保羅前往羅馬

27 他們決定讓我們坐船去義大利,於是將保羅和其他囚犯都交給一位皇家兵團的百夫長猶流看管。 有一艘亞大米田的船準備沿著亞細亞海岸航行。我們上船啟航,同船的還有帖撒羅尼迦的馬其頓人亞里達古。 第二天,船停泊在西頓港,猶流寬待保羅,准他探望當地的朋友,接受他們的照應。

我們從那裡啟航後,由於遇到逆風,便沿著塞浦路斯的背風岸前行, 經過基利迦和旁非利亞附近的海域,來到呂家的每拉。 百夫長在那裡找到一艘從亞歷山大駛往義大利的船,吩咐我們換搭那艘船。

一連多日船速十分緩慢,好不容易才駛近革尼土。因為強風船無法前行,只好沿著克里特背風岸航行,經過撒摩尼角。 船沿著海岸行進,幾經艱難才到達拉西亞城附近的佳澳。

我們耽誤了不少日子,禁食的節期[a]已過,航行很危險,保羅勸告眾人說: 10 「各位,照我看來,如果我們繼續航行,不只會損失貨物和船隻,甚至連我們的性命也難保。」 11 但那百夫長只相信船主和舵手的話,不接受保羅的勸告。 12 由於佳澳港不適宜過冬,大部分人贊成啟航,以為或許可以趕到菲尼基過冬。菲尼基是克里特的一個港口,一面向西南,一面向西北。

驚濤駭浪

13 那時,南風徐徐吹來,他們以為可以按計劃繼續航行,於是起錨沿著克里特行進。 14 可是出發不久,便遇到從島上颳來的猛烈的東北風[b] 15 船被颳得失去控制,我們只好任船隨風漂流。 16 船沿著一個叫高達的小島的背風面前進,大家好不容易才控制住救生船。 17 水手把救生船拉上甲板後,又用繩索加固船身。因為怕船會在賽耳底擱淺,於是收起船帆,任船漂流。 18 第二天,風浪依然猛烈,他們開始把貨物拋進海裡。 19 第三天,他們又親手把船上的用具也拋掉了。 20 一連好幾天都看不到太陽、星辰,風浪肆虐,我們完全放棄了得救的指望。

保羅安慰眾人

21 這時大家已經多日沒有進食,保羅站在他們當中說:「各位當初如果肯聽我勸,不離開克里特,就不會遭受這些損失了。 22 現在我勸大家放心,你們無人會喪命,只是這艘船保不住了。 23 因為昨天晚上,我所歸屬、所事奉的上帝差遣天使站在我身旁, 24 對我說,『保羅,不用怕,你一定會站在凱撒面前,上帝也會保全所有和你同船的人。』 25 所以請各位放心,我深信上帝所說的話必然會成就。 26 只是我們一定會在某個島上擱淺。」

27 第十四天的晚上,我們在亞得里亞海漂來漂去。到了午夜時分,水手都覺得離陸地不遠了, 28 就探測水深,結果約三十六米深,再往前一點,只有二十七米左右。 29 他們怕會觸礁,就從船尾拋下四個錨,暫停前進,期待天亮。 30 水手們想要棄船逃生,假裝要從船頭拋錨,卻偷偷地把救生船放到海裡。 31 保羅對百夫長和士兵們說:「除非他們留下來,否則你們都活不了!」 32 士兵聽了,就砍斷繩索,讓救生船漂走。

33 到了黎明時分,保羅勸大家吃東西,說:「你們提心吊膽、不思飲食已經十四天了。 34 我勸你們吃點東西,好活下去,你們必定毫髮無損。」 35 保羅說完後拿起餅,當眾感謝上帝,然後掰開吃。 36 於是大家都振作起來,吃了些東西。 37 船上共有二百七十六人。 38 吃飽了以後,為了要減輕船的重量,他們把麥子拋進海裡。

安全登陸

39 天亮的時候,水手發現了一片不認識的陸地,看見一個有沙灘的海灣,便決定盡可能在那裡靠岸。 40 於是砍斷錨索,把錨丟在海裡,鬆開舵繩,升起前帆,順著風勢駛向那沙灘。 41 可是,遇到兩流交匯的水域,就在那裡擱了淺,船頭卡在那裡不能動彈,船尾被大浪撞裂了。

42 士兵們想把囚犯全殺掉,怕有人乘機游泳逃走。 43 但百夫長為了救保羅,不准他們輕舉妄動,下令會游泳的先跳到海裡游上岸。 44 其餘的人利用木板和船體的碎片游上岸。結果,全船的人都安全上岸了。

Footnotes

  1. 27·9 指猶太人的贖罪日,約在陽曆九月、十月間(參見利未記23·27)。
  2. 27·14 猛烈的東北風」希臘文是「友拉革羅颶風」。

27 And when our sailing to Italy was determined, they were delivering up both Paul and certain others, prisoners, to a centurion, by name Julius, of the band of Sebastus,

and having embarked in a ship of Adramyttium, we, being about to sail by the coasts of Asia, did set sail, there being with us Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica,

on the next [day] also we touched at Sidon, and Julius, courteously treating Paul, did permit [him], having gone on unto friends, to receive [their] care.

