34
I therefore strongly advise you to take some food. This is essential for your safety. For not a hair will perish from the head of any one of you."
35
Having said this he took some bread, and, after giving thanks to God for it before them all, he broke it in pieces and began to eat it.
36
This raised the spirits of all, and they too took food.
37
There were 276 of us, crew and passengers, all told.
38
After eating a hearty meal they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat overboard.
39
When daylight came, they tried in vain to recognise the coast. But an inlet with a sandy beach attracted their attention, and now their object was, if possible, to run the ship aground in this inlet.
40
So they cut away the anchors and left them in the sea, unloosing at the same time the bands which secured the paddle-rudders. Then, hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.
41
But coming to a place where two seas met, they stranded the ship, and her bow sticking fast remained immovable, while the stern began to go to pieces under the heavy hammering of the sea.
42
Now the soldiers recommended that the prisoners should be killed, for fear some one of them might swim ashore and effect his escape.
43
But their Captain, bent on securing Paul's safety, kept them from their purpose and gave orders that those who could swim should first jump overboard and get to land;
44
and that the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. In this way they all got safely to land.