Acts 27 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Acts 27 meaning explained in AI Summary

Perilous Journey to Rome: Paul's voyage to Rome is fraught with danger, including a shipwreck.

Paul's journey to Rome takes a dramatic turn in Acts 27.

Setting Sail & Early Trouble (vv. 1-20):

Paul, along with other prisoners, sets sail for Rome under the custody of a centurion named Julius.
They face initial delays and difficult sailing conditions due to unfavorable winds.
Paul warns them of danger ahead, advising against continuing the voyage, but his warnings are ignored.

The Storm & Despair (vv. 21-26):

A ferocious storm, described as a "northeaster," engulfs the ship.
The crew loses all hope, throwing cargo overboard and eventually giving up even on steering.
Paul, receiving assurance from God, encourages everyone, promising their survival despite the shipwreck.

Shipwreck & Reaching Land (vv. 27-44):

After drifting for days, the ship hits a sandbar and breaks apart.
Following Paul's instructions, all 276 people on board swim or cling to wreckage and safely reach the island of Malta.

Key Themes:

God's Sovereignty: Despite the perilous storm and human error, God remains in control, ultimately saving everyone on board. This highlights His power over nature and His faithfulness to His promises.
Paul's Faithfulness: Even as a prisoner, Paul acts as a leader, offering wise counsel, sharing God's message of hope, and demonstrating courage in the face of danger.
The Value of All Life: The narrative emphasizes that every life on board, prisoner or free, is precious and worthy of saving.

Significance:

This chapter marks a turning point in Paul's journey. The shipwreck, while delaying his arrival in Rome, allows him to minister to the people of Malta and further demonstrates God's power and faithfulness to both Paul and those around him.

Acts 27 bible study ai commentary

Acts 27 details the triumph of God's sovereign plan over the forces of nature, human error, and fear. Despite a violent storm and the initial rejection of his divine warning, Paul, as God's chosen instrument, becomes the de facto leader and source of hope for everyone aboard a doomed ship. The narrative serves as a powerful illustration of God's faithfulness to His promises, showing that no storm can thwart His purpose to bring the gospel to the heart of the Roman Empire. Paul's steadfast faith and practical wisdom in the face of chaos demonstrate that a believer's true anchor is in God, who orchestrates all events for the salvation of His people and the furtherance of His mission.

Acts 27 context

This chapter provides one of antiquity's most detailed and authentic accounts of a sea voyage. Roman grain ships, like the one depicted, were massive commercial vessels, not warships, often privately owned and chartered by the state. They were large but cumbersome, relying on a single large square sail. Travel in the Mediterranean was highly seasonal; sailing after mid-September was extremely dangerous due to unpredictable storms, ceasing entirely by November. The narrative marker, "the Fast" (Yom Kippur, late September/early October), confirms they were sailing dangerously late. Paul, as a Roman citizen prisoner appealing to Caesar, travels under the custody of a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, an elite unit. His status, while still a prisoner, grants him a degree of respect and a platform to speak.

Acts 27:1-3

"And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius. And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. And the next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for."

In-depth-analysis

"it was decided": The impersonal verb suggests a higher, divine authority at work behind the Roman decision. God's plan is now in motion.
Julius the Centurion: Representing Roman authority. His kindness (philanthrōpōs) is a mark of God's favor on Paul, showing how God can work through pagans to care for His people. This humane treatment is exceptional for a prisoner.
"we": Signals the presence of Luke, the author, as an eyewitness to these events.
Aristarchus: A loyal companion to Paul, mentioned previously (Acts 19:29; 20:4), demonstrating the deep fellowship and commitment within the early church. His presence voluntarily underscores this loyalty.
Sidon: This brief stop allowed Paul to receive care (epimeleia) from local Christians, showing the network of support the church provided across the Roman Empire.

