Acts 27
1 Now, when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul, and certain other prisoners, unto a centurion by name Julius, of an Augustan band.
As it was decided that we were to sail to Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were put in charge of a Captain of the Augustan Guard, named Julius.
2 And, going on board a ship of Adramittium, about to sail unto the places along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, there being with us, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica;
We went on board a ship from Adramyttium, which was on the point of sailing to the ports along the coast of Roman Asia, and put to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, went with us.
3 and, on the next day, we put into Zidon, —and Julius, treating Paul, kindly, gave him leave to go unto his friends and refresh himself;
The next day we put in to Sidon, where Julius treated Paul in a friendly manner, and allowed him to go to see his friends and receive their hospitality.
4 and, from thence putting out to sea, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary;
Putting to sea again, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the wind was against us;
5 and, sailing across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came down to Myra, a city of Lycia.
and, after crossing the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we reached Myra in Lycia.
6 And the centurion, there, finding a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy, put us therein.
There the Roman Officer found an Alexandrian ship on her way to Italy, and put us on board of her.
7 And, for a good many days sailing slowly, and getting with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us to get on, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone;
For several days our progress was slow, and it was only with difficulty that we arrived off Cnidus. As the wind was still unfavourable when we came off Cape Salmone, we sailed under the lee of Crete,
8 and, with difficulty coasting it, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near to which was the city of Lasea.
and with difficulty, by keeping close in shore, we reached a place called ‘Fair Havens,’ near which was the town of Lasea.
9 And, when a considerable time had passed, and sailing was already dangerous, because, even the Fast, had already gone by, Paul began to advise,
This had taken a considerable time, and sailing was already dangerous, for the Fast was already over; and so Paul gave this warning.
10 saying to them—Sirs! I perceive that, with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and of the ship, but even of our persons, shall the voyage certainly be attended.
“My friends,” he said, “I see that this voyage will be attended with injury and much damage, not only to the cargo and the ship, but to our own lives also.”
11 But, the centurion, by the master, and by the shipowner, was more persuaded than by the things which, by Paul, were spoken.
The Roman Officer, however, was more influenced by the captain and the owner than by what was said by Paul.
12 And, the harbour being, incommodious, to winter in, the more part, advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they might be able to reach Phoenix, to winter, [which was] a harbour of Crete, looking north-east and south-east.
And, as the harbour was not a suitable one to winter in, the majority were in favour of continuing the voyage, in hope of being able to reach Phoenix, and winter there. Phoenix was a Cretan harbour, open to the north-east and south-east.
13 And, a south wind blowing softly, supposing they had secured their purpose, weighing anchor, they began to sail close in shore along Crete.
So, when a light wind sprang up from the south, thinking that they had found their opportunity, they weighed anchor and kept along the coast of Crete, close in shore.
14 But, after no long time, there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, called Euraquilo, —
But shortly afterwards a hurricane came down on us off the land — a north-easter, as it is called.
15 and, the ship being caught and we not being able to bring her head to the wind, we let her go, and were borne along.
The ship was caught by it and was unable to keep her head to the wind, so we had to give way and let her drive before it.
16 And, running under the lee, of some small island, called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to make ourselves masters of the boat, —
Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we only just managed to secure the ship’s boat,
17 which, hoisting up, they began to use, helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest, on the sand-bank of Africa, they should run aground, lowering the gear, so, were they borne along.
and, after hoisting it on board, the men frapped the ship. But, afraid of being driven on to the Syrtis Sands, they lowered the yard, and then drifted.
18 But, we being exceedingly tempest-tossed, on the next day, they began to throw [cargo] overboard;
So violently were we tossed about by the storm, that the next day they began throwing the cargo overboard,
19 and, on the third day, with their own hands, the tackling of the ship, they cast away.
and, on the following day, threw out the ship’s tackle with their own hands.
20 And, neither, sun nor stars, appearing for many days, and, no small tempest, lying upon us, in the end, all hope that we should be saved, began to be taken from us.
As neither sun nor stars were visible for several days, and, as the gale still continued severe, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.
21 But, when they had been, long without food, then, Paul, standing in the midst of them, said—Ye ought, indeed, Sir! yielding to me, not to have sailed away from Crete, to get this damage and loss. …
It was then, when they had gone a long time without food, that Paul came forward, and said: “My friends, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and so incurred this injury and damage.
22 And, now, I recommend you to be of good courage; for, loss of life, shall there be, none at all, from among you, —only the ship.
