37 And there were two hundred and seventy-six souls of us all in the ship.

38 And when they had had their fill of food, they began to lighten the ship, throwing the wheat into the sea.

39 When the day came, they did not recognize the land, but only saw a certain bay with a sloping shore, to which, if possible, they decided to land with a ship.

40 And having hoisted up the anchors, they went out on the sea, and having untied the rudders, and hoisted the little sail to the windward, they kept to the shore.

41 They hit the spit, and the ship ran aground. The bow got stuck and remained motionless, and the stern was broken by the force of the waves.

42 And the soldiers consented to put the prisoners to death, lest any one should swim out and escape.

43 But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, restrained them from this purpose, and commanded those who knew how to swim to throw themselves first, and come to the ground,

44 And the rest are to be saved, some on planks, and some on something from the ship; and thus all were saved to earth.

Chapter 28

1 And when they had escaped, those who were with Paul knew that the island was called Melita.

2 The foreigners have shown us no little love for mankind, for they, because of the rain and cold, have kindled a fire, and received us all.

3 And when Paul had gathered up a great deal of brushwood, and was putting it on the fire, the viper came out of the heat, and hung on his hand.

4 And the foreigners, when they saw the serpent hanging on his hand, said to one another, 'Surely this man is a murderer, when the judgment of God does not leave him alive, having been saved from the sea.'

5 But he shook off the serpent into the fire, and suffered no harm.