Bible references

Gen 39:21: "But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison." (God granting favor with a pagan authority figure).
Acts 23:11: "The following night the Lord stood by him and said, 'Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.'" (The divine promise that necessitates this journey).
Acts 28:16: "And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him." (Continuation of Julius's kindness or a similar pattern of favorable treatment).

Cross references

Phm 1:24 (Aristarchus a fellow prisoner), Col 4:10 (Aristarchus), Acts 24:23 (Felix's previous lenient treatment), Pr 16:7 (When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him).

Acts 27:4-8

"And putting to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. And when we had sailed across the open sea that is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. And skirting it with difficulty we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea."

In-depth-analysis

"the winds were against us": From the very start, the journey is difficult. This is both a literal reality and a literary device foreshadowing the greater conflict to come.
Alexandrian ship: This was likely a large grain ship. Alexandria was the breadbasket of the Roman Empire, and these ships transported grain to Italy. Their size (holding 276 people plus cargo) made them stable but difficult to maneuver against winds.
"with difficulty": The word molis is used twice, emphasizing the struggle against nature. Every leg of the journey is a fight, highlighting the foolishness of their late-season travel.
Fair Havens: The name is ironic. It was a suitable temporary harbor but not ideal for wintering, which becomes the chapter's crucial point of decision.

Bible references

Jonah 1:3: "But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord... and he found a ship..." (A contrasting sea journey: Jonah fleeing from God, Paul going toward God's commanded destination).

Cross references

2 Cor 11:25-26 (Paul's extensive experience with dangers at sea).

Acts 27:9-12

"Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, “Sirs, I see that this voyage will be with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority decided to put to sea from there, on the chance that they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and winter there."

In-depth-analysis

"the Fast": Refers to the Jewish Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which falls in late September or early October. This is a critical time marker, signifying the official end of the safe sailing season.
Paul's warning: This is not just a sailor's intuition but a prophetic utterance. He warns of disaster (hybris - insolent violence, implying the storm's fury) and loss of life.
Centurion's choice: He trusts human expertise (pilot, owner) over Paul's divine warning. This is a central theme: the conflict between worldly, practical wisdom and the wisdom of God.
"the majority decided": A democratic decision that proves to be wrong. It highlights the folly of following the crowd against a clear, divine warning.

Bible references

1 Cor 1:25: "For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom..." (The core principle at play in the centurion's decision).
Pr 14:12: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." (Perfectly describes the crew's decision to leave Fair Havens).

Cross references

Amos 3:7 (God reveals His plan to His prophets), Jer 27:9-10 (warning against false prophets).

Polemics: This passage is a polemic against trusting in human expertise, commerce (the owner's desire), and majority opinion when it contradicts divine revelation. Paul, the land-dweller and prisoner, possesses a clearer vision of reality than the seasoned maritime professionals because his vision comes from God.

Acts 27:13-20

"Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along... they used helps, undergirding the ship... When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned."

In-depth-analysis

"south wind blew gently": A deceptive sign that emboldened their poor decision. Things often look good just before disaster.
eurakylōn (Euroclydon, the northeaster): A notoriously violent, hurricane-like tempest. Luke's use of this specific, non-classical term adds to the account's authenticity.
Undergirding the ship: "Frapping," a nautical technique where cables were passed under the hull and winched tight to keep the ship’s timbers from breaking apart under the stress of the storm. A sign of extreme desperation.
Fear of Syrtis: The sandbanks off the coast of North Africa (modern Libya) were a graveyard for ships.
"all hope...was at last abandoned": The complete loss of human hope is the necessary prelude to the display of divine hope. The experts are now utterly helpless and hopeless.

Bible references

Ps 107:23-28: "Some went down to the sea in ships... they mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away... Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress." (A perfect OT parallel for the sailor's plight and God's intervention).
Jonah 1:4-5: "But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea... Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo... into the sea to lighten it for them." (Draws a clear parallel between the two sea-storm narratives).
Matt 8:24-26: "And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea... But he was asleep... 'Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?' Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm." (Jesus' authority over the storm contrasts with the sailors' helplessness).

Acts 27:21-26

"Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.”"

In-depth-analysis

Paul stood up: In the midst of chaos and despair, Paul stands as the pillar of stability and authority. His first words establish the credibility of his prophetic voice ("you should have listened").
"the God to whom I belong and whom I serve": A powerful declaration of identity and allegiance. Paul's hope is not in himself or the ship, but in his relationship with the sovereign God. The Greek latreuō ("serve") denotes priestly or religious service/worship.
Angel of God: A direct divine revelation, common in Acts (5:19, 8:26, 12:7). This assures that the promise is not Paul's wishful thinking.
God's dual promise: 1) Paul will reach Caesar, fulfilling God's master plan (Acts 23:11). 2) As a bonus, God has "granted" (kecharistai - from charis, grace) Paul the lives of everyone on board. Paul is the instrument of their physical salvation.
"I have faith in God": This is the chapter's theological heart. Paul's confidence is not in a positive outcome, but in the specific word of a faithful God.

Bible references

Dan 6:22: "My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths..." (God sending an angel to deliver His faithful servant from certain death).
Gen 19:21-22: "And he said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also... for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” (God saving others (Lot's family) for the sake of one righteous person).
Isa 43:2: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you..." (God's promise of presence and deliverance through trials).

Cross references

Acts 23:11 (the original promise), Rom 1:9 (Paul's service to God), Heb 11:1 (definition of faith), 2 Tim 1:12 ("I know whom I have believed").

Acts 27:27-32

"When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. So they took a sounding... They cast four anchors from the stern... And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship and had lowered the ship's boat into the sea, under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it go."

In-depth-analysis

Fourteenth night: Emphasizes the length and severity of their ordeal.
Sailors' plot: Their self-preservation instinct leads to treachery. They try to save themselves at the expense of everyone else, demonstrating the failure of human nature under pressure.
"Unless these men stay... you cannot be saved.": A crucial theological point. God's sovereign decree of salvation (v. 24) does not negate human responsibility. The promise is fulfilled through, not in spite of, necessary human actions. Paul exposes the paradox: God will save all, but they must cooperate by doing what is necessary for that salvation to occur.
Centurion's obedience: The centurion, who previously trusted the sailors over Paul, now trusts Paul over the sailors. He decisively acts on Paul's word, showing his change of heart.

Bible references

Ezek 33:1-6: The watchman's responsibility to warn the people of impending danger. Paul acts as the spiritual and practical watchman for the entire ship.

Polemics: This is a direct refutation of fatalism. A fatalist would argue, "If God promised we will be saved, it doesn't matter what we do." Paul shows that God's sovereignty works through responsible human agency. Faith in the promise leads to wise and necessary action.

Acts 27:33-38

"As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying... “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food... Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength... not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea."

In-depth-analysis

Urged them to eat: A practical act of leadership. Paul cares for their physical well-being, knowing they will need strength for the final ordeal.
"not a hair is to perish": A direct echo of Jesus' words (Luke 21:18), reinforcing Paul's role as a Christ-like figure and the certainty of God's protection.
Taking, giving thanks, breaking: This action deliberately mirrors Jesus at the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:11) and the Last Supper (Luke 22:19). In a pagan context, this public act of thanksgiving to the one true God is a powerful witness. Paul is the "priest" for this motley congregation.
276 persons: The precise number adds historical credibility and underscores the magnitude of the miracle—every single person was saved as promised.
Throwing out the wheat: The final act of faith. They sacrifice their valuable cargo, their final material security, trusting completely in Paul's word that they will reach land.

Bible references

Luke 22:19: "And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them..." (The Lord's Supper - Paul's action is a powerful echo).
John 6:11: "Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated." (Jesus feeding the multitude - a similar pattern).
1 Tim 4:4-5: "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer." (The principle behind Paul's action).

