Jul 12, 2015
Acts 27:1-26


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http://zachadams.org/acts/acts27_1-26.mp3

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Outline:


Recap: Two years earlier, as he sat in a Roman barrack just north of the Temple in Jerusalem, Paul had been given a promise by Jesus that he would “testify of Him in Rome.” And while the fruition of this promise would occur according to God’s timeline and in the way the sovereign will of God deemed appropriate, as Acts 27 opens Paul (as a prisoner of Rome appealing his case to be heard by Caesar) is finally beginning the journey to Italy.


The context is important… Even though Paul is in the center of God’s will and he’s been equipped with the promises of God, we’re going to see the journey itself will not be “smooth sailing.” As we’ll see over the next two weeks the will of God often includes wicked storms, divine shipwrecks, and snake bites.



Acts 27:1-2, “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. 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.” 



Set the Scene: “When it was decided that we should sail to Italy…” Though we don’t know the specifics, after two long years being held in Caesarea, Festus decides he can no longer keep Paul detained any longer. Because Paul has appealed his case to Caesar we’re told he’s entrusted to the care of a man “named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.” Note: The “Augustan Regiment” or what was also known as the “Praetorian Guard” was an elite group of solders charged to protect the Emperor. Kind of like the “Secret Service.”


Out text is clear that Paul was not traveling alone… In addition to “Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica” our author Luke will also be part of the journey (“we should sail”). Also note that Paul was not the only prisoner charged to the care of Julius.


Motion of the Text: With the destination being “Italy” Julius decides to take “a ship of Adramyttium.” Because the ship was ported in Caesarea it is likely they were heading back to their port of origin (Adramyttium is in Northern Turkey) “sailing along the coasts of Asia.” Note: In the first century it was customary to sail close to land and avoid the open sea.



Acts 27:3, “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.” 



From Caesarea they sail north 60 miles porting in the city of “Sidon.” Because their stop included a few days in the city, Luke records that “Julius treated Paul kindly… giving him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.” Keep in mind Paul was not a condemned man and because he was the one who appealed his case to Caesar he wasn’t a flight risk either. Note: The idea behind this phrase “receive care” means “to refresh himself.”



Acts 27:4-6, “When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.” 



Luke records that from Sidon they “sailed under the shelter of Cyprus (north of the island), because the winds were contrary… off Cilicia and Pamphylia” coming “to Myra, a city of Lycia.” It’s there that Julius purchases fare to board “an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy.” 


Historically, we know that a ship from the Egyptian city of Alexandria would have likely been a grain freighter carrying food to the Roman capital. Understand, this ship would have been massive… 140 feet long, 36 feet wide, a large sail on one mast, with two paddles to steer the ship near the stern. We’re soon to learn there would be 276 people on board.


What’s important to keep in mind (this will play itself out in coming events) is that a ship of that size and design was not only slow and heavy, but demanded perfect sailing conditions.



Acts 27:7-10, “When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone. Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 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.” 



Motion of the Text: From Myra Luke tells us they sailed “slowly” and “with difficulty off Cnidus.” Then because “the wind did not permit them to proceed” along that course they “sailed under the shelter of Crete” arriving “with difficulty to a place called Fair Havens.” 


Keep in mind, they began this journey sometime around August and Luke is making sure the record shows that almost immediately upon leaving Myra the voyage proved “difficult.” 


Now that “the Fast was already over” (likely a reference to the Feast of Atonement) it’s probably mid-October. The reason this is significant is that Luke tells us “sailing was now dangerous.” Note: During the winter months no one sailed on the Mediterranean.


Understanding the intentions of the crew to push forward anyway “Paul advised them” to port for the winter in Fair Havens “perceiving the voyage would end with disaster” if they didn’t.


Though Paul might not have been a seamen by trade according to 2 Corinthians 11:25 we know that “three times he’d been shipwrecked” spending “a night and a day in the deep.” At this point it has been calculated that Paul has logged some 3500 miles by sea. Case in point… Paul had some knowledge of what he was talking about!



Acts 27:11-12, “Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 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.”



