Chapter 27 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered
Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus'
band.
And entering into a ship of Adermidium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts
of Asia, one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
And the next day we touched at Sidon, and Julius courteously entreated Paul and
gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds
were contrary.
And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra,
a city of Lycia.
And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy,
and he put us therein.
And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Nidus,
the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmoni, and,
hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called the Fair Havens, nigh whereunto
was the city of Lycia.
Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the
fast was now already past, Paul admonished them and said unto them, Sirs,
I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the
lading and ship, but also of our lives.
Nevertheless, the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship more than
those things which were spoken by Paul.
And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to
depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Pharnace and there to
winter, which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south-west and
north-west.
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their
purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind called Europladon,
and when the ship was caught and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come
by the boat, which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship,
and fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, straight sail, and so were
driven.
And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the
ship, and the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on
us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
But after long abstinence, Paul stood forth in the midst of them and said,
Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete,
and to have gained this harm and loss.
And now I exhort you to be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of any man's
life among you, but of the ship.
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
saying, Fear not, Paul.
Thou must be brought before Caesar, and lo, God hath given thee all them that
sail with thee.
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer, for I believe, God, that it shall be even
as it was told me.
How be it?
We must be cast upon a certain island.
But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria,
about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country,
and sounded, and found it twenty fathoms.
And when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen
fathoms.
Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of
the stern, and wished for the day.
And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the
boat into the sea, under color as though they would have cast anchors out of the
foreship, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the
ship, ye cannot be saved.
Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat,
saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried, and continued
fasting, having taken nothing.
Wherefore I pray you to take some meat, for this is for your health, for there
shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence
of them all.
And when he had broken it, he began to eat.
Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
And we were in all in the ship, two hundred, three score, and sixteen
souls.
And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the
wheat into the sea.
And when it was day, they knew not the land, but they discovered a certain creek
with a shore, into the which they were minded if it were possible to thrust in
the ship.
And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves under the sea,
and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward
shore.
And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground,
and the fore part stuck fast, and remained unmovable.
But the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
And the soldier's counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim
out and escape.
But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and
commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea,
and get to land.
And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship.
And so it came to pass that they escaped all safe to land.