At break of day the outlines of the stormy coast were dimly visible, but no familiar landmarks could be seen. So gloomy was the outlook that the heathen sailors, losing all courage, "were about to flee out of the ship," and feigning to make preparations for casting "anchors out of the 444 foreship," they had already let down the lifeboat, when Paul, perceiving their base design, said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved." The soldiers immediately "cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off" into the sea.

Ved daggry skimtede man svagt omridset af en stormfuld kyst, men ingen kendte landmærker var at se. Så trøstesløst så det ud, at de hedenske søfolk helt tabte modet. De "gjorde forsøg på at flygte fra skibet," og under påskud af at ville lægge ankre ud fra forstavnen havde de allerede firet båden ned i søen. Paulus, som havde opdaget deres lumpne plan, sagde nu til høvedsmanden og soldaterne: "Hvis de folk dér ikke bliver om bord, kan I ikke blive reddet." Straks "kappede soldaterne bådens tove og lod den drive bort" på havet.