027:020 Then, when for several days neither sun nor stars were seen
and the terrific gale still harassed us, the last ray of hope
was now vanishing.
027:021 When for a long time they had taken but little food,
Paul, standing up among them, said, "Sirs, you ought
to have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete.
You would then have escaped this suffering and loss.
027:022 But now take courage, for there will be no destruction of life
among you, but of the ship only.
027:023 For there stood by my side, last night, an angel of the God
to whom I belong, and whom also I worship,
027:024 and he said, "`Dismiss all fear, Paul, for you must stand
before Caesar; and God has granted you the lives of all who
are sailing with you.'
027:025 "Therefore, Sirs, take courage; for I believe God, and am
convinced that things will happen exactly as I have been told.
027:026 But we are to be stranded on a certain island."
027:027 It was now the fourteenth night, and we were drifting through
the Sea of Adria, when, about midnight, the sailors suspected
that land was close at hand.
027:028 So they hove the lead and found twenty fathoms of water;
and after a short time they hove again and found fifteen fathoms.
027:029 Then for fear of possibly running on rocks, they threw out four
anchors from the stern and waited impatiently for daylight.
027:030 The sailors, however, wanted to make their escape from the ship,
and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they
were going to lay out anchors from the bow.
027:031 But Paul, addressing Julius and the soldiers, said, "Your lives
will be sacrificed, unless these men remain on board."
027:032 Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the ship's boat and let