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The Shipwreck

39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land. But they noticed a bay with a shore, into which they were determined to run the ship if possible. 40 Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while loosening the ropes that secured the rudders. Then they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. 41 But striking a sandbar where two seas met, they ran the ship aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was broken up by the violent surf.

42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, prevented them from their intent and ordered those who could swim to abandon ship first and get to land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And in this way they all escaped safely to land.

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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[a] in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes[b] 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,[c] they ran the ship aground. And the bow stuck fast and[d] stayed immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence.[e] 42 Now the plan of the soldiers was that they would kill the prisoners lest any escape by[f] swimming away, 43 but the centurion, because he[g] wanted to save Paul, prevented them from doing what they intended,[h] 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[i] on planks and some of whom on anything that was from the ship. And in this way all were brought safely to the land.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 27:40 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  2. Acts 27:40 Or “bands” (referring to the linkage that tied the steering oars together)
  3. 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
  4. Acts 27:41 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stuck fast”) has been translated as a finite verb
  5. Acts 27:41 Some manuscripts have “the violence of the waves”
  6. Acts 27:42 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“swimming away”) which is understood as means
  7. Acts 27:43 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal
  8. Acts 27:43 Literally “of the intention”
  9. Acts 27:44 The word “floated” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity