Verses 1-2 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.
The name, Julius, means “soft-haired”. The name, Augustus, means “for valour”. So Julius was a soldier in the Roman army in charge of 100 soldiers (centurion) and the detachment of soldiers must have been one that was held in high esteem because to be given a title of an emperor was a very high honour in the Roman military. Adramyttium was a sea port and the name means “I shall abide in death”. The Asia in the verse above was the land mass that today corresponds to the nation of Turkey. Aristarchus was the Christian who accompanied the Apostle Paul on his third missionary journey.
Verses 3-6 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.
Sidon was a city located on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Here the Apostle Paul was able to go onto the land and visit people he knew. From there the ship they were on continued to head for Italy, but had to sail close to the island of Cyprus on the leeward side in order to be sheltered from the wind which was not driving the ship in the direction the captain wanted to sail.
Verses 7-8 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.
The wind continued to not cooperate with the vessel that the centurion had transferred his prisoners and soldiers onto when they left Myra and the going was slow. In those days, ships were at the mercy of the wind as their ability to move sail about on the masts was very limited. Although not a lot is known about the ships of that time, it is generally accepted that they had large main sails and foresails and some of the ships had oarsmen on either side to row the vessels in calm winds. They were merchant ships which took passengers, but they were not ocean liners with all the creature comforts afforded sea travelers in the past few centuries. So based on Luke’s historical account of this voyage to Italy, it seems that delays were encountered all the way. They had to sail close to the island of Crete and scrape by Salmone which was a promontory on the east point of the island of Crete. Apparently they docked at Lasea, a city in Crete.
Application: Could it be that all the delays and the contrary winds that the ship carrying the Apostle Paul and friends experienced were from Satan, and that he did not want Paul to get to Rome and testify about the LORD Jesus Christ?
Verses 9-12 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.
The fast referred to in verse 9 above was most likely the public fast under Mosaic Law kept each year on the day of atonement which was held on the tenth day of the Jewish calendar month of Tisri which is equivalent to today’s end of September beginning of October which was late autumn and a time that was prone to storms. So sailors that were wise kept their vessels in ports until the danger of a storm at sea was over. The Apostle Paul through the power of the Holy Ghost/Spirit warned all concerned that they should stay put, but the master and owner of the ship, probably worried about his bottom line as his cargo was late in getting to its destination because of the winds, wanted to push on and the centurion listened to him rather than to the Apostle Paul. So it was decided to sail to a port on the south coast of the island of Crete which was better suited to spend the winter months.
Verses 13-14 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.
The south wind blowing softly was what the master of this ship would have wanted as it would blow the vessel in the correct direction and it did not signal any danger from a storm arising. However, it was deceptive and short lived. The Greek word translated as “tempestuous” is “tuphonikos” and it means like a whirlwind. The name, Euroclydon, means “a violent agitation”. This storm would have packed strong winds that would have created huge waves that would have tossed the ship around like it was just a piece of paper or a tree leaf or a corked bottle. There would be no way the direction of the ship could be controlled by the crew. And the danger of swamping and flooding the ship’s holds with sea water would have been very great and lead to the ship sinking into the depths of the Mediterranean Sea.
Application: Again the question is asked. Was Satan trying to stop the Apostle Paul from reaching Rome? It was during his two year incarceration in Rome that the New Testament books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and the letter to Philemon were written. These books are pivotal to the Christian faith.
Verses 15-17 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.
The Greek word translated as “caught” is “sunarpazo” and it means to seize by force and carry away. The ship was no longer under control of the master but being driven by the winds and the waves. The sailors had no choice but to give in to the power of the storm. They were powerless.
Application: Is this experience lived through by the Apostle Paul and all that were on the ship reminiscent of the time when Jesus and his disciples were in a boat in the Sea of Galilee and a storm came up suddenly and unexpectedly making the disciples who were seasoned fishermen afraid they would drown while Jesus was asleep at the back of the boat? Was Satan trying to destroy the LORD Jesus Christ and his disciples through weather manipulation? Was he trying to destroy the Apostle Paul and the furtherance of the Gospel through weather manipulation?
Verses 18-20 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.
In order to keep the ship afloat the crew began tossing overboard the cargo. Then on day three the prisoners and those traveling with the Apostle Paul tossed overboard anything on the ship that was not needed to sail the vessel such as furniture, any equipment that could be done without, excess ropes, pulley blocks and so forth. So the Apostle Paul’s prediction in verse 10 above came true. Meanwhile the general consensus was that they would all die in this storm as there was no hope of surviving. The ship could break up or just be swamped and sink at any moment.
Verses 21-22 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.
During this tremendous storm no one was eating. It would have been impossible to prepare meals with the ship tossing about and no doubt no one had an appetite. So not only were all aboard hungry, sleep deprived, and most likely cold and wet and wondering when their last moment on Earth would be, but they all knew that a terrible mistake had been made by not staying put for the winter at Lasea. But then the Apostle Paul, a prisoner, speaks forth and reminds them of that mistake in not listening to him but adds that they need to cheer up because they are not going to die. However the ship will be a total loss.
