38
After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.
39
When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground.
40
So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore.
41
But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.
42
The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape.
43
But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land.
44
The others held on to planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.