ACTS  27

1 When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some of the other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial regiment.

2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus a Macedonian from Thessalonica was with us.

3 The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.

4 From there we put out to sea again and passed from the lee of Crypus because the winds were against us.

5 when we had sailed across the open sea of the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in L ycia.

 6 There the centurion found a Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.

7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.

8 We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

 9 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast. So Paul warned them,

10 Men I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.

11 But the centurion instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advise of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.

12  Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.

13 When the gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they obtained what they wanted ; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.

14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the northeaster, swept down from the island.

15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.

16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure.

17 When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes beneath the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along.

18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they threw  the cargo overboard.

19 On the third day, they threw the ships tackle overboard with their own hands.

20 When niether sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said; Men you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete, then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.

22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.

23 Last night a angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me.

24 and said, Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.

25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me.

 26 Nevertheless we must run aground on some island.

27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.

28 They took soundings and found that the water was one hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep.

29 Fearing that they would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.

30 In a attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboats down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow.

 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.

32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away.

33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. For the last fourteen days, he said, you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food you have not eaten anything.

34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will loose a single hair from his head.

35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.

36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.

 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board.

38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.

 40 Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.

41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground.  The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.

 42 The soldiers were planning to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.

43 But the centurion wanted to spare Pauls life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

44 The rest were to get there on planks or pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety.

Last night a angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, Do not be afraid Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you. Acts 27:23,24 

 I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am thr Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. Revelation 22:16

DO NOT GET OFF THE SHIP

 Thomas J. Grace

All the trials are over and Paul has not been found guilty of any of the charges and should have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar he may have been  set  free. The appeal and the future hearing before Nero was the plan of God and the work of Paul. Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, Take courage ! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.  Would Festus have allowed Paul to visit the church in Caesarea  before he left for Rome and have prayer and fellowship with the many Christians who have visited him for the past two years. We are not told of the reaction of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem about Paul being sent to Rome.                        

       1 When the Lord was certain that all the work of Paul was complete the Roman emperor was prepared to hear Pauls case Festus began the work of sending Paul and the other prisoners on their journey. King Agrippa was allowed some time while Paul was still in Caesarea to decide if he should return and listen to Paul  and hear more about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The trip would begin with a centurion named Julius who was a member of the Imperial Regiment. 

      2  Paul is joined by Luke and Aristarchus from Thessalonica while in Ephesus he was seized by the crowd with Gaius who were two of Pauls traveling companions and brought into the theater. Acts 19:29 Soon the whole city was in a uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Pauls traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater.  Acts 20:4 He was accompianed by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Atistarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also Trophimus from the province of Asia.  Aristarchus has been a faithful companion and has faced danger for his faith and friendship with Paul several times and Paul has selected him as a trusted friend to be with him on the journey to Rome.

     3 The ship stops in Sidon and Julius allows Paul to visit some friends to take care of his needs we are not told if there is a special cause for these needs. Had Paul become sick or hurt or was this for some special supplies, the people of Sidon would recieve a special visit and prayer while Paul was with them. Paul must have been there on a visit not recorded because he seemed to have some friends there. Tyre and Sidon are best remembered as the place where King Agrippa the first was eaten by worms soon after he exexuted James. Acts 12:23 Immediately, because Herod  did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms.

     4 Back on the ship they sail close to Crypus to help avoid strong winds, we read of early warning signs of bad weather and a coming storm at sea. 5 Out on the open sea they pass by Cicilia  the hometown of Paul he would pray for his old friends and neighbors as he passed by. The ship will stop at Myra in Lycia which would have taken fifteen days of sailing from Sidon. 6 Julius now seeks a new ship going directly to Rome and they went aboard a Alenderian ship that was sailing for Italy. 7 Weather problems of strong wind are still a problem that forces changes of course as they remain close to islands as they were near Crete. 8 Sailing was very slow and they were not able to put out to sea because of the winds and they were forced to stop at Fair Havens. 9 Days of travel had alrerady been lost and travel had become dangerous for man and ship.