Yet, even as things are, I urge you not to lose courage, for there will not be a single life lost among you — only the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night, belonging unto the God whose I am, unto whom also I am doing divine service, a messenger,
For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong, and whom I serve, stood by me, and said —
24 saying—Be not afraid, Paul! for, before Caesar, must thou needs stand. And lo! God hath granted to thee as a favour, all them who are sailing with thee.
‘Have no fear, Paul; you must appear before the Emperor, and God himself has given you the lives of all your fellow-voyagers.’
25 Wherefore, be of good courage, Sirs; for I believe in God—that, so, it shall be, according as it hath been told me.
Therefore, courage, my friends! for I believe God, that everything will happen exactly as I have been told.
26 Upon a certain island, however, must we needs be wrecked.
We shall, however, have to be driven on some island.”
27 And, when, the fourteenth night, had come, and we were being driven to and fro in the Adriatic, about midnight, the sailors suspected that some country was, nearing, them;
It was now the fourteenth night of the storm, and we were drifting about in the Adriatic Sea, when, about midnight, the sailors began to suspect that they were drawing near land.
28 and, sounding, they found twenty fathoms, —and, going a little further, and again sounding, they found fifteen fathoms.
So they took soundings, and found twenty fathoms of water. After waiting a little, they took soundings again, and found fifteen fathoms.
29 And, fearing lest haply, on rocky places, we should be wrecked, out of stern, cast they four anchors, —and began praying that day might dawn.
Then, as they were afraid of our being driven upon some rocky coast, they let go four anchors from the stern, and longed for daylight.
30 But, when, the sailors, were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, by pretext, as though out of the prow they had been about to reach anchors,
The sailors wanted to leave the ship, and had lowered the boat, on pretence of running out anchors from the bows,
31 Paul said unto the centurion, and unto the soldiers—Except, these, abide in the ship, ye yourselves, cannot be saved!
when Paul said to the Roman Officer and his men: “Unless the sailors remain on board, you cannot be saved.”
32 Then, the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
Upon that the soldiers cut the ropes which held the boat, and let her drift away.
33 And, until day was about to dawn, Paul continued to beseech one and all to take some food, saying—This day is, the fourteenth day, that, suspense, fasting, ye are completing, —having helped yourselves, to nothing.
In the interval before daybreak Paul kept urging them all to take something to eat. “It is a fortnight to-day,” he said, “that, owing to your anxiety, you have gone without food, taking nothing.
34 Wherefore, I beseech you to take some food, —for, this, lays a foundation for your safety; for, of no one of you, shall a hair of the head perish.
So I urge you to take something to eat; your safety depends upon it, for not one of you will lose even a hair of his head.”
35 And, having said these things, and taken a loaf, he gave thanks unto God before all, and, breaking it, began to eat.
With these words he took some bread, and, after saying the thanksgiving to God before them all, broke it in pieces, and began to eat;
36 And, all becoming, of good cheer, they also, helped themselves to food.
and the men all felt cheered and had something to eat themselves.
37 Now we were, in the ship, in all, about seventy-six souls.
There were about seventy-six of us on board, all told.
38 And, when they were satisfied with food, they began lightening the ship, casting out the wheat into the sea.
After satisfying their hunger, they further lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
39 And, when day came, they could not recognise, the land; but perceived, a certain bay, having a beach, —upon which they were minded, if they could, safely to bring the ship.
When daylight came, they could not make out what land it was, but, observing a creek in which there was a beach, they consulted as to whether they could run the ship safely into it.
40 And, casting off the anchors, they let them go into the sea, —at the same time, loosening the lashings of the rudders, and, hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.
Then they cast off, and abandoned the anchors, and at the same time unlashed the gear of the steering oars, hoisted the foresail to the wind, and made for the beach.
41 But, falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and, the foreship sticking fast, remained immoveable, while, the stern, began to break up, from the violence [of the waves].
They got, however, into a kind of channel, and there ran the ship aground. The bows stuck fast and could not be moved, while the stern began breaking up under the strain.
42 Now, the soldiers counsel, turned out to be, that they should kill, the prisoners, lest any one should swim out and escape;
The advice of the soldiers was that the prisoners should be killed, for fear that any of them should swim away and make their escape.
43 but, the centurion, being minded to bring Paul safely through, hindered them of their purpose, and ordered such as were able to swim, to cast themselves overboard and, get first to the land, —
But the Roman Officer, anxious to save Paul, prevented their carrying out their intention, and ordered that those who could swim should be the first to jump into the sea and try to reach the shore;
44 and, the rest, some, on planks, and, some, on other things from the ship, …and, so, it came to pass, that, all, were brought safely through, on to the land.
and that the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on different pieces of the ship. In these various ways every one managed to get safely ashore.
