Paul Is Taken to Rome
1 When it was time for us to sail to Rome, Captain Julius from the Emperor's special troops was put in charge of Paul and the other prisoners. 2 We went aboard a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to some ports along the coast of Asia. Aristarchus from Thessalonica in Macedonia sailed on the ship with us.
3 The next day we came to shore at Sidon. Captain Julius was very kind to Paul. He even let him visit his friends, so they could give him whatever he needed. 4 When we left Sidon, the winds were blowing against us, and we sailed close to the island of Cyprus to be safe from the wind. 5 Then we sailed south of Cilicia and Pamphylia until we came to the port of Myra in Lycia. 6 There the army captain found a ship from Alexandria that was going to Italy. So he ordered us to board that ship.
7 We sailed along slowly for several days and had a hard time reaching Cnidus. The wind would not let us go any farther in that direction, so we sailed past Cape Salmone, where the island of Crete would protect us from the wind. 8 We went slowly along the coast and finally reached a place called Fair Havens, not far from the town of Lasea.
9 By now we had already lost a lot of time, and sailing was no longer safe. In fact, even the Great Day of Forgiveness was past. 10 Then Paul spoke to the crew of the ship, “Men, listen to me! If we sail now, our ship and its cargo will be badly damaged, and many lives will be lost.” 11 But Julius listened to the captain of the ship and its owner, rather than to Paul.
12 The harbor at Fair Havens wasn't a good place to spend the winter. Because of this, almost everyone agreed that we should at least try to sail along the coast of Crete as far as Phoenix. It had a harbor that opened toward the southwest and northwest, and we could spend the winter there.
The Storm at Sea
13 When a gentle wind from the south started blowing, the men thought it was a good time to do what they had planned. So they pulled up the anchor, and we sailed along the coast of Crete. 14 But soon a strong wind called “The Northeaster” blew against us from the island. 15 The wind struck the ship, and we could not sail against it. So we let the wind carry the ship.
16 We went along the island of Cauda on the side that was protected from the wind. We had a hard time holding the lifeboat in place, 17 but finally we got it where it belonged. Then the sailors wrapped ropes around the ship to hold it together. They lowered the sail and let the ship drift along, because they were afraid it might hit the sandbanks in the gulf of Syrtis.
18 The storm was so fierce that the next day they threw some of the ship's cargo overboard. 19 Then on the third day, with their bare hands they threw overboard some of the ship's gear. 20 For several days we could not see either the sun or the stars. A strong wind kept blowing, and we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
21 Since none of us had eaten anything for a long time, Paul stood up and told the men:
You should have listened to me! If you had stayed on in Crete, you would not have had this damage and loss. 22 But now I beg you to cheer up, because you will be safe. Only the ship will be lost.
23 I belong to God, and I worship him. Last night he sent an angel 24 to tell me, “Paul, don't be afraid! You will stand trial before the Emperor. And because of you, God will save the lives of everyone on the ship.” 25 Cheer up! I am sure that God will do exactly what he promised. 26 But we will first be shipwrecked on some island.
27 For 14 days and nights we had been blown around over the Mediterranean Sea. But about midnight the sailors realized we were getting near land. 28 They measured and found that the water was about 40 meters deep. A little later they measured again and found it was only about 30 meters. 29 The sailors were afraid that we might hit some rocks, and they let down four anchors from the back of the ship. Then they prayed for daylight.
30 The sailors wanted to escape from the ship. So they lowered the lifeboat into the water, pretending that they were letting down some anchors from the front of the ship. 31 But Paul said to Captain Julius and the soldiers, “If the sailors don't stay on the ship, you won't have any chance to save your lives.” 32 The soldiers then cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall into the sea.
33 Just before daylight Paul begged the people to eat something. He told them, “For 14 days you have been so worried that you haven't eaten a thing. 34 I beg you to eat something. Your lives depend on it. Do this and not one of you will be hurt.”
35 After Paul had said this, he took a piece of bread and gave thanks to God. Then in front of everyone, he broke the bread and ate some. 36 They all felt encouraged, and each of them ate something. 37 There were 276 people on the ship, 38 and after everyone had eaten, they threw the cargo of wheat into the sea to make the ship lighter.
