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Acts 27
Lexham English Bible

Paul and His Associates Sail for Rome

27 And when it was decided that we would sail away to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named[a] Julius of the Augustan[b] Cohort. 2 And we went aboard a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to the places along the coast[c] of Asia[d] and[e] put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. 3 And on the next day, we put in at Sidon. And Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him[f] to go to his[g] friends to be cared for.[h] 4 And from there we put out to sea and[i] sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.[j] 5 And after we[k] had sailed across the open sea along Cilicia and Pamphylia, we put in at Myra in Lycia. 6 And there the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and[l] put us on board[m] it. 7 And sailing slowly, in many days and with difficulty we came[n] to Cnidus. Because[o] the wind did not permit us to go further, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 8 And sailing along its coast with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near which was the town of Lasea.

9 And because[p] considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast[q] was already over, Paul strongly recommended, 10 saying to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage is going to end[r] with disaster and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives!” 11 But the centurion was convinced even more by the shipmaster and the shipowner than by what was said by Paul. 12 And because[s] the harbor was unsuitable for spending the winter in, the majority decided on a plan to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could arrive at Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing toward the southwest and toward the northwest, to spend the winter there.[t]

A Violent Storm at Sea

13 And when[u] a southwest wind began to blow gently, because they[v] thought they could accomplish their purpose, they weighed anchor and[w] sailed close along Crete. 14 But not long afterward a wind like a hurricane, called the northeaster,[x] rushed down from it.[y] 15 And when[z] the ship was caught and was not able to head into the wind, we gave way and[aa] were driven along. 16 And running under the lee of a certain small island called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat under control. 17 After[ab] hoisting it up,[ac] they made use of supports to undergird the ship. And because they[ad] were afraid lest they run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and[ae] thus were driven along. 18 And because[af] we were violently battered by the storm, on the next day they began[ag] jettisoning the cargo,[ah] 19 and on the third day they threw overboard the gear of the ship with their own hands. 20 But when[ai] neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and with not a little bad weather confronting us,[aj] finally all hope was abandoned that we would be saved.

21 And because[ak] many were experiencing lack of appetite, at that time Paul stood up in their midst and[al] said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice not to put out to sea from Crete, and thus avoided this damage and loss! 22 And now I urge you to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life from among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve came to me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar, and behold, God has graciously granted you all who are sailing with you.’ 25 Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will be like this—according to the[am] way it was told to me. 26 But it is necessary that we run aground on some island.”

27 And when the fourteenth night had come, as[an] we were being driven in the Adriatic Sea about the middle of the night, the sailors suspected they were approaching some land.[ao] 28 And taking soundings, they found twenty fathoms. So going on a little further and taking soundings again, they found fifteen fathoms. 29 And because they[ap] were afraid lest somewhere we run aground against rough places, they threw down four anchors from the stern and[aq] prayed for day to come. 30 And when[ar] the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending as if they were going to lay out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved!” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it fall away.[as]

33 And until the day was about to come, Paul was urging them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited anxiously, and[at] you have continued without eating, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is necessary for your preservation. For not a hair from your head will be lost.” 35 And after he[au] said these things and took bread, he gave thanks to God in front of them all, and after[av] breaking it,[aw] he began to eat. 36 So they all were[ax] encouraged and partook of food themselves. 37 (Now we were in all two hundred seventy six persons on the ship.) 38 And when they[ay] had eaten their fill of food, they lightened the ship by[az] throwing the wheat[ba] into the sea.