Acts 27:39-44

"...they made for the beach with the ship. And striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves. The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land."

In-depth-analysis

dithalasson: A place "of two seas," likely a submerged sandbar or reef where currents met, causing the ship to ground violently and break apart.
Soldiers' plan: Standard Roman procedure. A guard who lost a prisoner would suffer the prisoner's fate. Their plan was cruel but pragmatic from their worldview.
Centurion saves Paul: The final act of God's favor through Julius. For the sake of one man, Paul, the other prisoners' lives are also spared. God's promise to "grant" Paul all who sailed with him is fulfilled even in this detail.
"all were brought safely to land": The climax and perfect fulfillment of Paul's prophecy (v. 22). The phrase diasōthēnai (brought safely through) underscores the miraculous nature of the deliverance. Luke shows that God's word, spoken through His servant, is 100% reliable.

Bible references

Ps 91:7: "A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you." (The principle of divine protection in the midst of chaos).
Acts 27:22: "Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you..." (The promise, now explicitly and completely fulfilled).

Cross references

Pr 21:30 (No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD).

Acts chapter 27 analysis

Sovereignty and Responsibility: The chapter masterfully holds in tension God's absolute sovereign promise (all will be saved) and the necessity of human action (the sailors must stay, the people must eat, they must swim). God doesn't negate means; He works through them.
Paul as a Type of Christ: In the midst of the storm (a symbol of chaos and judgment), Paul stands as the intercessor and savior. He offers words of hope, exposes deception, breaks bread, and is the reason everyone else is saved.
The Gospel on a Microcosmic Stage: The ship represents the world, with its mix of military authority (soldiers), commercial interests (owner), technical expertise (sailors), and the condemned (prisoners). All are destined for destruction, but all are saved through the presence and message of God's representative, Paul.
Authenticity of the Account: The detailed nautical language, geographical precision, and realistic depiction of human behavior under duress are powerful internal evidence that the author, Luke, was an eyewitness. Ancient mariners and modern sailors have affirmed the accuracy of the account.
Leadership from Below: Paul, a prisoner at the bottom of the social ladder, rises to become the true leader of the ship through his spiritual authority, faith, and wisdom. This upends the world's power structures.

Acts 27 summary

Paul, a prisoner sailing to Rome, finds himself on a ship whose crew makes a fateful decision to sail late in the season against his prophetic warning. A violent, two-week storm ensues, leading all to despair. Paul, however, stands up with a divine message: an angel has promised him that while the ship will be lost, all 276 people aboard will be saved. Through his steadfast faith and practical leadership, Paul exposes a plot, encourages the crew, and ultimately guides them through a shipwreck where every person miraculously survives, demonstrating the unshakeable sovereignty of God and the reliability of His promises.

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Acts chapter 27 kjv

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

Acts chapter 27 nkjv

¹ And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.
² So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.
³ And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.
⁴ When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
⁵ And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
⁶ There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.
⁷ When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone.
⁸ Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
⁹ Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,
¹⁰ saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives."
¹¹ Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.
¹² And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.
¹³ When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.
¹⁴ But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.
¹⁵ So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive.
¹⁶ And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty.
¹⁷ When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.
¹⁸ And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.
¹⁹ On the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands.
²⁰ Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.
²¹ But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.
²² And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
²³ For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
²⁴ saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.'
²⁵ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
²⁶ However, we must run aground on a certain island."
²⁷ Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land.
²⁸ And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.
²⁹ Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.
³⁰ And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow,
³¹ Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."
³² Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.
³³ And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing.
³⁴ Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you."
³⁵ And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.
³⁶ Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.
³⁷ And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.
³⁸ So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.
³⁹ When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible.
⁴⁰ And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore.
⁴¹ But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.
⁴² And the soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.
⁴³ But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,
⁴⁴ and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.

