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And when considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even (A)the [a]Fast was already over, Paul began to advise them, 10 and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with (B)damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion was being more persuaded by the (C)pilot and the [b]captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority reached a decision to set sail from there, if somehow they could arrive at Phoenix, a harbor of (D)Crete facing southwest and northwest, to spend the winter there.

13 And when a moderate [c]south wind came up, thinking that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began (E)sailing along [d]the shore of (F)Crete.

The Storm at Sea

14 But before very long there (G)rushed down from [e]the land a violent wind, called [f]Euraquilo; 15 and when the ship was caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and let ourselves be carried along. 16 And running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to get the ship’s [g]boat under control. 17 After they had hoisted it up, they used [h]supporting cables in undergirding the ship. Fearing that they might (H)run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the [i]sea anchor and in this way let themselves be carried along. 18 And the next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, [j]they began to (I)jettison the cargo; 19 and on the third day they cast the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 And since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.

21 And [k]when they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, “(J)Men, you ought to have [l]followed my advice to not set sail from (K)Crete and to [m]avoid this (L)damage and loss. 22 And now I advise you to (M)be cheerful, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night (N)an angel of the God to whom I belong and (O)whom I serve (P)stood before me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; (Q)you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you (R)all those who are sailing with you.’ 25 Therefore, (S)be cheerful, men, for I believe God that [n]it will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must (T)run aground on some (U)island.”

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

33 Until the day was about to dawn, Paul was 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 nothing. 34 Therefore I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your [s]salvation, for (Y)not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.” 35 And having said these things, he took bread and (Z)gave thanks to God in the presence of all. And he broke it and began to eat. 36 And all (AA)of them became cheerful and they themselves also took food. 37 And all of us in the ship were 276 [t](AB)persons. 38 And when they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by (AC)throwing out the wheat into the sea.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 27:9 Day of Atonement in September or October, which was a dangerous time of year for navigation
  2. Acts 27:11 Or owner
  3. Acts 27:13 Lit south wind having gently blown
  4. Acts 27:13 Lit closer
  5. Acts 27:14 Lit it
  6. Acts 27:14 A northeaster
  7. Acts 27:16 Or skiff: a small boat in tow or carried on board for emergency use, transportation to and from shore, etc.
  8. Acts 27:17 Lit helps
  9. Acts 27:17 Or gear
  10. Acts 27:18 Lit they were doing a throwing out
  11. Acts 27:21 Or when they had lost their appetite for a long time
  12. Acts 27:21 Lit obeyed me
  13. Acts 27:21 Lit gained
  14. Acts 27:25 Lit it will be
  15. Acts 27:28 Approx. 120 ft. or 36 m, a fathom was approx. 6 ft. or 1.8 m
  16. Acts 27:28 Approx. 90 ft. or 27 m
  17. Acts 27:29 Lit rough places
  18. Acts 27:31 Or survive
  19. Acts 27:34 Or survival
  20. Acts 27:37 Lit souls

Paul’s Warning Ignored

Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous (A)because [a]the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” 11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.

In the Tempest

13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called [b]Euroclydon. 15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her [c]drive. 16 And running under the shelter of an island called [d]Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. 17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the [e]Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. 18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 On the third day (B)we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands. 20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.

21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 And now I urge you to take [f]heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 (C)For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and (D)whom I serve, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 Therefore take heart, men, (E)for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 However, (F)we must run aground on a certain island.”

27 Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land. 28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and [g]prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.

33 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, (G)since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and (H)gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. 36 Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. 37 And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six (I)persons on the ship. 38 So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 27:9 The Day of Atonement, late September or early October
  2. Acts 27:14 A southeast wind that stirs up broad waves; NU Euraquilon, a northeaster
  3. Acts 27:15 be driven
  4. Acts 27:16 NU Cauda
  5. Acts 27:17 M Syrtes
  6. Acts 27:22 courage
  7. Acts 27:29 Or wished