34. So I urge you to eat. This is for your preservation, for not a hair shall fall from your head.”
35. When he had said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all. And when he had broken it he began to eat.
36. Then they were all encouraged, and they also ate food themselves.
37. In all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.
38. When they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw the wheat into the sea.
39. When it was day, they did not recognize the land. But they noticed a bay with a shore, into which they were determined to run the ship if possible.
40. Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while loosening the ropes that secured the rudders. Then they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore.
41. But striking a sandbar where two seas met, they ran the ship aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was broken up by the violent surf.
42. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.
43. But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, prevented them from their intent and ordered those who could swim to abandon ship first and get to land,
44. and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And in this way they all escaped safely to land.