35
After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat.
36
Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves.
37
(We were in all two hundred seventy-six persons in the ship.)
38
After they had satisfied their hunger, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.
39
In the morning they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned to run the ship ashore, if they could.
40
So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes that tied the steering-oars; then hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.
41
But striking a reef, they ran the ship aground; the bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves.
42
The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none might swim away and escape;
43
but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,
44
and the rest to follow, some on planks and others on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.