27 ¹³ So when a southerly breeze sprang up, they thought that their purpose was as good as achieved, and, weighing anchor, they sailed along the coast of Crete hugging the land. 27 ¹⁴ But before very long a fierce wind, the 'North-easter' as they call it, tore down from the landward side. 27 ¹⁵ It caught the ship and, as it was impossible to keep head to wind, we had to give way and run before it. 27 ¹⁶ We ran under the lee of a small island called Cauda, and with a struggle managed to get the ship's boat under control. 27 ¹⁷ When they had hoisted it aboard, they made use of tackle and under-girded the ship. Then, because they were afraid of running on to the shallows of Syrtis, they lowered the mainsail and let her drive. 27 ¹⁸ Next day, as we were making very heavy weather, they began to lighten the ship; 27 ¹⁹ and on the third day they jettisoned the ship's gear with their own hands. 27 ²⁰ For days on end there was no sign of either sun or stars, a great storm was raging, and our last hopes of coming through alive began to fade.

27 ²¹ When they had gone for a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, 'You should have taken my advice, gentlemen, not to sail from Crete; then you would have avoided this damage and loss. 27 ²² But now I urge you not to lose heart; not a single life will be lost, only the ship. 27 ²³ For last night there stood by me an angel of the God whose I am and whom I worship. 27 ²⁴ "Do not be afraid, Paul," he said; "it is ordained that you shall appear before the Emperor; and, be assured. God has granted you the lives of all who are sailing with you." 27 ²⁵ So keep up your courage: I trust in God that it will turn out as I have been told; 27 ²⁶ though we have to be cast ashore on some island.'

27 ²⁷ The 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. 27 ²⁸ They sounded and found twenty fathoms. Sounding again after a short interval they found fifteen fathoms; 27 ²⁹ and fearing that we might be cast ashore on a rugged coast they dropped four anchors from the stem and prayed for daylight to come. 27 ³⁰ The sailors tried to abandon ship; they had already lowered the ship's boat, pretending they were going to lay out anchors from the bows, 27 ³¹ when Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, 'Unless these men stay on board you can none of you come off safely.' 27 ³² So the soldiers cut the ropes of the boat and let her drop away.

27 ³³ Shortly 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. 27 ³⁴ So I beg you to have something to eat; your lives depend on it. Remember, not a hair of your heads will be lost.' 27 ³⁵ With these words, he took bread, gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke it, and began eating. 27 ³⁶ Then they all plucked up courage, and took food themselves. 27 ³⁷ There were on board two hundred and seventy-six of us in all. 27 ³⁸ When they had eaten as much as they wanted they lightened the ship by dumping the corn in the sea.