English Bible Presentation Sharing - Acts Book, chapter 27, verse 3 in Nlt Version

Acts 27 : 1 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 2 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 3 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 4 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 5 (NLT)

Keeping to the open sea, we passed along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, landing at Myra, in the province of Lycia.

Acts 27 : 6 (NLT)

There the commanding officer found an Egyptian ship from Alexandria that was bound for Italy, and he put us on board.

Acts 27 : 7 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 8 (NLT)

We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

Acts 27 : 9 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 10 (NLT)

"Men," he said, "I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on-- shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well."

Acts 27 : 11 (NLT)

But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship's captain and the owner than to Paul.

Acts 27 : 12 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 13 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 14 (NLT)

But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a "northeaster") caught the ship and blew it out to sea.

Acts 27 : 15 (NLT)

They couldn't turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.

Acts 27 : 16 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 17 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 18 (NLT)

The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard.

Acts 27 : 19 (NLT)

The following day they even took some of the ship's gear and threw it overboard.

Acts 27 : 20 (NLT)

The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.

Acts 27 : 21 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 22 (NLT)

But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.

Acts 27 : 23 (NLT)

For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me,

Acts 27 : 24 (NLT)

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.'

Acts 27 : 25 (NLT)

So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.

Acts 27 : 26 (NLT)

But we will be shipwrecked on an island."

Acts 27 : 27 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 28 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 29 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 30 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 31 (NLT)

But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, "You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard."

Acts 27 : 32 (NLT)

So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.

Acts 27 : 33 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 34 (NLT)

"Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish."

Acts 27 : 35 (NLT)

Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it.

Acts 27 : 36 (NLT)

Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat--

Acts 27 : 37 (NLT)

all 276 of us who were on board.

Acts 27 : 38 (NLT)

After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.

Acts 27 : 39 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 40 (NLT)

So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore.

Acts 27 : 41 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 42 (NLT)

The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn't swim ashore and escape.

Acts 27 : 43 (NLT)

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.

Acts 27 : 44 (NLT)

The others held onto planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.