Acts 27:39-44

Shipwrecked!

As day broke, it became clear why Paul had said the sailors needed to stay on board. Though they did not recognize the land which stood nearby, they did know how to guide the ship toward a bay with a beach which they could see. They let go of the anchors, cut loose the rudders' ropes and hoisted the mainsail. Before the ship reached shore, it stuck fast in a sandbar formed by the swirling waters caused by the merging of two seas. The prow stuck firm but the stern began to break apart in the rough seas. The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners so that none could escape, but Luke says Julius wanted to save Paul so he forbid this course of action. Instead, all who could swim were told to make their way to shore while the rest used boards and broken pieces of ship to help them float ashore. Just as God's angel had promised, not a single life was lost (Acts 27:39-44)!