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27 It was now the fourteenth night. We were going with the wind on the Adriatic Sea. At midnight the sailors thought land was near. 28 They let down the lead weight and found the water was not very deep. After they had gone a little farther, they found there was not as much water. 29 They were afraid we might be thrown against the rocks on the shore. So they put out four anchors from the back of the ship. Then they waited for morning to come.

30 The sailors were thinking of leaving the ship. They let down a boat as if they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. 31 But Paul said to the captain and the soldiers, “These men must stay on the ship or you cannot be safe!” 32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes and let the boat fall into the sea.

33 Just before the light of day came, Paul told all of them to eat. He said, “Today is the fourteenth day you have not eaten. 34 You must eat. It will give you strength. Not one of you will lose a hair from your head.”

35 After he said this, he took some bread. He gave thanks to God in front of them all. He broke it in pieces and started to eat. 36 They all were comforted. Each one ate some food. 37 All together there were 276 of us on the ship. 38 After they had eaten, they threw the wheat into the sea so the ship would not be as heavy.

39 In the morning they could not see what land they were near. Later they could see a river. Near its mouth there was a shore of sand. They planned to run the ship onto the sand if they could. 40 The anchors were cut loose and left in the sea. Then they took the ropes off that were holding the rudder. When they put up the sail, the wind took the ship toward shore. 41 But the ship hit a place where the water was low. It was made from where two seas meet. The front of the ship did not move but the back part broke in pieces by the high waves.

42 The soldiers planned to kill the men in chains. They were afraid they would swim to shore and get away, 43 but the captain wanted to save Paul. He kept them from their plan. Calling out to those who could swim, he told them to jump into the sea and swim to shore. 44 The others should use wood or anything from the ship. In this way, they all got to shore without getting hurt.

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