And thence, having set sail, we sailed under Cyprus, because of the winds being contrary,

and having sailed over the sea over-against Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myria of Lycia,

and there the centurion having found a ship of Alexandria, sailing to Italy, did put us into it,

and having sailed slowly many days, and with difficulty coming over-against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over-against Salmone,

and hardly passing it, we came to a certain place called `Fair Havens,' nigh to which was the city [of] Lasaea.

And much time being spent, and the sailing being now dangerous -- because of the fast also being already past -- Paul was admonishing,

10 saying to them, `Men, I perceive that with hurt, and much damage, not only of the lading and of the ship, but also of our lives -- the voyage is about to be;'

11 but the centurion to the pilot and to the shipowner gave credence more than to the things spoken by Paul;

12 and the haven being incommodious to winter in, the more part gave counsel to sail thence also, if by any means they might be able, having attained to Phenice, [there] to winter, [which is] a haven of Crete, looking to the south-west and north-west,

13 and a south wind blowing softly, having thought they had obtained [their] purpose, having lifted anchor, they sailed close by Crete,

14 and not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, that is called Euroclydon,

15 and the ship being caught, and not being able to bear up against the wind, having given [her] up, we were borne on,

16 and having run under a certain little isle, called Clauda, we were hardly able to become masters of the boat,

17 which having taken up, they were using helps, undergirding the ship, and fearing lest they may fall on the quicksand, having let down the mast -- so were borne on.

18 And we, being exceedingly tempest-tossed, the succeeding [day] they were making a clearing,

19 and on the third [day] with our own hands the tackling of the ship we cast out,

20 and neither sun nor stars appearing for more days, and not a little tempest lying upon us, thenceforth all hope was taken away of our being saved.

21 And there having been long fasting, then Paul having stood in the midst of them, said, `It behoved [you], indeed, O men -- having hearkened to me -- not to set sail from Crete, and to save this hurt and damage;

22 and now I exhort you to be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of life among you -- but of the ship;

23 for there stood by me this night a messenger of God -- whose I am, and whom I serve --

24 saying, Be not afraid Paul; before Caesar it behoveth thee to stand; and, lo, God hath granted to thee all those sailing with thee;

25 wherefore be of good cheer, men! for I believe God, that so it shall be, even as it hath been spoken to me,

26 and on a certain island it behoveth us to be cast.'

27 And when the fourteenth night came -- we being borne up and down in the Adria -- toward the middle of the night the sailors were supposing that some country drew nigh to them;

28 and having sounded they found twenty fathoms, and having gone a little farther, and again having sounded, they found fifteen fathoms,

29 and fearing lest on rough places we may fall, out of the stern having cast four anchors, they were wishing day to come.

30 And the sailors seeking to flee out of the ship, and having let down the boat to the sea, in pretence as [if] out of the foreship they are about to cast anchors,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, `If these do not remain in the ship -- ye are not able to be saved;'

32 then the soldiers did cut off the ropes of the boat, and suffered it to fall off.

33 And till the day was about to be, Paul was calling upon all to partake of nourishment, saying, `Fourteen days to-day, waiting, ye continue fasting, having taken nothing,

34 wherefore I call upon you to take nourishment, for this is for your safety, for of not one of you shall a hair from the head fall;'

35 and having said these things, and having taken bread, he gave thanks to God before all, and having broken [it], he began to eat;

36 and all having become of good cheer, themselves also took food,

37 (and we were -- all the souls in the ship -- two hundred, seventy and six),

38 and having eaten sufficient nourishment, they were lightening the ship, casting forth the wheat into the sea.

39 And when the day came, they were not discerning the land, but a certain creek were perceiving having a beach, into which they took counsel, if possible, to thrust forward the ship,

40 and the anchors having taken up, they were committing [it] to the sea, at the same time -- having loosed the bands of the rudders, and having hoisted up the mainsail to the wind -- they were making for the shore,

41 and having fallen into a place of two seas, they ran the ship aground, and the fore-part, indeed, having stuck fast, did remain immoveable, but the hinder-part was broken by the violence of the waves.

42 And the soldiers' counsel was that they should kill the prisoners, lest any one having swam out should escape,

43 but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, hindered them from the counsel, and did command those able to swim, having cast themselves out first -- to get unto the land,

44 and the rest, some indeed upon boards, and some upon certain things of the ship; and thus it came to pass that all came safe unto the land.