      Paul tells us it is already after the fast which would be the Day of Atonement which would be in October in the year 59 AD.  If it were possible Paul would not have left Caesarea before this holiday and may have been allowed to visit the church there for this reason. It is also possible that this is the reason Paul was allowed to go to Sidon for the Day  of Atonement to worship there.This would mean the time for safe sailing was known to be dangerous at this time of year and not safe again until May. Paul warns the men.  This Day of Atonement is still the most important day of the year for all Jews tpday. Exodus 30:10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most  holy to the Lord. Leviticus 17:11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for ones life.  Paul has wrote about the atonement through Jesus Christ Romans 3:24-26 And are justified freely  by His grace through the redemption that came through Jesus Christ. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to determine His justice because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. Hebrews 2:17 For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way,  in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.  1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the sins of the whole world. Hebrews 9:14 How much more, then  will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death so that we may serve the Living God. Hebrews 10:4  Because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.  Here we have seen two systems for atonement and forgiveness of sins in both the new and old testaments which points out the great importance and our need for this sacrifice of Jesus Christ as our Savior. Hebrews 8:6  But the ministry which Jesus recieved is as superior  to theirs as the covenant of which He is a mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.

     10 Men I see that our voyage is going to be disasterous and bring great loss to the ship and cargo, and to our own lives also. Paul who had not yet heard from God about the voyage or the storm was speaking from experience he had been in three shipwrecks in the past. 2 Corinthians 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea. These other shipwrecks are not mentioned before Paul may have told each story to the captain and the centurion to warn them of the danger they will soon face.

     11 The centurion took the advice of the pilot and the ship owner and they all remained on the ship. 12 They choose to sail on to Phoenix where they would find a safe harbor and spend the winter there. 13  Suddenly there was a gentle south wind blowing just what they would want to begin so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Soon the wind became a hurricane called a northeaster which came from the island and the storm has begun. How do we judge this was it a act of nature, a attack from satan, or the work of God to save these men and bring Paul to where God wanted him to land in Malta. 15 We could not head into the wind and could only allow the storm to drive the ship with no control of the ship they would do what they could to protect the ship from being broken to pieces. 16 As they passed the island called Cauda the last land they will see for some time they could hardly make the lifeboat secure anything or person was in danger of being blown overboard. 17  The men tied ropes around the bottom of the ship to help hold it together in case they ran aground on a sandbar.

     18 The following day the storm was so violent they had to throw the cargo overboard to lighten the ships weight and allow it to be moved by the storm without harm. 19 On the third day they threw the ships  tackle overboard soon they may have to throw the prisoners overboard. 20 There was no sun or moon seen as the storm covered the sky day and night and became more violent and moved the ship in directions that could not be traced to know their position. The storm raged and we gave up all hope of being saved. Luke may have told a story he had heard from one of the apostles how Jesus had calmed the seas in a storm. Luke 8:24,25 The disciples went and woke Him, saying, Master, Master, were going to drown! He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. Where is your faith? He saked His disciples. Pauls faith was already certain and  he believed that Gods word was true and he would arrive in Rome just as he was told and just when God wanted him there. But without hope and fear of death these men would become cruel and violent and soon blame the prisoners for their problems and begin to punish them.     

       21 Paul tells the men it is time for you to eat because you have not eaten for several days and must have more strenth for the work ahead. You should have listened to me and stayed in Crete where it was safe.  22 You must keep your courage this ship will be destroyed but none of you will loose your life. 23 Last night a angel of God stood beside me several times we read how Jesus stood beside Paul if He had Paul may have asked Him  to calm the sea as he did when with the apostles but at this time God was not yet ready to end the storm.  Paul was certain of his faith and safety and knew that he would arrive at Rome, he understood that God could calm the storm or have him walk on water all the way to Italy  if needed.  24 The angel spoke to me and said, Do not be afraid, You must stand trial before Caesar confirming that Nero will hear the case against Paul and the emperor of the world will hear the message of Jesus Christ. God has graciously given you the lives of all that sail with you. Paul, Luke and Aristarchus could have been the only men that survived the shipwreck but God has decided to spare all their lives.  These men will live to see the power of God on the island of Malta as Paul heals many people there. 

     25 Have courage and believe as I do that what God has told me will take place just as He has said.  Paul may have read a scripture to encourage them Psalm 107:23-30  Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on these mighty waters. They saw the works of the mighty Lord, His wonderful deeds in the deep. For He spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted up the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths: in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought  them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a wisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and guided them to their desired haven.

     26 We must run aground on some island he warns them because this time could become more dangerous than the storm as a ship breaks up many lives could be lost. 27 On the fourteenth night the wind and the storm was still taking this ship across the Asriatic Sea nights of fear and days when there were no signs of this storm coming to a end. Now some of the sailors believe they can sense some land. 28 They took soundings twice and discovered they were coming close to land. 29 Fearing they would be dashed against some rocks they drop four anchors and prayed for daylight. Suddenly as they knew they were close to land they knew that without Gods help they could all perish close to land without some daylight.

