1And 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.
2And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we
launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus,
a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
3And the next day we
touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated
Paul, and gave him liberty
to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
4And when we had launched from thence, we
sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were
contrary.
5And when we had sailed over the sea of
Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a
city of Lycia.
6And there the centurion found a ship of
Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us
therein.
7And when we had sailed slowly many days, and
scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not
suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against
Salmone;
8And, hardly passing it, came unto a place
which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was
the city of Lasea.
9Now when much time was spent, and when
sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now
already past, Paul admonished them,
10And 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.
11Nevertheless the centurion believed the
master and the owner of the ship, more than those
things which were spoken by Paul.
12And 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 Phenice, and
there to winter; which
is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the
south west and north west.
13And when the south wind blew softly,
supposing that they had obtained their purpose,
loosing thence,
they sailed close by Crete.
14But not long after there arose against it a
tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
15And when the ship was caught, and could not
bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
16And running under a certain island which is
called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
17Which when they had taken up, they used
helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they
should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so
were driven.
18And we being exceedingly tossed with a
tempest, the next day they
lightened the ship;
19And the third day we
cast out with our own hands the tackling of the
ship.
20And 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.
21But 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.
22And 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.
23For there stood by me this night the angel
of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be
brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee
all them that sail with thee.
25Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I
believe God, that it shall be even as it was told
me.
26Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain
island.
27But 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;
28And sounded, and found it twenty
fathoms: and when they had gone a little further,
they sounded again, and found it fifteen
fathoms.
29Then fearing lest we should have fallen
upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern,
and wished for the day.
30And as the shipmen were about to flee out
of the ship, when they had let down the boat into
the sea, under colour as though they would have cast
anchors out of the foreship,
31Paul said to the centurion and to the
soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot
be saved.
32Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the
boat, and let her fall off.
33And 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.
34Wherefore 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.
35And 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.
36Then were they all of good cheer, and they
also took some meat.
37And we were in all in the ship two hundred
threescore and sixteen souls.
38And when they had eaten enough, they
lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the
sea.
39And 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.
40And when they had taken up the anchors,
they committed themselves unto
the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up
the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
41And falling into a place where two seas
met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart
stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder
part was broken with the violence of the waves.
42And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the
prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and
escape.
43But 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:
44And 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.
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