The Shipwreck

39 Now when day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay having a beach, onto which they decided to run the ship ashore if they could. 40 And slipping the anchors, they left them[bb] in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes[bc] of the steering oars. And hoisting the foresail to the wind that was blowing, they held course for the beach. 41 But falling into a place of crosscurrents,[bd] they ran the ship aground. And the bow stuck fast and[be] stayed immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence.[bf] 42 Now the plan of the soldiers was that they would kill the prisoners lest any escape by[bg] swimming away, 43 but the centurion, because he[bh] wanted to save Paul, prevented them from doing what they intended,[bi] and gave orders that those who were able to swim should jump in first to get to the land, 44 and then the rest, some of whom floated[bj] on planks and some of whom on anything that was from the ship. And in this way all were brought safely to the land.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 27:1 Literally “by name”
  2. Acts 27:1 The meaning and significance of the title “Augustan” is highly debated, as is the precise identification of this military unit; it may be an honorary unit designation given to auxiliary or provincial troops
  3. Acts 27:2 The word “coast” is not in the Greek text but is implied
  4. Acts 27:2 A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor)
  5. Acts 27:2 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went aboard”) has been translated as a finite verb
  6. Acts 27:3 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. Acts 27:3 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  8. Acts 27:3 Literally “to experience care”
  9. Acts 27:4 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“put out to sea”) has been translated as a finite verb
  10. Acts 27:4 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  11. Acts 27:5 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had sailed across”) which is understood as temporal
  12. Acts 27:6 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“found”) has been translated as a finite verb
  13. Acts 27:6 Literally “into”
  14. Acts 27:7 Here this participle (“came”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
  15. Acts 27:7 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“permit … to go further”)
  16. Acts 27:9 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“had passed”)
  17. Acts 27:9 A reference to the Jewish Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) which occurs in mid-autumn
  18. Acts 27:10 Literally “to be”
  19. Acts 27:12 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
  20. Acts 27:12 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  21. Acts 27:13 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“began to blow gently”)
  22. Acts 27:13 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“thought”) which is understood as causal
  23. Acts 27:13 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“weighed anchor”) has been translated as a finite verb
  24. Acts 27:14 Literally “Euraquilo,” a violent northern wind
  25. Acts 27:14 That is, from the island of Crete
  26. Acts 27:15 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was caught”)
  27. Acts 27:15 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“gave way”) has been translated as a finite verb
  28. Acts 27:17 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“hoisting”) which is understood as temporal
  29. Acts 27:17 Literally “which”
  30. Acts 27:17 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were afraid”) which is understood as causal
  31. Acts 27:17 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“lowered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  32. Acts 27:18 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“battered by the storm”)
  33. Acts 27:18 Literally “they began to carry out”
  34. Acts 27:18 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  35. Acts 27:20 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“appeared”)
  36. Acts 27:20 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  37. Acts 27:21 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“were experiencing”)
  38. Acts 27:21 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood up”) has been translated as a finite verb
  39. Acts 27:25 Literally “which”
  40. Acts 27:27 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were being driven”)
  41. Acts 27:27 Literally “some land was approaching them”
  42. Acts 27:29 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were afraid”) which is understood as causal
  43. Acts 27:29 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“threw down”) has been translated as a finite verb
  44. Acts 27:30 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were seeking”)
  45. Acts 27:32 Or “let it drift away”
  46. Acts 27:33 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“have waited”) has been translated as a finite verb
  47. Acts 27:35 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“said”) which is understood as temporal
  48. Acts 27:35 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“breaking”) which is understood as temporal
  49. Acts 27:35 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  50. Acts 27:36 Here this participle (“were”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
  51. Acts 27:38 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had eaten their fill”) which is understood as temporal
  52. Acts 27:38 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“throwing”) which is understood as means
  53. Acts 27:38 Or “grain”
  54. Acts 27:40 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  55. Acts 27:40 Or “bands” (referring to the linkage that tied the steering oars together)
  56. Acts 27:41 Or “a reef”; literally “a place of two seas,” an expression of uncertain meaning but most likely a nautical technical term for some adverse sea condition
  57. Acts 27:41 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stuck fast”) has been translated as a finite verb
  58. Acts 27:41 Some manuscripts have “the violence of the waves”
  59. Acts 27:42 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“swimming away”) which is understood as means
  60. Acts 27:43 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal
  61. Acts 27:43 Literally “of the intention”
  62. Acts 27:44 The word “floated” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity
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Acts 27
New Living Translation

Paul Sails for Rome

27 When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer[a] named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. 2 Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia;[b] it was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province.

3 The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs. 4 Putting out to sea from there, we encountered strong headwinds that made it difficult to keep the ship on course, so we sailed north of Cyprus between the island and the mainland. 5 Keeping to the open sea, we passed along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, landing at Myra, in the province of Lycia. 6 There the commanding officer found an Egyptian ship from Alexandria that was bound for Italy, and he put us on board.

7 We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone. 8 We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. 9 We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall,[c] and Paul spoke to the ship’s officers about it.

10 “Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” 11 But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul. 12 And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure.

The Storm at Sea

13 When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. 14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. 15 The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.

16 We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda,[d] where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us. 17 Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.

18 The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. 19 The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. 20 The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.

21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. 22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

The Shipwreck

27 About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria,[e] the sailors sensed land was near. 28 They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep.[f] 29 At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.

30 Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. 31 But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.

33 Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. 34 “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” 35 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. 36 Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat— 37 all 276 of us who were on board. 38 After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.

39 When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. 40 So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. 41 But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.

42 The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. 43 But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. 44 The others held on to planks or debris from the broken ship.[g] So everyone escaped safely to shore.

Footnotes

  1. 27:1 Greek centurion; similarly in 27:6, 11, 31, 43.
  2. 27:2 Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.
  3. 27:9 Greek because the fast was now already gone by. This fast was associated with the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which occurred in late September or early October.
  4. 27:16 Some manuscripts read Clauda.
  5. 27:27 The Sea of Adria includes the central portion of the Mediterranean.
  6. 27:28 Greek 20 fathoms . . . 15 fathoms [37 meters . . . 27 meters].
  7. 27:44 Or or were helped by members of the ship’s crew.
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