And when it was decided that we should sail to
Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a
centurion of the Augustan Regiment. 2 So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we
put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian
of Thessalonica, was with us.
Notice, when the decision
was made for them to go, they didn’t have a voice in the matter. Often in the governments
of men, those that make decisions aren’t the best decision makers.
It was not a wise
decision to start a 2,000 mile voyage at the beginning of typhoon season, unless
they wanted the voyage to fail.
Whatever the case the
decision was made, and they loaded Paul and prisoners aboard a ship from the seaport city of Adramyttium.
This was no luxury Carnival
Cruise Liner. They were probably packed like cattle into the cargo bay used for grain.
Paul had a couple of
longtime friends with him, Aristarchus was one, and we know by use of the word
“we” that Luke was also along for the ride.
So, whether they like it or not, off they go toward Rome. Stuck on a boat full of strangers, many probably dangerous prisoners headed to the Gladiator rings of Rome.
Ever been there?
Stuck. Like a prisoner in a place, you don’t want to be, on a journey you don’t
want to take.
Are you there now?
Stuck. Doing what you don’t want to do. In a world you don’t like, with a life
you wish you could rewrite.
Well hold on, don’t
abandon ship just yet.
3 And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul
kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.
The first leg of
their journey was north, up the coast about 70 miles from Caesarea to Sidon.
Governor Festus may
have told Julius to give Paul liberty, since Paul was a freeborn Roman Citizen,
yet to be convicted of any crime. Festus and King Agrippa both agreed that Paul
could be set free if only he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.
Most importantly, God
was with him.
When a
man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Proverbs 16:7.
4 When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter
of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
It was fall in the Mediterranean,
when winds are primarily from the west.
They wanted to sail west,
but couldn’t sail against the wind, (like vessels today) so they headed north,
and then hugged the coast and tacked westward.
See, the timing of
the trip wasn’t such a great decision.
5 And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and
Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
Sidon to Myra, was
about 500 miles.
These are the very
places Paul had sailed and preached in his prior missionary journeys.
Now, he’s passing
through as a prisoner.
Ever been there? The
old stomping grounds from the good ol’ days. But you can’t go back, and you can’t
stay, because of these chains binding you to your present life of prison.
Are you there now?
Reminiscing over yesterday, imprisoned by today.
Well hold on, don’t
abandon ship just yet, the journey is far from over.
6 There (at Myra) the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy,
and he put us on board.
They switched ships.
An Alexandrian ship
sailing to Italy would have been a cargo ship hauling grain (probably wheat)
from Egypt to Italy.
A ship like this at that
time is said to have been about 140 feet long and 36 feet wide. It would have one
mast with a big square sail, perhaps a smaller foresail, and instead of a
single rudder, it steered with two large paddles on the stern.
They were strong and sturdy;
but couldn’t tack into the wind at all.
We’re told in verse
37 that there were 276 people onboard this ship.
7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with
difficulty off Cnidus...
Myra to Cnidus was
about 130 miles. The average sailing speed was about 5-7 miles per hour, but
since they were bucking the wind, it was likely less than that.
So, they’re stuck on
a ship with hundreds of strangers, barely moving forward, the days are getting colder,
and the wind is getting stronger, but at least they’re headed in the right
direction.
Well, until...
7 ...the
wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off
Salmone. 8 Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens,
near the city of Lasea.
Cnidus to Fair Havens
was about 210 miles.
Their westward progress
was blown south until they could turn west on the sheltered south side of the
island of Crete.
Ever been there?
Things weren’t great, but at least you were headed the right direction—until
everything went south.
Are you there now?
You were staying the course, until you got blown off course, now you’re further
from shore than you were before.
Well hold on, don’t
abandon ship just yet, the journey is far from over, no storm lasts
forever.
9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now
dangerous because the Fast was already over...
The Fast refers to the Day of
Atonement (Yom Kippur), which is in September or October each year. It was Oct.
5th in AD 59; the year this voyage is said to have taken place.
Like a shorter version
of our hurricane season, their dangerous season for sailing the Mediterranean
was from the middle of September to mid-November. After that it got worse, and all
open sea travel came to an end until winter was over.
So, they were smack
dab in the middle of typhoon season.
9 ... Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this
voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship,
but also our lives.”
Up to this point we haven’t
heard a peep from Paul. But now, he has something to say because he sees they
are about to make a big mistake.
Paul’s no landlubber,
he’s logged some 3,500 miles by sea, and according to 2 Corinthians 11:25, he already
has three shipwrecks under his belt.
So, whether by natural
experience or Supernatural prompting, he speaks up and offers unsolicited
advice. We need to hole up here for the winter, or it’s not going to turn out
so good.
11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman
and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.
12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in,
the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they
could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and
northwest, and winter there.
What
would you do?
The owner of the ship
and the captain say, let’s go.
