Acts 27:9-38
New American Standard Bible
9 When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even (A)the [a]fast was already over, Paul started admonishing them, 10 saying 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 more persuaded by the (C)pilot and the [b]captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul. 12 The harbor was not suitable for wintering, so the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of (D)Crete facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
13 [c]When a moderate south wind came up, thinking that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began (E)sailing along (F)Crete, closer to shore.
Shipwreck
14 But before very long a violent wind, called [d]Euraquilo, (G)rushed down from [e]the land; 15 and when the ship was caught in it and could not head up into the wind, we gave up and let ourselves be driven by the wind. 16 Running under the shelter of a small island called Cauda, we were able to get the ship’s [f]boat under control only with difficulty. 17 After they had hoisted it up, they used [g]supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might (H)run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the [h]sea anchor and let themselves be driven along in this way. 18 The next day as we were being violently tossed by the storm, [i]they began to (I)jettison the cargo; 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 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 slowly abandoned.
21 [j]When many had lost their appetites, Paul then stood among them and said, “[k](J)Men, you should have followed my advice and not have set sail from (K)Crete, and thereby spared yourselves this (L)damage and loss. 22 And yet now I urge you to (M)keep up your courage, 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, (O)whom I also serve, (P)came to me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; (Q)you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has graciously granted you (R)all those who are sailing with you.’ 25 Therefore, (S)keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that [l]it will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must (T)run aground on a certain (U)island.”
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 [m]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 (V)run aground somewhere on the [n]rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and [o]prayed 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 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 (X)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 (Y)not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.” 35 Having said this, he took bread and (Z)gave thanks to God in the presence of them all, and he broke it and began to eat. 36 All (AA)of them [p]were encouraged and they themselves also took food. 37 We were 276 [q](AB)people on the ship in all. 38 When they had eaten enough, they began lightening the ship by (AC)throwing the wheat out into the sea.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 27:9 I.e., Day of Atonement in September or October, which was a dangerous time of year for navigation
- Acts 27:11 Or owner
- Acts 27:13 Lit a south wind having gently blown
- Acts 27:14 I.e., a northeaster
- Acts 27:14 Lit it
- Acts 27:16 Or skiff: a small boat in tow for emergencies, transportation to and from shore, etc.
- Acts 27:17 Lit helps
- Acts 27:17 Lit implement, an object designed to stabilize a boat from the stern against the wind.
- Acts 27:18 Lit they were doing a throwing out
- Acts 27:21 Lit there being much lack of appetite
- Acts 27:21 Lit O men
- Acts 27:25 Lit it will be
- Acts 27:27 Lit some land was approaching them
- Acts 27:29 Lit rough places
- Acts 27:29 Or wished for
- Acts 27:36 Lit became cheerful
- Acts 27:37 Lit souls
Acts 27:9-38
American Standard Version
9 And when much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already gone by, Paul admonished them, 10 and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the lading and the ship, but also of our lives. 11 But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul. 12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there; which is a haven of Crete, looking [a]north-east and south-east. 13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore. 14 But after no long time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called Euraquilo: 15 and when the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven. 16 And running under the lee of a small island called [b]Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat: 17 and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven. 18 And as we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw the freight overboard; 19 and the third day they cast out with their own hands the [c]tackling of the ship. 20 And when neither sun nor stars shone upon us for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was now taken away. 21 And when they had been long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss. 22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve, 24 saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me. 26 But we must be cast upon a certain island.
27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven to and fro in the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some country: 28 and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms. 29 And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and [d]wished for the day. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under color as though they would lay out anchors from the foreship, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. 33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing. 34 Wherefore I beseech you to take some food: for this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you. 35 And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he brake it, and began to eat. 36 Then were they all of good cheer, and themselves also took food. 37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 27:12 Greek down the south-west wind and down the north-west wind.
- Acts 27:16 Many ancient authorities read Clauda.
- Acts 27:19 Or, furniture
- Acts 27:29 Or, prayed
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