1WHEN IT WAS DECIDED that we should sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan Cohort. 2We embarked in a ship of Adramyttium, bound for ports in the province of Asia, and put out to sea. In our party was Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 3Next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius very considerately allowed Paul to go to his friends to be cared for. 4Leaving Sidon we sailed under the lee of Cyprus because of the head-winds, 5then across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, and so reached Myra in Lycia.
6There the centurion found an Alexandrian vessel bound for Italy and put us aboard. 7For a good many days we made little headway, and we were hard put to it to reach Cnidus. Then, as the wind continued against us, off Salmone we began to sail under the lee of Crete, 8and, hugging the coast, struggled on to a place called Fair Havens, not far from the town of Lasea.
9By now much time had been lost, the Fast was already over, and it was risky to go on with the voyage. 10Paul therefore gave them this advice: 'I can see, gentlemen,' he said, 'that this voyage will be disastrous: it will mean grave loss, loss not only of ship and cargo but also of life.' 11But the centurion paid more attention to the captain and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said; 12and as the harbour was unsuitable for wintering, the majority were in favour of putting out to sea, hoping, if they could get so far, to winter at Phoenix, a Cretan harbour exposed south-west and north-west.
27The fourteenth night came and we were still drifting in the Sea of Adria. In the middle of the night the sailors felt that land was getting nearer. 28They sounded and found twenty fathoms. Sounding again after a short interval they found fifteen fathoms; 29and fearing that we might be cast ashore on a rugged coast they dropped four anchors from the stem and prayed for daylight to come. 30The sailors tried to abandon ship; they had already lowered the ship's boat, pretending they were going to lay out anchors from the bows, 31when Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, 'Unless these men stay on board you can none of you come off safely.' 32So the soldiers cut the ropes of the boat and let her drop away.
33Shortly before daybreak Paul urged them all to take some food. 'For the last fourteen days', he said, 'you have lived in suspense and gone hungry; you have eaten nothing whatever. 34So I beg you to have something to eat; your lives depend on it. Remember, not a hair of your heads will be lost.' 35With these words, he took bread, gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke it, and began eating. 36Then they all plucked up courage, and took food themselves. 37There were on board two hundred and seventy-six of us in all. 38When they had eaten as much as they wanted they lightened the ship by dumping the corn in the sea.
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