Plus, Fair Havens was
a fair haven, in name only. It was not a good place to winter. But just 40 miles west on the same island was
the nice, big, beautiful, fun-filled harbor of Phoenix.
The majority said
let’s go there.
So, Paul was
overruled.
Ever been there? When
you finally step out and speak up, you’re shut down, ignored.
Are you there now?
You’ve given good advice. But they just won’t listen. So now you’re stuck with them,
suffering for their bad decisions.
Well hold on, don’t abandon
ship just yet, the journey is far from over, no storm lasts forever, the wrong
shall fail, the Truth prevail.
13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had
obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.
See Paul, relax, feel
that soft southern breeze.
Yo mon
every-ting gonna be alright.
14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called
Euroclydon.
Literally says:
It was not long before
a typhonikos (like typhoon) called Euroclydon (east-north-east
wind, a levanter, a nor’easter) swept down on us.
Euroclydon: from Euros (the east wind) and kludon;
(a storm from the east).
15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the
wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda,
we secured the skiff with difficulty.
Try as they may, they
couldn’t follow the shoreline northwest but instead were blown with the wind southwest.
The skiff (dinghy)
was normally towed behind, but it’d be capsized and destroyed in this weather,
so they pulled her aboard. Which was a chore in good weather, but in pounding wind
and waves and rain, it had to be nearly impossible.
Notice Luke writes, “we”
let her drive, and “we” secured the skiff.
In the
midst of a storm, it’s all hands on deck.
Dear family, the Captain
of our Salvation calls, “All hands on deck!”
The world’s in storm about
to wreck, “All hands on deck!”
No playing Jonah,
“All hands on deck!”
Dear Church, if ever was
a time, it’s now, “All hands on deck!”
17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to
undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis
Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.
Struck
sail?
“struck”
chalaó: to let down, lower, slacken.
“sail” skeuos:
vessel, implement, container, instrument.
(not normal word for a sail)
NLT reads: Then
the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were
afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African
coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and
were driven before the wind.
They feared they’d be
blown south onto the treacherous sandbars of Syrtis. So they lowered
the sea anchor (a large parachute like instrument to drag in the
water to slow the ship).
They don’t know it
yet, but, perhaps by Providence, they were blown not south but west-northwest,
to exactly where they needed to be.
Ever been there?
Are you still? Just holding
on for dear life, not living, just existing, just trying to survive.
Well hold on, don’t
abandon ship just yet, the journey is far from over, no storm lasts forever,
the wrong shall fail, the Truth prevail, and soon you’ll see the hand of Providence
has always been with you.
18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.
NASB reads: The
next day as we were being violently tossed by the storm, they began to jettison
the cargo.
They
lightened the ship; ekbolé: casting out, expulsion, jettison. Meaning a throwing out of
cargo to lighten a ship. (Perhaps, throwing out, and throwing up).
20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days,
and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally
given up.
They navigated by the
sky, the sun, the stars. But none appeared for several days. All direction, all hope, was lost.
Ever been there?
Are you still?
No direction. You’re driving blind. You don’t know where you’re at or where you’re going.
There’s no help in
sight.
All you know for sure
is that you’re lost, without hope.
Well hold on, don’t
abandon ship just yet, the journey is far from over, no storm lasts forever,
the wrong shall fail, the Truth prevail, and soon you’ll see the hand of
Providence has always been with you. He who calms the storm is with you through
the storm
21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the
midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not
have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.
On a rare occasion, speaking
the Truth in Love might sound a whole lot like, “I told you so.”
This is one of those
times.
But it can’t stop
there. It must be followed quickly with encouragement and hope.
22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no
loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom
I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul;
you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those
who sail with you.’ 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe
God that it will be just as it was told me.
You should’ve
listened, but that’s over and done, now cheer up, we’re all going to get through
this.
How do I know? Because
God said He’s got plans for me in Rome. As for you, God is good and has granted
safety to all those who sail with me.
God's plan for you, affects those around you.
God’s Word
is always fulfilled, His plans never fail.
Dear family, no
matter what storm you’re blowing through, hold on. Don’t abandon ship just yet,
the journey is far from over, no storm lasts forever, the wrong shall fail, the
Truth prevail, and soon you’ll see the hand of Providence has always
been with you. He who calms the storm is with you through the storm, God
has a way of smooth sailing, even in the storm.
I believe
God that it will be just as it was told me.
Let’s
pray.
Lord, we ask
You to open our eyes, our hearts, to see and know, You stand with us, even here,
even now, especially in and through, the storm.
We choose
to believe You and trust You and praise You, in calm or storm, in peace or war,
in safety or danger.,
We thank
You, for granting that of all those who sail with us, none will be lost.
We love You,
forever.
Amen.
Prayer
Requests:
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Email: pray4measap@aol.com
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Watch
online:
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Storm, Acts 27:1-25
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the Storm, Acts 27:1-25
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