Application: Scripture does not allow access into the thoughts and feelings of the Apostle Paul during all this drama at sea, but it is doubtful that he was fearful and distraught at the situation because God had promised to protect him way back at the beginning of his missionary journeys and that promise was still in effect as God does not and cannot lie. Many time the Apostle Paul could have been assassinated or murdered by the Jews and many times he had been in physical danger but he had always been victorious. And he knew for a certainty that he was to go to Rome and drowning at sea in a storm would interfere with getting there, so he knew that death was not going to be at this time and at this place in the stormy Mediterranean Sea. And he knew this by faith before he had the visitation recorded in the next verses.
Verses 23-26 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.
When Scripture states “the angel of God” it is usually referring to the LORD Jesus Christ and not to one of the created angels such as Gabriel. And this fact is borne out in that the Apostle Paul stated “whose I am, and whom I serve”. Paul did not belong to an angel nor did he serve an angel. He belonged to Jesus and he lived to serve Jesus. So once again the LORD Jesus Christ visited the Apostle Paul in the midst of his tribulation and once again He instructed him to not be afraid as he was going to be brought before Caesar to be a witness of the power of the Gospel and of the grace and mercy of the LORD Jesus Christ. And because the LORD is merciful, He was going to preserve the lives of all who were with the Apostle Paul on the doomed ship. So the Apostle Paul reported this good news to the frightened crew, prisoners and other passengers and was even able to tell them they would be shipwrecked on an island.
Verses 27-29 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.
Adria was the Adriatic Sea between Greece and Italy. A fathom was reckoned as the distance across the chest of a man from the tip of the middle finger on one hand to the tip of the middle finger on the other hand when the arms were outstretched and was therefore somewhere between 5 to 6 feet. Ocean depths are still calculated in fathoms today with a standardized measurement of 6 feet per fathom. So when first measured the depth of the water was around 120 feet. When measured again the depth was less at about 90 feet, so the crew knew they were being blown into shore somewhere and so they dropped anchors to slow the ship down hoping for daylight when they could see what was in the water and possible identify the land they were approaching.
Verses 30-31 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.
Under colour means a pretext or alleged reason. So the crew, afraid the ship would ground on rocks and break up under them, let down the life raft pretending that they were going to row out to the front of the ship and drop anchors to help hold it steady in the shallow water. But the Apostle Paul knew what they were about to do and he knew they had to stay with the ship in order to be saved. So he alerted the centurion and the soldiers. By now, no doubt, Julius had learned his lesson and knew better than to discount what the Apostle Paul told him. So he took action.
Application: For the Christian believer times of stress and doubt will come possibly making the believer want to flee from God and from all things of Faith, and Satan will know this and be sure to have a distraction or temptation ready to jump into like the life raft on the Apostle Paul’s ship. But just as the sailors had to stay with the ship in order to be saved, so must every Christian believer stay on board with the LORD Jesus Christ in order to stay saved and ride out life’s storms, knowing that the LORD is in control, that He will take care of His children, and that there is calm on the other side of the storm when the believer’s feet will be back firmly on the spiritual land in the spiritual Kingdom of God. So never give in to fear. Always look to Jesus, the author and finisher of every believer’s faith.
Verses 32-34 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.
So the sailors were stopped from fleeing by Julius and his soldiers and the Apostle Paul arranged a meal for everyone as all must have been feeling weak from their fasting and their laboring to keep the ship afloat.
Verses 35-37 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.
The Apostle Paul broke bread with his fellow shipmates which was symbolic of Jesus Christ’s broken body on the cross in order for people to be saved from sin, death, and Hell. But here it was broken bread to thank God for saving their physical lives from death. And what a joyous meal this must have been with all 276 souls present.
Application: Gematria is the computing of the numerical value of words to come up with hidden meanings. It is occult and witchcraft. But because practitioners of magic and dark arts of the devils use this system, God has placed numbers in His Word to frustrate them, and this writer will occasionally use it to show the wisdom of God and the foolishness of Satan. But Christians should not be involved with this form of mysticism. So by adding the values of a group of numbers, the sum can have a meaning. The 276 souls on board the ship when added together equals 15. 15 is three fives. Five is the number of death, and three of them means certain death. Then 15 when added together equals 6 with is the number of man. So there were exactly 276 souls, not 277 or 275, on the doomed ship and they were destined for certain death if Satan had been able to have his way, but God who knows all things prevented this plan of Satan to kill the Apostle Paul and his fellow Christian travelers. So again the question is asked. Was Satan trying to stop the Apostle Paul from reaching Rome? This writer believes that this is the case.
Verses 38-40 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.
Once daylight had come and the sailors could ascertain where they might be and what would be the best course of action, they decided to loose the anchors and sail towards the shore where a creek emptied into the sea with the hope of wedging the bow of the ship on land so that they could then get to shore. Remember that the storm was still raging.
Verses 41-44 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. (Acts 27)
The sailors’ plan worked and the bow of the ship ran aground and stuck firmly, but the stern was still at the mercy of the wind and the waves and it broke apart. So the soldiers’ first thought was to kill all the prisoners so that none of them could escape. But Julius stopped them and instead planned how everyone should get to the shore. And just as God had promised and anounced through the Apostle Paul, all 276 souls made it to shore without drowning or being dashed to death on the rocks.