Acts 27:13-38 - A Violent Storm At Sea
13 So, when a light wind sprang up from the south, thinking that they had found their opportunity, they weighed anchor and kept along the coast of Crete, close in shore. 14 But shortly afterwards a hurricane came down on us off the land--a north-easter, as it is called. 15 The ship was caught by it and was unable to keep her head to the wind, so we had to give way and let her drive before it. 16 Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we only just managed to secure the ship's boat, 17 And, after hoisting it on board, the men frapped the ship. But, afraid of being driven on to the Syrtis Sands, they lowered the yard, and then drifted. 18 So violently were we tossed about by the storm, that the next day they began throwing the cargo overboard, 19 And, on the following day, threw out the ship's tackle with their own hands.
20 As neither sun nor stars were visible for several days, and, as the gale still continued severe, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. 21 It was then, when they had gone a long time without food, that Paul came forward, and said: "My friends, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and so incurred this injury and damage. 22 Yet, even as things are, I urge you not to lose courage, for there will not be a single life lost among you--only the ship. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong, and whom I serve, stood by me, and said-- 24 'Have no fear, Paul; you must appear before the Emperor, and God himself has given you the lives of all your fellow-voyagers.' 25 Therefore, courage, my friends! for I believe God, that everything will happen exactly as I have been told. 26 We shall, however, have to be driven on some island."
27 It was now the fourteenth night of the storm, and we were drifting about in the Adriatic Sea, when, about midnight, the sailors began to suspect that they were drawing near land. 28 So they took soundings, and found twenty fathoms of water. After waiting a little, they took soundings again, and found fifteen fathoms. 29 Then, as they were afraid of our being driven upon some rocky coast, they let go four anchors from the stern, and longed for daylight.
30 The sailors wanted to leave the ship, and had lowered the boat, on pretense of running out anchors from the bows, 31 When Paul said to the Roman Officer and his men: "Unless the sailors remain on board, you cannot be saved." 32 Upon that the soldiers cut the ropes which held the boat, and let her drift away.
33 In the interval before daybreak Paul kept urging them all to take something to eat. "It is a fortnight to-day," he said, "that, owing to your anxiety, you have gone without food, taking nothing. 34 So I urge you to take something to eat; your safety depends upon it, for not one of you will lose even a hair of his head." 35 With these words he took some bread, and, after saying the thanksgiving to God before them all, broke it in pieces, and began to eat; 36 And the men all felt cheered and had something to eat themselves. 37 There were about seventy-six of us on board, all told. 38 After satisfying their hunger, they further lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.