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 fourteen days and nights we had been blown around over the Mediterranean Sea. But about midnight the sailors realized that we were getting near land.
28. They measured and found that the water was about forty metres deep. A little later they measured again and found it was only about thirty metres.
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 an anchor 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 fourteen 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.