Acts 27
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.
Notice the "we" in these verses. Of course It's Luke going back to Rome with Paul.
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.
Julius knew a Real Christians word was truth because no Roman officer would have aloud this. It would have meant their death to allow a prisoner to escape.
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;
Things seem to go fast and then they slow up. A Christian can handle whatever comes their way.
8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
This place is good for protection of the ships during storms.
9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
Winter's coming and Paul is going to speak to the crew and all those on board.
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.
Paul is saying things are going to get a bit rough when they leave this port.
11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
Julius didn't heed the warnings of Paul, but instead listened to the owners of the ship and cargo's.
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.
Lasea just didn't have accommodations for them all for the winter. The trip shouldn't take more than a day, so they think, because it's less than 100 miles.
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.
"Euroclydon" = "North-NE wind" and is of a Hurricane force. Everything was calm and all the sudden has become chaos.
15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
They let the ship take them where it was to go. We must stop fighting God and let Him take us where He wants us to be. Stop thinking fleshly and think spiritually. Get into His Word!
16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
The storm is battering the boat and some work is needed to keep it sea worthy. Our lives are battered by the world and we need Christ to stay afloat. Without Christ you WILL sink.
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.
They are strengthening the ship to withstand the storms. We are to girt up when we are in this world doing battle against evil. Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
Things are getting very rough, so they're getting rid of things so they can live. There are things in our lives that bring nothing but death, get rid of them and get in The Word. When we lighten our load of the earthly and fill it with Christ, a peace of mind comes over you and you know you're going to make it.
19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
On this third day, they got rid of everything that was left.
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.
The crew has given up.
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.
Paul reminds them they should have listened to him when they were in Crete and they wouldn't have lost anything.
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.
The ship will go down, but not one person will die.
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.
Paul reassures them all that they will live because God says so.
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;
Just south of Italy was Adria, part of the Mediterranean Sea. They could hear the surf hitting the shore.
28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
The depth is also rising, so they know they're getting closer.
29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
They cast their anchors and waited for sunrise. Things are getting worse in this world and there is much more about to come. Christian must cast their anchors and stay focused in The Word and know God says, Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
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,
"coulor" = a pretense, they were casting another anchor from "foreship" = front or bow of the ship. They were about to drop the life raft overboard.
31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
In other words, only those who stay abroad will 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.
Since they had left, they haven't eaten. Paul is telling them it's time to eat so they can have their strength back. 14 = Deliverance in Biblical Numerics.
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.
The same can be said for "The Meat" of God's Word. With
understanding you know evil can't really touch you. You win † Luke 21:17-18 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for
my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish
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.
Their unloading the things that are waste. Lighten your load of the worldly things and fill it God, things WILL go much smoother.
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.
The storm had ended and it's time to go ashore.
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.
The front is stuck and the back is breaking apart from the waves.
42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
The soldiers are afraid a prisoner will escape and if that happens they would be killed for allowing it to happen.
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:
This centurion Julius had love and kindness in him.
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.
Just as God had told Paul and had passed to all aboard. Things may seem as though there crashing down around you, but with Christ in your heart, you have no doubts, you will survive.