Acts 27:31-44 ▼

31 upon this Paul said to the centurion and his men, "except the crew stay aboard, you can't be safe:"

32 and immediately the soldiers chopt the cable, and set the boat adrift.

33 while they were waiting for day, Paul advis'd the whole company to take some refreshment: "these fourteen days, said he, you have been very abstemious, and not made a meal:

34 therefore, pray, take something to recruit your strength: and be assur'd every one of you shall be preserv'd."

35 having said this, he took bread, and gave thanks to God, the whole company present: then he broke it and began to eat,

36 at which they all took heart and fell a eating likewise,

37 the whole number then on board being two hundred and seventy six.

38 when they had eat enough, they threw the wheat over board to ease the ship:

39 at day-break they made an unknown land, with a creek, where they resolv'd, if it were possible, to run the ship ashore.

40 accordingly, having heaved in their anchors, they drove with the sea, then loos'd the helm, bois'd the mizen-sail to wind, and made to shore:

41 when falling into the confluence of two currents, they ran the ship a-ground: where the fore-castle stuck fast and would not give, but her stern was shatter'd by the violence of the waves.

42 the soldiers propos'd to dispatch the prisoners, for fear any of them should swim for their lives; but the centurion,

43 who had a mind to save Paul, prevented their design: and order'd all that could swim immediately to get off to shore,

44 and the rest to get upon the planks, or other pieces of the wreck: and by this means it happen'd that they all came safe to land.