21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm 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 Caesar: 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 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;

28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded 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.

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21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice(A) not to sail from Crete;(B) then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage,(C) because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel(D) of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve(E) stood beside me(F) 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar;(G) and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’(H) 25 So keep up your courage,(I) men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.(J) 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground(K) on some island.”(L)

The Shipwreck

27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[a] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[b] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[c] deep. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 27:27 In ancient times the name referred to an area extending well south of Italy.
  2. Acts 27:28 Or about 37 meters
  3. Acts 27:28 Or about 27 meters