Paul Sails for Rome

1Then it was decided to send him by ship to Italy, and that Paul, with the others in custody, should be delivered to a centurion named Julius, of the cohort of Augusta. 2After climbing aboard a ship from Adramyttium, we set sail and began to navigate along the ports of Asia, with Aristarchus, the Macedonian from Thessalonica, joining us. 3And on the following day, we arrived at Sidon. And Julius, treating Paul humanely, permitted him to go to his friends and to look after himself. 4And when we had set sail from there, we navigated below Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 5And navigating though the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we arrived at Lystra, which is in Lycia. 6And there the centurion found a ship from Alexandria sailing to Italy, and he transferred us to it. 7And when we had sailed slowly for many days and had barely arrived opposite Cnidus, for the wind was hindering us, we sailed to Crete, near Salmone. 8And barely being able to sail past it, we arrived at a certain place, which is called Good Shelter, next to which was the city of Lasea.

9Then, after much time had passed, and since sailing would no longer be prudent because the Fast Day had now passed, Paul consoled them, 10and he said to them: “Men, I perceive that the voyage is now in danger of injury and much damage, not only to the cargo and the ship, but also to our own lives.” 11But the centurion put more trust in the captain and the navigator of the ship, than in the things being said by Paul. 12And since it was not a fitting port in which to winter, the majority opinion was to sail from there, so that somehow they might be able to arrive at Phoenicia, in order to winter there, at a port of Crete, which looks out toward the southwest and northwest.

The Storm at Sea
(Jonah 1:4–10)

13And since the south wind was blowing gently, they thought that they might reach their goal. And after they had set out from Asson, they weighed anchor at Crete.

14But not long afterward, a violent wind came against them, which is called the Northeast Wind. 15And once the ship had been caught in it and was not able to strive against the wind, giving over the ship to the winds, we were driven along. 16Then, being forced along a certain island, which is called the Tail, we were barely able to hold on to the ship’s lifeboat. 17When this was taken up, they used it to assist in securing the ship. For they were afraid that they might run aground. And having lowered the sails, they were being driven along in this way. 18Then, since we were being tossed about strongly by the tempest, on the following day, they threw the heavy items overboard. 19And on the third day, with their own hands, they threw the equipment of the ship overboard. 20Then, when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no end to the storm was imminent, all hope for our safety was now taken away.

21And after they had fasted for a long time, Paul, standing in their midst, said: “Certainly, men, you should have listened to me and not set out from Crete, so as to cause this injury and loss. 22And now, let me persuade you to be courageous in soul. For there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23For an Angel of God, who is assigned to me and whom I serve, stood beside me this night, 24saying: ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar. And behold, God has given to you all those who are sailing with you.’ 25Because of this, men, be courageous in soul. For I trust God that this will happen in the same way that it has been told to me. 26But it is necessary for us to arrive at a certain island.”

The Shipwreck

27Then, after the fourteenth night arrived, as we were navigating in the sea of Adria, about the middle of the night, the sailors believed that they saw some portion of the land. 28And upon dropping a weight, they found a depth of twenty paces. And some distance from there, they found a depth of fifteen paces. 29Then, fearing that we might happen upon rough places, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and they were hoping for daylight to arrive soon. 30Yet truly, the sailors were seeking a way to flee from the ship, for they had lowered a lifeboat into the sea, on the pretext that they were attempting to cast anchors from the bow of the ship. 31So Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you will not be able to be saved.” 32Then the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat, and they allowed it to fall.

33And when it began to be light, Paul requested that they all take food, saying: “This is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and continuing to fast, taking nothing. 34For this reason, I beg you to accept food for the sake of your health. For not a hair from the head of any of you shall perish.” 35And when he had said these things, taking bread, he gave thanks to God in the sight of them all. And when he had broken it, he began to eat. 36Then they all became more peaceful in soul. And they also took food. 37Truly, we were two hundred and seventy-six souls on the ship. 38And having been nourished with food, they lightened the ship, casting the wheat into the sea.

39And when day had arrived, they did not recognize the landscape. Yet truly, they caught sight of a certain narrow inlet having a shore, into which they thought it might be possible to force the ship. 40And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, at the same time loosing the restraints of the rudders. And so, raising the mainsail to the gusting wind, they pressed on toward the shore. 41And when we happened upon a place open to two seas, they ran the ship aground. And indeed, the bow, being immobilized, remained fixed, but truly the stern was broken by the violence of the sea. 42Then the soldiers were in agreement that they should kill the prisoners, lest anyone, after escaping by swimming, might flee. 43But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, prohibited it from being done. And he ordered those who were able to swim to jump in first, and to escape, and to get to the land. 44And as for the others, some they carried on boards, and others on those things that belonged to the ship. And so it happened that every soul escaped to the land.