
sandbars of Syrtis,
they lowered
the
sea anchor
and
were driven along.
When
neither
sun
nor
stars
appeared
for
many
days
and
the great
storm
continued to batter us,
we abandoned
all
hope
of
being saved.
After
the men had gone
a long
time without food,
Paul
stood up
among them
and said,
“Men,
you should have
followed my advice
not
to sail
from
Crete.
Then
you would have averted
this
disaster
and
loss.
But
now
I urge
you
to keep up your courage,
because
you
will not experience
any loss
of life,
but only
of the
ship.
and said,
‘Do not
be afraid,
Paul;
you
must
stand before
Caesar.
And
look,
God
has granted
you
the lives of all
who
sail
with
you.’
On
the fourteenth
night
we
were still being driven
across
the
Adriatic Sea.
About
midnight
the
sailors
sensed
they
were approaching
land.
They took soundings
and found that the water
was twenty
fathoms deep.
Going
a little farther,
they took another set of soundings
that read
fifteen
fathoms.
Fearing that
we would run aground
on
the rocks,
they dropped
four
anchors
from
the stern
and prayed for
daybreak.
Meanwhile,
the
sailors
attempted
to escape
from
the
ship.
Pretending
to lower
anchors
from
the bow,
they let
the
lifeboat
down into
the
sea.
But Paul
said
to the
centurion
and
the
soldiers,
“Unless
these men
remain
with
the
ship,
you
cannot
be saved.”
Right
up to
daybreak,
Paul
kept urging
them all
to eat:
“Today
is your fourteenth
day
in constant suspense,
without taking any food.
So
for
your
own
preservation,
I urge
you
to eat something,
because
not a single
hair
of
your
head
will be lost.”
After
he had said
this,
Paul took
bread
and gave thanks
to God
in front of
them all.
Then
he broke it
and began
to eat.
When
daylight
came,
they did not recognize
the
land,
but
they sighted
a
bay
with
a sandy beach,
where
they decided
to run
the
ship aground
if
they could.
Cutting away
the
anchors,
they left them
in
the
sea
as
they loosened
the
ropes
that held the
rudders.
Then
they hoisted
the
foresail
to the
wind
and made
for
the
beach.
But
the
vessel
struck
a sandbar
and ran aground.
The
bow
stuck fast
and would not move,
and
the
stern
was being tattered
by
the
pounding
of the
waves.
But
the
centurion,
wanting
to spare
Paul’s life ,
thwarted
their
plan.
He commanded
those
who could
swim
to jump overboard
first
and get
to
land.
The
rest were to follow
on
planks
and
various parts
of
the
ship.
In this way
everyone
was brought safely
to
land.