39 Once it became light, they saw that they were close to shore in a bay but didn’t recognise the place. After some discussion, they decided to try to save the ship 40 so they cut away the anchors that were holding them in the sea and untied the rudder handles. Then raising the foresail, they let the wind blow them into the shore. 41 But they hit a bank with ocean on both sides of it and the ship ran aground. The bow of the ship was completely stuck but the stern was being broken up by the force of the ocean.

42 At this point the soldiers decided that they should kill the prisoners in case any of them decided to swim away and escape, 43 but the centurion wanted to keep Paulos safe so he vetoed that plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump off and swim in to shore, 44 and for the others to grab floating planks or something off the ship that would float, and so everyone got safely onto the beach.