The Storm at Sea

13 When a south wind started blowing gently, they thought that the opportunity had come for them to carry out their plan. So they weighed anchor [fn]and sailed closely along the shore of Crete. 14 But before long, a hurricane-force wind called [fn]Euroclydon swept down from the island. 15 When the ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 Running under the lee of a small island called [fn]Clauda, we were able with difficulty to secure the skiff. 17 After hoisting it up, the sailors used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing they might run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and in this manner the ship was driven along. 18 The next day, because we were being severely battered by the storm, the sailors began throwing the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day [fn]we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and the violent storm continued to rage, all hope that we might be saved was lost.

21 Since there had been little desire to eat, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to my advice not to set sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I advise you to be of good cheer, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; yoʋ must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted yoʋ the safety of all who are sailing with yoʋ.’ 25 Therefore be of good cheer, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.”

27 When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were approaching some land. 28 So they took a sounding and found it to be twenty fathoms. After going a little farther, they took another sounding and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 Fearing that [fn]we might run [fn]aground on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak to come. 30 Then the sailors tried to escape from the ship by lowering the skiff into the sea under the pretense that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow. 31 So Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “If these men do not remain in the ship you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it drift away.

33 When daybreak was about to come, Paul encouraged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense without eating, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is important for [fn]your survival, since not a hair will [fn]fall from the head of any one of you.” 35 After saying this, Paul took some bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and took food themselves. 37 (Altogether there were [fn]two hundred seventy-six of us on the ship.) 38 When they had eaten their fill of food, they began to lighten the ship by throwing the wheat out into the sea.