*Acts 27:1-26
Bound for Rome under guard, Paul sets sail on a storm-tossed ship.
- Paul’s Departure for Rome:
- Paul, along with other prisoners, is handed over to a centurion named Julius of the Imperial Regiment for transportation to Rome.
- They board a ship from Adramyttium, planning to sail along the coast of Asia, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.
- Initial Stages of the Voyage:
- The ship stops at Sidon where Julius kindly allows Paul to visit friends and receive care.
- Sailing becomes difficult, and they navigate with caution, eventually reaching Myra in Lycia.
- Transfer to an Alexandrian Ship:
- At Myra, they transfer to an Alexandrian ship heading for Italy, which encounters adverse winds, making progress slow and arduous.
- They sail under the shelter of Cyprus and then across the open sea near Cilicia and Pamphylia, arriving with difficulty at a place called Fair Havens near the city of Lasea on Crete.
- Decision Against Paul’s Advice:
- With winter approaching, sailing becomes risky. Paul advises against continuing the voyage, predicting loss and danger, but the centurion follows the advice of the pilot and the ship’s owner instead.
- They decide to sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix, a harbor on Crete, to winter there.
- The Storm:
- Shortly after setting sail from Fair Havens, a violent wind, called the Northeaster, sweeps down from the island and drives the ship out to sea.
- The sailors are unable to turn into the wind, so they give way to it and are driven along.
- Battling the Storm:
- The ship is battered by the storm for many days, losing all hope of survival. During this time, they throw the ship’s cargo and tackle overboard to lighten the load.
- Paul’s Reassurance:
- After many days without sun or stars, Paul stands before them and reassures everyone that there will be no loss of life, only the ship.
- He explains that an angel of God, to whom he belongs and serves, stood beside him and told him not to be afraid. Paul must stand trial before Caesar, and God has graciously spared the lives of all those sailing with him.
- Paul urges them to keep up their courage, declaring that he has faith in God that things will happen just as he has been told.
- Continued Journey:
- They must run aground on some island to survive, as revealed to Paul.
Acts 27:1-26 teaches us to trust God in the middle of life’s storms. Paul was on a dangerous journey by sea, and even when things looked hopeless, he encouraged everyone to have faith because God had promised to protect them. This reminds us that, no matter how difficult our situation seems, we can trust God’s promises. We can apply this by staying calm in hard times, encouraging others with hope, and believing that God is in control, even when we can’t see the way forward.
Acts 27:1-26 (WEB)
27:1 When it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band. 2 Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica being with us. 3 The next day, we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself. 4 Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 5 When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 6 There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us on board. 7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8 With difficulty sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.9 When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them 10 and said to them, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul. 12 Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking southwest and northwest.13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore. 14 But before long, a stormy wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon. 15 When the ship was caught and couldn’t face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 Running under the lee of a small island called Clauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat. 17 After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered the sea anchor, and so were driven along. 18 As we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw things overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw out the ship’s tackle with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days, and no small storm pressed on us, all hope that we would be saved was now taken away.21 When they had been long without food, Paul stood up in the middle of them and said, “Sirs, you should have listened to me, and not have set sail from Crete and have gotten this injury and loss. 22 Now I exhort you to cheer up, 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, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve, 24 saying, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 Therefore, sirs, cheer up! For I believe God, that it will be just as it has been spoken to me. 26 But we must run aground on a certain island.”