27 But when the fourteenth night came, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors began to suspect that [a]they were approaching some land. 28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and a little farther on they took another sounding and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 Fearing that we might (A)run aground somewhere on the [b]rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and [c]prayed for daybreak. 30 But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had let down (B)the ship’s boat into the sea, on the pretense that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain on the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the (C)ropes of the ship’s boat and let it fall away.

33 Until the day was about to dawn, Paul kept encouraging them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly watching and going without eating, having taken in nothing. 34 Therefore, I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your survival, for (D)not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.” 35 Having said this, he took bread and (E)gave thanks to God in the presence of them all, and he broke it and began to eat. 36 All (F)of them [d]were encouraged and they themselves also took food. 37 We were 276 [e](G)people on the ship in all. 38 When they had eaten enough, they began lightening the ship by (H)throwing the wheat out into the sea.

39 Now when day came, (I)they [f]could not recognize the land; but they did notice a bay with a beach, and they resolved to run the ship onto it if they could. 40 And casting off (J)the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders; and they hoisted the foresail to the wind and were heading for the beach. 41 But they struck a [g]reef where two seas met and ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck firmly and remained immovable, while the stern started to break up due to the force of the waves. 42 The soldiers’ plan was to (K)kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim away and escape; 43 but the centurion, (L)wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from accomplishing their intention, and commanded that those who could swim were to [h]jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest were to follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. And so it happened that (M)they all were brought safely to land.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 27:27 Lit some land was approaching them
  2. Acts 27:29 Lit rough places
  3. Acts 27:29 Or wished for
  4. Acts 27:36 Lit became cheerful
  5. Acts 27:37 Lit souls
  6. Acts 27:39 Lit were not recognizing
  7. Acts 27:41 Lit place
  8. Acts 27:43 Lit throw themselves

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. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat(A) down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”(B) 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.

33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.”(C) 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it(D) and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged(E) and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.(F)

39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach,(G) where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 Cutting loose the anchors,(H) they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.(I)

42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life(J) and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.(K)

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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