13 When a south wind started blowing gently, they thought they could make it, so they pulled in the anchor and sailed along close to Crete. 14 However, a short while later the wind turned to a violent north-easter which forced us out to sea. 15 The ship was driven by the wind and unable to tack to face into it, so the sailors gave up and just let it be driven. 16 As we passed a small island called Clauda, we got a brief break and were able to resecure the lifeboat 17 and then bring it up on board. Then ropes were used to wrap around the ship in case it were to run aground into the shallows at Syrtis and the gear was lowered,[fn] allowing the wind to drive the ship along. 18 We were violently tossed around by the storm, and the next day the crew started lightening the ship by tipping some of the cargo overboard. 19 By the third day, the sailors themselves in desperation were even throwing some of the ship’s gear overboard. 20 We didn’t see either the sun or the stars for several more days—it wasn’t a minor storm by any means—and by then any remaining hope that we had of staying alive disappeared 21 and no one had eaten or drunk much at all.

Then Paul stood up in the middle of them and said, “Well, you should have listened to me after all and not left Crete, so now we have this damage and loss. 22 Nevertheless I think we can all cheer up because not a single life will be lost—only the ship—23 because last night one of the messengers of the God that I serve came and stood beside me 24 and told me not to be afraid because I would indeed get to stand before Caesar and that God has granted your lives to me as well. 25 So cheer up, fellows, because I am certain that God will carry out what was told to me 26 even though we’ll run aground onto an island first.”

27 So it happened that in the middle of our fourteenth night of being blown across the Adriatic Sea, the sailors suspected that we were nearing land. 28 They dropped a weighted line and measured the ocean depth at around 40 metres and then a bit later it was down to 30 metres. 29 Worrying that the ship might run aground on rough rocks, they threw out four anchors from the stern as they hoped that daylight would come quickly. 30 Then the sailors lowered the lifeboat as if planning to pull out some anchors from the bow, but really planning to desert the ship. 31 However Paul told the centurion and the soldiers that if the sailors didn’t remain with the ship, everybody couldn’t be sure to be saved, 32 so the soldiers cut the ropes attaching the lifeboat and allowed it to run aground.

33 As they waited for the daylight, Paul encouraged them all to eat something, saying, “Today is our fourteenth day and you’ve had nothing to eat. As we’re waiting, 34 I urge you to eat something. This will help you to have strength because none of you are going to drown.” 35 Having said that, he gave thanks to God in front of everyone, and breaking some bread, started eating it. 36 They all cheered up and also started eating. 37 There were two hundred and seventy-six of them on the ship, 38 and when they’d all eaten what they wanted, they lightened the ship more by throwing their wheat into the sea.