     30 Some of the sailors decided they would be safer on their own in a small lifeboat than stay on the large ship that would soon be broken to pieces. They lower the lifeboat into the sea and are ready to escape when Paul became aware of their escape plan. 31 Paul speaks to the soldiers and the centurion. Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved. The ship did need the work of these men to control the ship and do their jobs which will bring them all together to safety.  God had given this instruction during the first Passover when the family was in the home and the meal was prepared. Exodus 12:22 Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. Not one of you shall go out of the door of this house until morning.  When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. We do not read of anyone being struck down because they left the house that night. They had seen many plagues strike Egypt and with faith they would also fear the danger of disobeying God. The two messages do not leave the house and do not leave the ship may still be a message for us as Jesus warned us before His return when he stated several examples for us. Luke 17:31,32 On that day no one who is on the roof of the house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lots wife! We are given instructions to wait and watch and when the moment arrives we are to  watch for the Lord and nothing else. Genesis 19:26 But Lots wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.  When we see the same instructions being repeated in both the old and new testaments and when spoken by Jesus and later demonstrated as we do here we must pay special attention to these directions. 32 The soldiers cut the ropes of the lifeboat and it fell into the sea.

      Without faith Paul may have gone on the lifeboat with the men to save his own life. He could have escaped from the Romans and from God in the same boat. Was God still testing Paul to see how faithful he would be if he could now be free instead of spending two more years as a prisoner in Rome.  Felix would have released Paul if a bribe was paid to him Paul and his friends were aware of this and rejected this plan while Paul remained faithful to Gods plan.  

     33 Paul once again urges them to eat for the last fourteen days they have not eaten you have been in suspense and fear and have struggled and worked hard to keep this ship floating and in one piece. 34 Men eat so all of you might survive Paul did not want any one to perish because of  a careless  accident due to loss of strength. He states Not one hair on your head will be lost . Paul assures them and gives them Gods guarantee that each man will survive and will not allow any of them to be reckless and cause harm to themself or others.

     35 Paul takes some bread and gives thanks to God in front of all the men. Then Paul broke the bread and began to eat. 36 Paul had encouraged the men and they followed his instruction and did eat until they were full. 37 There were two hundred and seventy six souls on board In the KJV they are called souls just as in Acts 2:41 Then they  that gladly recieved  his word were baptized and the same day were added unto them about three thousand souls. Do we believe the three thousand souls were all believers because they were baptized and called souls here are two hundred and seventy six men all called souls. Does this mean they are all believers has the long storm given Paul the time to preach to the entire ship both crew and prisoners. We see the men who eat when he tells them to eat and the centurion and soldiers who followed his advice when he said no one should leave the ship and they cut the lifeboat and allowed it to fall into the sea.  The centurion and the soldiers may have thought the lifeboat was also safer than being on the ship and could have decided to escape on the lifeboat to a safer place but they decided to obey the instructions of a prisoner. 38 After every man had eaten all they wanted they threw the grain into the sea, this grain was the bulk of there shipment and the product that was wanted for sale in Rome.

     They must have trusted Pauls word that the ship would be destroyed and the grain would never reach Rome and that they would soon be on some land and would not need to eat this grain again. 39 When daylight came they saw a bay and a sandy beach they did not recognize the place but took action to head toward it. 40 They cut off the anchors and prepared the ship for a short dangerous trip toward land. They hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach. 41 The ship struck a sandbar and ran aground the ship would not move and the waves struck the ship and broke the stern to pieces. 42  The soldiers were going to kill the prisoners to stop them from escaping if these prisoners escaped the soldiers  life was taken from him as a  punishment.  This can be verified in Acts 12 when Peter was found missing from  Herods prison Acts 12: 18,19 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thourgh search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. 43  The centurion who would not allow Paul to be killed convinced the soldiers not to kill the prisoners.  He ordered those who could swim to jump off the boat and swim to shore. 

     The killing of the prisoners would have violated the promise that God had made for all their safety just as the men who tried to escape in the lifeboat would have violated Gods promise and would have caused danger for all who remained on the ship.  44 The others were to get on planks of wood or parts of the ship that would float and bring them to shore. All the men arrived safely no one was killed, not a man was lost and there were no injuries everyone was safe and well just as God had promised. If all the soldiers and prisoners did not yet believe in Jesus Christ some soon would as they spent several months together on this island. Paul may have arrived on a island where the people have never heard of Christ with two hundred and seventy three new believers to tell the story of Jesus Christ.

CHRIST LOVES YOU. AMEN. COME LORD JESUS