(27)Now as the fourteenth night was passing, whilst we were driving about in the Adriatic sea, about midnight the sailors imagined that some land was near to them: (28)and sounding, had twenty fathoms; then passing on a little farther, and sounding again, they had fifteen fathoms. (29)And fearing lest they might run on some rocky coast, they cast out four anchors astern, and wished eagerly for the day to break. (30)Now as the sailors were seeking to escape out of the ship, and had hoisted out the boat into the sea, under pretence as if they were going to carry out anchors a-head, (31)Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these men abide in the ship, ye cannot be preserved. (32)Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. (33)And while they waited until the day should break, Paul exhorted them all to take some nourishment, saying, To day, expecting the fourteenth day, ye are continuing without food, taking nothing. (34)Wherefore I exhort you to take some food, for this is for your preservation: for a hair shall not fall from the head of any one of you. (35)And so saying, and taking a loaf, he gave thanks to God before them all, and breaking it, began to eat. (36)Then were they all cheered up, and they too took refreshment. (37)Now all the souls which were in the ship amounted to two hundred seventy-six: (38)and having made a hearty meal, they lightened the vessel, throwing the wheat into the sea. (39)And when the day broke, they knew not the land: but they observed a certain creek with a beach, into which they resolved, if they could, to run the vessel aground. (40)And weighing the anchors, they committed her to the sea, and loosing at the same time the chains of the rudders, and hoisting the foresail to the breeze, they made for the beach. (41)But falling on a shoal where two currents met, they ran the ship aground; and the forecastle stuck fast, and remained immoveable, but the stern was stove in by the violence of the waves. (42)Then the soldiers' design was to have murdered the prisoners, lest any of them should swim ashore and escape. (43)But the centurion, desirous to preserve Paul, withheld them from their purpose, and commanded those who were able to swim to jump overboard first, and reach the land: (44)and that the rest should make the attempt, some on planks, and some on the floating materials of the ship: and in this manner so it was that they all safely reached the shore. CHAP. XXVIII. AND being safe landed, we then understood that the island was called Melita. (2)And the rude people treated us with singular humanity; for, lighting a fire, they received us all, because of the violent rain, and because of the cold. (3)But as Paul was gathering up a faggot of sticks, and laying them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.