[Acts:27:1-44 [1] And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. [2] And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. [3] And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. [4] And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. [5] And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. [6] And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein. [7] And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone; [8] And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea. [9] Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, [10] And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. [11] Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. [12] And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. [13] And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. [14] But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. [15] And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. [16] And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: [17] Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. [18] And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; [19] And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. [20] And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. [21] But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. [22] And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. [23] For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, [24] Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. [25] Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. [26] Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. [27] But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; [28] And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. [29] Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. [30] And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, [31] Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. [32] Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. [33] And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. [34] Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. [35] And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. [36] Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. [37] And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. [38] And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. [39] And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. [40] And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. [41] And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. [42] And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. [43] But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: [44] And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. ].
“Be of good cheer” (Acts 27:22).
Sailing for Rome
Let us imagine there are a number of sailing ships anchored in the harbour at Cæsarea. They are moving up and down with the gentle swell of the ocean. The sun is shining and the fresh smell of salt water and seaweed is in the air.
Paul is at the harbour. He and a number of other prisoners are going to faraway Rome to come before the great ruler, Cæsar. Julius, the keeper of the prisoners, is busy seeing that everyone is there and ready to get on the ship. Perhaps a number of Paul’s Christian friends are there to say goodbye. His friend, Luke, is going with Paul.
When all the passengers are on board, the sailors pull in the anchor; and as the wind catches the sails, the ship moves slowly out to sea. The next day the ship stops at Sidon. Oh, Paul knows some people here! He would like so much to see them. Paul could tell them more about Jesus, and they could sing and pray together before he goes on. Because Paul is a good man, Julius, the Roman army officer, tells him he may go ashore and stay a little while with his friends.
Another Ship
After they leave Sidon, they sail for two or three days until they come to the mouth of a river. There is a city on top of a hill a little way up the river, but perhaps they tie up in the harbour just inside the bar, and this is as far as the ship goes. Julius, the keeper, finds another ship on its way to Italy. There is a load of wheat on board this ship, but there is room for the prisoners and other people who are on their way to Rome. Perhaps each of the prisoners is chained to a soldier while they leave the first ship two by two, and Julius stands by, counting to see if they are all there. They get on the ship going to Italy and settle down for the long journey over the great ocean.
The wind is blowing against them now, so the ship goes slowly as they sail away from the harbour. Finally they come to an island, and stop at a place called the fair havens. It is almost wintertime now, and Paul does not think they should try to go any father until sunshine and good winds come again. Perhaps Julius and the captain of the ship, and others, are standing on the deck talking about what should be done. The fair haven is not a very good place for them to stay during the winter. There is a better place not very far away on this same island. Most of them believe they could sail that short distance before the winter storms come.
The Store
So when the south wind blows softly, they start out again. But, oh! soon the wind begins to howl, the rain comes down in sheets, and big waves of water rush over the ship. The wind is so strong that the sailors cannot steer the ship, or make it go the right way. They bind heavy ropes around the ship to help hold it together. The sails are taken down, and the ship rolls and tosses about in the wild ocean. The next day the sailors throw out whatever can be spared from the ship to make it lighter, and the third day the passengers help to throw out the tackling or perhaps some of the ropes and pulleys. The wind still howls and the rain comes beating down. The sun has not shone for many days, and the stars are not out at night. The sailors do not know where they are, and everyone thinks they will surely be drowned.
The Angel Comforts
Perhaps all of them pray, but many of them do not know the true God. No doubt Paul and his Christian friends pray hard, and God sends an angel to Paul. The angel tells Paul not to be afraid. He tells him the ship will be wrecked but all the people on board will come safely to land. How much better everyone feels when he hears the angel’s message!
It is midnight -– listen, do not the sailors hear ocean waves breaking against the shore? Surely they are somewhere near land. It is dark, and they do not know how to steer the ship. If the ship runs into mud or rocks in the night, it may break to pieces and they will be drowned. They lower the anchors to try to hold the ship away from land until morning. The sailors are going to try to get into the lifeboat and leave the others to drown if the ship breaks, but Paul sees what they are trying to do, and says they must stay so that everyone can be saved.
Most of the men on the ship do not know God, and they have been so worried and troubled for fear the ship would sink and they would all be lost during the dark, stormy days and nights, that they have eaten almost nothing. Paul knows they should have some good food so they will be strong enough to save themselves when the ship is wrecked. The next morning when it begins to get light, Paul tells them all to eat. Paul thanks God for his food before he eats, just as we do today. Everyone has a good meal.
All Safe
As the morning grows brighter the sailors take up the anchors, let down the rudders -– or paddles -– that steer the ship, run up the sail, and head for land. The nose of the ship sticks fast in the mud, and the big ocean waves beat the end of the ship until it begins to fall apart. The soldiers are afraid some of their prisoner will swim to land and run away, so they want to kill them all. Julius does not want Paul to be killed, so he will not let the soldiers harm the prisoners.
Perhaps Julius holds to the railing as the ship jerks and rolls. He tells all who are able to swim to leave the ship at once and get to land; the rest, some on boards and some on broken pieces of the ship, get to the shore. So it came to pass that every one of the many people on the ship came safely to land because Paul and his friends prayed.
Jesus’ Care
Jesus still takes care of His people. He took care of a mother who was in a storm something like the storm about which we have read today. One night as she and her little three-year-old daughter were alone in their country home in the mountains, a strong wind began to blow. The little girl was afraid, but the mother prayed. She put little Edith on the bed and lay down beside her, and Jesus came and put them to sleep. The big trees swayed and creaked in the howling wind, and during the night some of them fell on the house, but Edit and her mother did not wake up. Jesus was taking care of them. In the morning they found that almost all the house had been crushed; only the place where their bed was standing was safe.
1. Why was Paul going to Rome at this time? [Acts:25:10Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
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2. Who told Julius, keeper of the prisoners, and the captain of the ship that they should not leave the fair havens harbour until after winter? [Acts:27:9Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
].
3. What happened soon after they left the fair havens? [Acts:27:14But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
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4. Who told Paul that everyone would get safely to land? [Acts:27:22-24 [22] And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
[23] For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
[24] Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
].
5. Who saved Paul’s life when the soldiers wanted to kill all the prisoners? [Acts:27:43But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
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Links:
[1] http://apostolicfaithweca.org/sites/default/files/145 PAUL IN THE STORM.doc
[2] http://apostolicfaithweca.org/sites/default/files/145 PAUL IN THE STORM.pdf