Acts chapter 27 niv

¹ When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.
² We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
³ The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.
⁴ From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.
⁵ When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia.
⁶ There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.
⁷ We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.
⁸ We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.
⁹ Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them,
¹⁰ "Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also."
¹¹ But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.
¹² Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.
¹³ When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.
¹⁴ Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island.
¹⁵ The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.
¹⁶ As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure,
¹⁷ so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along.
¹⁸ We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.
¹⁹ On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands.
²⁰ When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
²¹ After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.
²² But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.
²³ Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me
²⁴ and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.'
²⁵ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
²⁶ Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."
²⁷ On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.
²⁸ They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep.
²⁹ Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.
³⁰ In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow.
³¹ Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved."
³² So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
³³ Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food?you haven't eaten anything.
³⁴ Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head."
³⁵ After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.
³⁶ They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.
³⁷ Altogether there were 276 of us on board.
³⁸ When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
³⁹ When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.
⁴⁰ Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.
⁴¹ But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
⁴² The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.
⁴³ But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.
⁴⁴ The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.

Acts chapter 27 esv

¹ And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius.
² And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.
³ The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.
⁴ And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.
⁵ And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.
⁶ There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board.
⁷ We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.
⁸ Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.
⁹ Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,
¹⁰ saying, "Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives."
¹¹ But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.
¹² And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
¹³ Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.
¹⁴ But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land.
¹⁵ And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.
¹⁶ Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat.
¹⁷ After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along.
¹⁸ Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo.
¹⁹ And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands.
²⁰ When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.
²¹ Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss.
²² Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
²³ For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,
²⁴ and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'
²⁵ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.
²⁶ But we must run aground on some island."
²⁷ When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land.
²⁸ So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms.
²⁹ And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.
³⁰ And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship's boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow,
³¹ Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."
³² Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it go.
³³ As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.
³⁴ Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you."
³⁵ And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.
³⁶ Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.
³⁷ (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.)
³⁸ And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
³⁹ Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore.
⁴⁰ So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.
⁴¹ But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf.
⁴² The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape.
⁴³ But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,
⁴⁴ and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

Acts chapter 27 nlt

¹ When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment.
² Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia; it was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province.
³ The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs.
⁴ Putting out to sea from there, we encountered strong headwinds that made it difficult to keep the ship on course, so we sailed north of Cyprus between the island and the mainland.
⁵ Keeping to the open sea, we passed along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, landing at Myra, in the province of Lycia.
⁶ There the commanding officer found an Egyptian ship from Alexandria that was bound for Italy, and he put us on board.
⁷ We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone.
⁸ We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.
⁹ We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall, and Paul spoke to the ship's officers about it.
¹⁰ "Men," he said, "I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on ? shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well."
¹¹ But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship's captain and the owner than to Paul.
¹² And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor ? a poor place to spend the winter ? most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure.
¹³ When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete.
¹⁴ But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a "northeaster") burst across the island and blew us out to sea.
¹⁵ The sailors couldn't turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.
¹⁶ We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us.
¹⁷ Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.
¹⁸ The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard.
¹⁹ The following day they even took some of the ship's gear and threw it overboard.
²⁰ The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.
²¹ No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, "Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss.
²² But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.
²³ For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me,
²⁴ and he said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What's more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.'
²⁵ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.
²⁶ But we will be shipwrecked on an island."
²⁷ About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near.
²⁸ They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep.
²⁹ At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.
³⁰ Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship.
³¹ But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, "You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard."
³² So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.
³³ Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. "You have been so worried that you haven't touched food for two weeks," he said.
³⁴ "Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish."
³⁵ Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it.
³⁶ Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat ?
³⁷ all 276 of us who were on board.
³⁸ After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.
³⁹ When morning dawned, they didn't recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground.
⁴⁰ So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore.
⁴¹ But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.
⁴² The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn't swim ashore and escape.
⁴³ But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn't let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land.
⁴⁴ The others held on to planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.