The Storm
13 A gentle south wind began to blow. They thought that this was what they had been waiting for. So they pulled up the anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.
14
Before very long, a wind blew down from the island. It had the force of a hurricane. It was called a "northeaster."
15
The ship was caught by the storm. We could not keep it sailing into the wind. So we gave up and were driven along.
16
We passed the calmer side of a small island called Cauda. We almost lost the lifeboat.
17
So the men lifted it on board. Then they tied ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. They were afraid it would get stuck on the sandbars of Syrtis. They lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along.
18
We took a very bad beating from the storm. The next day the crew began to throw the ship's contents overboard.
19
On the third day, they even threw the ship's gear overboard with their own hands.
20
The sun and stars didn't appear for many days. The storm was terrible. So we gave up all hope of being saved.
21
The men had not eaten for a long time. Paul stood up in front of them. "Men," he said, "you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have avoided this harm and loss.
22
"Now I beg you to be brave. Not one of you will die. Only the ship will be destroyed.
23
I belong to God and serve him. Last night his angel stood beside me.
24
The angel said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must go on trial in front of Caesar. God has shown his grace by sparing the lives of all those sailing with you.'
25
"Men, continue to be brave. I have faith in God. It will happen just as he told me.
26
But we must run the ship onto the beach of some island."