Acts 27

Paul Sails for Rome

1 And when it was decided a that b we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan c 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 d Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in at Sidon. And e Julius f treated Paul kindly and g 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 h 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 i the Fast 1 was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, "Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with j 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 k 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.

The Storm at Sea

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, l 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, 2 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 m run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, 3 and thus they were driven along. 18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day n 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, o you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this o injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to p take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night q there r stood before me s an angel of the God t to whom I belong and u whom I worship, 24 and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; v you must stand before Caesar. And behold, w 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 x we must y 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. 4 A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. 5 29 And fearing that we might z 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 a 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 b 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 c giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then they all d were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276 6 e persons in the ship.) 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, f throwing out the wheat into the sea.

The Shipwreck

39 Now when it was day, g 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, 7 h they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. 42 i The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, j 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 k all were brought safely to land.

  1. Cross References
    Acts 25:12
    Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.
    Acts 25:25
    But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.
  2. Cross References
    Acts 16:10
    And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
  3. Cross References
    Acts 10:1
    At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort.
  4. Cross References
    Acts 19:29
    So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel.
  5. Cross References
    Acts 27:43
    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.
  6. Cross References
    Acts 28:2
    The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.
  7. Cross References
    Acts 24:23
    Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.
    Acts 28:16
    And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.
    Acts 28:30
    He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him.
  8. Cross References
    Acts 28:11
    After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead.
  9. Cross References
    Leviticus 16:29 - 31
    And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.
    Leviticus 23:27 - 29
    Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the Lord.
    Numbers 29:7
    On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation and afflict yourselves. You shall do no work.
  10. Cross References
    Acts 27:21
    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.
  11. Cross References
    Revelation 18:17
    For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste." And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off
  12. Cross References
    Mark 4:37
    And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.
  13. Cross References
    Acts 27:26
    But we must run aground on some island.
    Acts 27:29
    And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.
  14. Cross References
    Jonah 1:5
    Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.
    Acts 27:38
    And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
  15. Cross References
    Acts 27:10
    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.
  16. Cross References
    Acts 27:10
    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.
  17. Cross References
    Acts 27:25
    So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.
    Acts 27:36
    Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.
  18. Cross References
    Acts 18:9
    And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent.
    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.
  19. Cross References
    2 Timothy 4:17
    But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
  20. Cross References
    Acts 8:26
    Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place.
  21. Cross References
    Psalms 119:94
    I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts.
    Daniel 5:23
    But you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.
  22. Cross References
    Daniel 6:16
    Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!
    Acts 24:14
    But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets.
  23. Cross References
    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.
  24. Cross References
    Genesis 18:26
    And the Lord said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.
    Genesis 19:21
    He said to him, "Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken.
    Genesis 19:29
    So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.
    Ezekiel 14:14
    Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord God.
  25. Cross References
    Acts 28:1
    After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta.
  26. Cross References
    Acts 27:17
    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.
    Acts 27:29
    And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.
  27. Cross References
    Acts 27:17
    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.
    Acts 27:26
    But we must run aground on some island.
  28. Cross References
    Acts 27:16
    Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat.
  29. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:45
    Then the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die.
    2 Samuel 14:11
    Then she said, "Please let the king invoke the Lord your God, that the avenger of blood kill no more, and my son be not destroyed." He said, "As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.
    1 Kings 1:52
    And Solomon said, "If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.
    Luke 21:18
    But not a hair of your head will perish.
    Matthew 10:30
    But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
  30. Cross References
    Matthew 15:36
    He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
  31. Cross References
    Acts 27:22
    Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
  32. Cross References
    Acts 2:41
    So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
    Acts 7:14
    And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all.
    Romans 13:1
    Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
    1 Peter 3:20
    Because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.
  33. Cross References
    Acts 27:18
    Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo.
  34. Cross References
    Acts 28:1
    After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta.
  35. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:25
    Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea.
  36. Cross References
    Acts 12:19
    And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
  37. Cross References
    Acts 27:3
    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.
  38. Cross References
    Acts 27:22
    Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Previous Book Next Book