Acts 27:1-2, 9-26, 33-44

When it was decided When it was decided that we would sail for that we would sail for Italy,* Paul and some Italy,* Paul and some other prisoners were other prisoners were handed over to a handed over to a centurion named Julius, centurion named Julius, who belonged to the who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.Imperial Regiment.

We boarded a ship from Adramyttium We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.Thessalonica, was with us.

Much time had been lost, and sailing Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous had already become dangerous because by now it was after the because by now it was after the Fast.**Fast.**

The Fast = The Day of Atonement aka Yom Kippur, The Fast = The Day of Atonement aka Yom Kippur, usually in late September; Few sailed the usually in late September; Few sailed the Mediterranean Sea after Sept. 15 because the water Mediterranean Sea after Sept. 15 because the water was very rough and dangerous.was very rough and dangerous.

So Paul warned them,*

Men, I can see that Men, I can see that our voyage is going our voyage is going to be disastrous and to be disastrous and bring great loss to bring great loss to

ship and cargo, and ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.to our own lives also.

But the centurion, instead of But the centurion, instead of listening* to what Paul said, listening* to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot* followed the advice of the pilot* and of the owner of the ship.and of the owner of the ship.

Let’s keep Let’s keep going!going!

Since the Since the harbor was harbor was unsuitable to unsuitable to winter in, the winter in, the majority majority decided that decided that we should sail we should sail on,* hoping to on,* hoping to reach reach *Phoenix and *Phoenix and winter there. winter there. This was a This was a harbor in harbor in Crete, facing Crete, facing both both southwest southwest and and northwest.northwest.

When a gentle south wind began When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; *so obtained what they wanted; *so they weighed anchor and sailed they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.along the shore of Crete.

Before very long, Before very long, a wind of a wind of hurricane force, hurricane force, called the called the “northeaster,” “northeaster,” swept down from swept down from the island.the island.  The The ship was caught ship was caught by the storm and by the storm and could not head could not head into the wind; *so into the wind; *so we gave way to it we gave way to it and were driven and were driven along.along.

As we passed to the lee of a small As we passed to the lee of a small island called *Cauda, we were hardly island called *Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure.*able to make the lifeboat secure.*

When the men had hoisted it aboard,* When the men had hoisted it aboard,* they passed ropes* under the ship they passed ropes* under the ship itself to hold it together.itself to hold it together.

Fearing that they would run aground Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis,* they on the sandbars of Syrtis,* they lowered the sea anchor* and let the lowered the sea anchor* and let the ship be driven along.*ship be driven along.*

We took such a We took such a violent battering violent battering from the storm from the storm that the next day that the next day they began to they began to throw the cargo throw the cargo overboard.overboard.

On the third day, they On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their overboard with their own hands.*own hands.*

When neither *sun nor stars appeared When neither *sun nor stars appeared for many days* and the storm for many days* and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.all hope of being saved.

After the men had gone a long time After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before without food, Paul stood up before them and said:*them and said:*

Men, you should Men, you should have taken my advice have taken my advice

not to sail from not to sail from Crete; then you Crete; then you

would have spared would have spared yourselves this yourselves this

damage and loss.damage and loss.

But now I urge you to keep up your But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be will be lost; only the ship will be

destroyed.destroyed.

Last night an angel of the God Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve whose I am and whom I serve

stood beside me and said,*stood beside me and said,*

Do not be afraid, Do not be afraid, Paul. You must Paul. You must

stand trial before stand trial before Caesar;* and God Caesar;* and God

has graciously given has graciously given you the lives of all you the lives of all who sail with you.who sail with you.

So keep up your courage, men, for I So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just have faith in God that it will happen just

as he told me. Nevertheless, we must as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.*run aground on some island.*

For the last fourteen days you have For the last fourteen days you have been in constant suspense and have been in constant suspense and have

gone without food—you haven’t eaten gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything.*anything.*

Just before dawn Just before dawn Paul urged them Paul urged them all to eat.*all to eat.*

Now I urge you to take some food. You Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive.*need it to survive.*

Not one of you will lose a single hair Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.*from his head.*

After he said this, he took some After he said this, he took some bread* and gave thanks to God in bread* and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. *They were all began to eat. *They were all encouraged and ate some food encouraged and ate some food themselves.themselves.

Altogether there were Altogether there were 276 of us on board.276 of us on board.

When they had eaten as much as they When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.throwing the grain into the sea.

When daylight came, they did not When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they decided to run the ship aground if they could.*could.*

Cutting loose the anchors,* they left Cutting loose the anchors,* they left them in the sea and at the same time them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the untied the ropes that held the rudders.* Then they hoisted the foresail rudders.* Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind* and made for the beach.*to the wind* and made for the beach.*

But the ship struck a sandbar and ran But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.pieces by the pounding of the surf.

The The soldiers soldiers planned planned to kill to kill the the

prisonerprisoners to s to

prevent prevent any of any of them them from from

swimminswimming away g away

and and escapinescapin

g.g.

But the centurion wanted to spare But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.get to land.

The rest were to get there on The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in this way everyone reached land in safety.*safety.*