The Shipwreck
39 Morning came, and the ship's crew saw a coast they did not recognize. But they did see a cove with a beach. So they decided to try to run the ship aground on the beach. 40 They cut the anchors loose and let them sink into the sea. At the same time they untied the ropes that were holding the rudders. Next, they raised the sail at the front of the ship and let the wind carry the ship toward the beach. 41 But it ran aground on a sandbank. The front of the ship stuck firmly in the sand, and the rear was being smashed by the force of the waves.
42 The soldiers decided to kill the prisoners to keep them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But Captain Julius wanted to save Paul's life, and he did not let the soldiers do what they had planned. Instead, he ordered everyone who could swim to jump into the water and head for shore. 44 Then he told the others to hold on to planks of wood or parts of the ship. At last, everyone safely reached shore.
Pāvils ceļā uz Romu
1 Kad bija nolemts, ka mums jādodas uz Itāliju, Pāvilu un dažus citus cietumniekus nodeva kādam Augusta kohortas centurionam, vārdā Jūlijs. 2 Uzkāpuši uz Adramītēnas kuģa, kas devās uz dažām vietām Āzijas piekrastē, mēs aizkuģojām; ar mums bija Aristarhs, maķedonietis no Tesalonīkes. 3 Nākamajā dienā mēs sasniedzām Sidonu. Jūlijs laipni atļāva Pāvilam aiziet pie draugiem, lai tie viņu varētu aprūpēt. 4 No turienes mēs devāmies tālāk, pretvēja dēļ kuģojot gar Kipru aizvējā. 5 No Kilikijas un Pamfīlijas krastiem pārcēlušies pāri atklātai jūrai, mēs nonācām Mirā, kas atrodas Likijā. 6 Tur centurions atrada kādu Aleksandrijas kuģi, kas bija ceļā uz Itāliju, un lika mums pāriet uz to. 7 Daudzas dienas lēni virzījāmies uz priekšu un ar lielām grūtībām nonācām Knidā. Pretvēja kavēti, mēs kuģojām Krētas aizvējā un nonācām iepretim Salmonei. 8 Braukdami gar krastu, mēs ar grūtībām nonācām kādā vietā, ko sauc par Labo ostu, kuras tuvumā bija Lasejas pilsēta. 9 Tā kā bija pagājis ilgs laiks un kuģošana bija kļuvusi bīstama – arī gavēņa laiks jau bija garām –, Pāvils brīdināja: 10 “Vīri, es redzu, ka, turpinot ceļu, posts un briesmas draud ne tikai kuģim un kravai, bet arī mūsu dzīvībām.” 11 Bet centurions vairāk uzticējās kuģa stūrmaņa un īpašnieka vārdiem, nevis Pāvila brīdinājumam. 12 Tā kā osta nebija ziemošanai piemērota, vairākums nolēma no šejienes doties tālāk, lai, ja iespējams, paspētu nokļūt un varētu pārziemot Foinīkā, Krētas ostā, kas pavērsta pret dienvidrietumu vēju libu un ziemeļrietumu vēju horu.
