23
For this very night, there stood next to me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve.
24
He said, 'Don't be afraid, Sha'ul! you have to stand before the Emperor. Look! God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.'
25
So, men, take heart! For I trust God and believe that what I have been told will come true.
26
Nevertheless, we have to run aground on some island."
27
It was the fourteenth night, and we were still being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, when around midnight the sailors sensed that we were nearing land.
28
So they dropped a plumbline and found the water one hundred and twenty feet deep. A little farther on, they took another sounding and found it ninety feet.
29
Fearing we might run on the rocks, they let out four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.
30
At this point, the crew made an attempt to abandon ship - they lowered the lifeboat into the sea, pretending that they were about to let out some anchors from the bow.
31
Sha'ul said to the officer and the soldiers, "Unless these men remain aboard the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved."
32
Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the lifeboat and let it go.
33
Just before daybreak, Sha'ul urged them all to eat, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense, going hungry, eating nothing.