BSB ACTs Chapter 27

Paul Sails for Rome

27 When it was decided [that] we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, [who belonged to the] Imperial[fn] Regiment. 2 We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along [the coast of] Asia,[fn] [and] we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.

3 The next [day] we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration, allowing [him] to visit his friends [and] receive [their] care. 4 [After] putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 And [when] we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy [and] put us on [board].

7 [After] sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. [When] the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8 [After] we had moved along the coast with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near [the] town of Lasea.

9 By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast.[fn] [So] Paul advised [them], 10 “Men, I can see that [our] voyage will be [filled] with disaster and great loss, not only to ship and cargo, but to our [own] lives as well.”

11 But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship. 12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, hoping that somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter [there]. [Phoenix was] a harbor in Crete facing [both] southwest and northwest.

The Storm at Sea

(Jonah 1:4–10)

13 [When] a {gentle} south wind began to blow, they thought they had [their] opportunity. [So] they weighed [anchor] [and] sailed along, hugging {the coast} of Crete. 14 But [it was] not long [before] a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across [the island]. 15 Unable to head into the wind, the ship was caught up. [So] we gave way [and] let ourselves be driven along.

16 Passing to the lee of a small island called Cauda,[fn] we barely managed to secure the lifeboat. 17 After hoisting it up, [the crew] used ropes to undergird the ship. And fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor[fn] [and] were driven along.

18 We were tossed so violently [that] the next [day] [the men] began to jettison the cargo. 19 On the third [day], they threw the ship’s tackle {overboard} with [their] own hands. 20 [When] neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and [the great] storm continued to batter us, we abandoned all hope of being saved.

21 [After] [the men] had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them [and] said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then [you would have averted] this disaster and loss. 22 [But] now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience [any] loss of life, but only of the ship. 23 For [just last] 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; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you [the lives of] all who sail with you.’

25 So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me. 26 However, we must run aground on some island.”

The Shipwreck

27 [On] the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea.[fn] About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings [and] found that [the water] [was] twenty fathoms [deep].[fn] Going a little farther, they took another set of soundings that read fifteen fathoms.[fn] 29 Fearing that we would run aground on [the] rocks they dropped four anchors from [the] stern [and] prayed for daybreak

30 Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from [the] bow, they let the lifeboat {down} into the sea. 31 [But] Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these [men] remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 [So] the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and set it adrift.

33 Right up to daybreak Paul kept urging them all to eat “Today [is your] fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food 34 So for your [own] preservation, I urge you to eat something because not a single hair of your head will be lost.”

35 [After] he had said this, [Paul] took bread [and] gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke [it] [and] began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and took [some] food themselves. 37 In all, there were 276 of us on [board]. 38 [After] [the men] had eaten their fill they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they sighted a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship {aground} if they could. 40 Cutting away the anchors, they left [them] in the sea as they loosened the ropes [that held] the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the [wind] [and] made for the beach. 41 But the ship struck a sandbar [and] ran aground. The bow stuck fast [and] would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves.

42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom. 43 But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul’s [ life ], thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first [and] get to land. 44 The rest [were to follow] on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.