Vētra uz jūras
13 Kamēr pūta dienvidu vējš, šķita, ka nodoms izdosies, un, pacēluši enkuru, viņi pabrauca tuvu garām Krētai. 14 Bet aiz tās no salas puses tūlīt atbrāzās viesuļvētra – ziemeļaustrumu vējš, ko sauc par eirakilonu. 15 Kuģi sagrāba viesulis, un, nespēdami turēties tam pretī, mēs padevāmies un tikām nesti. 16 Mūs aizrāva garām mazai salai Kaudai, un mēs tik tikko spējām noturēt glābšanas laivu. 17 Vīri to uzvilka uz klāja un ar tauvām apjoza kuģi, tad, baidīdamies, ka kuģis varētu iekļūt sirtē , tie nolaida peldošo enkuru un ļāvās, lai to nes. 18 Nākamajā dienā, kad vētra mūs pamatīgi mētāja, vīri sāka sviest ārā kravu, 19 un trešajā dienā paši ar savām rokām viņi izmeta kuģa piederumus. 20 Saule un zvaigznes nebija redzamas vairākas dienas, vētra nežēlīgi plosījās, un galu galā mums zuda jebkādas cerības izglābties. 21 Kad ļaudis jau ilgu laiku bija pavadījuši bez ēšanas, Pāvils viņiem sacīja: “Jums, vīri, vajadzēja mani klausīt un no Krētas tālāk nekuģot, lai tagad nepiedzīvotu tādu postu un sodību. 22 Un tagad es jūs mudinu nezaudēt dūšu, jo neviens no jums neies bojā, vienīgi kuģis. 23 Šonakt Dievs, kam es kalpoju, atsūtīja pie manis savu eņģeli, un tas man sacīja: 24 nebīsties, Pāvil, tev būs jāstājas cēzara priekšā, un, redzi, Dievs savā labvēlībā tev ir devis visus, kas ir kopā ar tevi uz kuģa. 25 Tādēļ, vīri, esiet drosmīgi, jo es ticu Dievam, ka tā arī būs, kā viņš man to sacīja. 26 Mēs tiksim izmesti pie kādas salas.” 27 Kad jau četrpadsmito dienu mūsu kuģi nesa pa Adrijas jūru, ap pusnakti jūrniekiem šķita, ka tuvumā ir sauszeme. 28 Iegremdējuši loti, viņi izmērīja dziļumu – tas bija divdesmit asis; nedaudz tālāk iegremdējuši, viņi atkal izmērīja – dziļums bija piecpadsmit asis. 29 Baidīdamies uztriekties klinšu radzēm, viņi izmeta no kuģa pakaļgala četrus enkurus un gaidīja dienas iestāšanos. 30 Daži jūrnieki, izlikdamies, ka grib izmest enkuru no kuģa priekšgala, nolaida jūrā laivu un gribēja bēgt no kuģa. 31 Pāvils sacīja centurionam un kareivjiem: “Ja šie nepaliks kuģī, jūs nevarat tikt izglābti.” 32 Tad kareivji pārcirta virves, kas turēja laivu, un ļāva tai nokrist. 33 Dienai austot, Pāvils visus mudināja kaut ko ieēst, teikdams: “Jūs jau četrpadsmito dienu, nez ko gaidīdami, vadāt laiku neēduši un neko neesat baudījuši. 34 Tādēļ es aicinu jūs ieēst; tas jādara jūsu pašu glābšanas labā, jo jums nevienam ne mats no galvas nenokritīs.” 35 To sacījis, viņš ņēma maizi un, visu priekšā pateicies Dievam, pārlauza un sāka ēst. 36 Visi pārējie sadūšojušies arī sāka ēst. 37 Uz kuģa mēs bijām pavisam divsimt septiņdesmit seši. 38 Paēduši viņi izmeta labību jūrā, lai atvieglotu kuģi.
Kuģis uztriecas klintīm
39 Kad iestājās diena, viņi pamanīja kādu līci ar smilšainu krastu un nolēma, ja izdotos, tur uzdzīt kuģi; šo zemi gan viņi nepazina. 40 Pārcirtuši tauvas, viņi pameta enkurus jūrā un, vienlaikus atraisīdami stūres airu siksnas un pagriežot priekšburu pa vējam, virzījās uz krastu. 41 Taču kuģis uzskrēja uz klints, kurai abās pusēs bija dziļa jūra, un tur uzsēdās; kuģa priekšgals palika nekustīgs, bet pakaļgalu spēcīgie viļņi sadragāja. 42 Tad kareivji nolēma visus apcietinātos nogalināt, lai tikai kāds peldus neaizbēgtu. 43 Bet centurions, gribēdams glābt Pāvilu, viņu nodomu izjauca. Viņš lika tiem, kas varēja papeldēt, pirmajiem mesties jūrā un izkļūt krastā, 44 bet pārējiem – peldus uz dēļiem vai uz kuģa atlūzām. Tā visi izglābās krastā.
