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.”
The Shipwreck
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.