Spurling Silver: Smooth Sailing Through the Storm, Acts 27:1-25

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. 5^th 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.

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