According to our text the two problems that made wintering in Fair Havens unappealing were the same two reasons that made pushing onto Phoenix so alluring. It seems that the consensus was that “the harbor” in Fair Havens “was not suitable to winter in…” 


Not only was it likely the harbor itself was not designed to protect such a large ship from the inclement weather of winter unlike Phoenix who’s harbor “opened toward the southwest and northwest,” but the city of Fair Havens, unlike Phoenix, wasn’t ideal because it didn’t have adequate accommodations for such a large crew to spend five months hunkered down in!


We’re told Julius “more persuaded by the helmsmen and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul” decides to rolls the dice and push forward 40 miles to “Phoenix.”



Acts 27:13-17, “When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. 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.” 



Motion of the Text: Though initially things looked good as “they sailed close by Crete” with “the south wind softly blowing” at their back, things very quickly took a turn for the worse when we’re told “a tempestuous head wind arose called a Euroclydon.” 


Luke tells us “the ship caught” in this head wind was quickly driven south off the coast of Crete and towards “an island called Clauda.” Fearing this southernly direction would carry them into the dangerous “Syrtis Sands” off Northern Africa the crew “secured the skiff, used cables to undergird the ship” and “struck sail” allowing the ship to be driven out into sea.



Acts 27:18-20, “And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands. 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.”



After one day “because they were exceedingly tempest-tossed” Luke tells us they (the crew) took emergency measures to “lighten the ship” fearing the ship might sink. Basically, any non-essential gear or luggage adding weight to the ship was thrown overboard. 


Then because these measures didn’t seem to improve their predicament Luke records that “on the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard.” Not only has this become an “all hands on deck” situation, but they’re now throwing overboard gear essential to sail the ship!


And yet, it would seem this strategy also failed… Luke says, in addition to the constant and relentless pounding of the “tempest,” because “neither sun nor stars” could be seen in sky they lost both a sense of time and navigation. Is there any wonder Luke would write that at this point “all hope that we would be saved was finally given up?” 


I’m of the opinion the use of “weather / nature terms” to describe the ebb and flow of life is commonplace because it’s a universal experience we all understand. Everyone (regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, gender, etc.) experiences the natural movements of weather making the imagery relevant and understandable. 



Beyond these… Isn’t it true how analogous “storms” can be with the difficult seasons of life? When things take a turn and life grows onerous our experiences can be very similar to what these men stuck in this storm on the Mediterranean were going through. 


In regards to our story what I find so interesting is that this one storm had a different purpose for each of the men onboard. One storm effecting every man for different purposes!


For the men who’d fail to heed Paul’s warning this was a Corrective Storm. Julius and the shipmasters should have listened to Paul, but since they relied on worldly wisdom as opposed to Godly counsel they had no one to blame for the storm but themselves.


Now what’s interesting about storms of correction is that at some point they morph into a Storm of Instruction. Even Storms of Correction posses a divine purpose. As we’re going to see God will use this storm to reveal Himself to these men and teach them about his love, grace, and providence. And yet, we will also see that if these men refused correction and instruction this tempest would quickly become a Storm of Judgment.


And yet, for Paul and his traveling companions we’ll see that this tempest was a Directive Storm. Though Paul was bound for Rome (it was his promised destination), it’s going to become abundantly obvious that God had a stop along the journey not part of the original manifest. As we’ll see, in the case of Paul specifically, God would use this storm to orchestrate events in order to place His man exactly where He wanted him to be!



Acts 27:21-26, “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. And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. However, we must run aground on a certain island.”



Let’s unpack what Paul had to say… He begins, “Men, you should have listen to me,” and since you didn’t you have “incurred this disaster and loss.” While on the surface it may appear Paul is rolling out one colossal “I told you so,” I think he’s simply reminding them that their present situation was the byproduct of failing to listen (Storm of Correction)… Which he does to instill confidence in what he’s about to say next.


Paul “urges them to take heart for there will be no loss of life, but only of the ship.” Now that’s a good news / bad news proposition… “The ship is going down, but no one will drown!” Keep in mind, it would be hard to imagine a scenario where this could happen. I mean there was nothing about their present circumstances that supported Paul’s promise.


Knowing their obvious skepticism Paul continues… “For there stood by me this night an angel of the God in whom I belong and serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’” 


What’s interesting about this angelic message is that it reveals the nature of Paul’s prayer… Though I believe Paul was confident in the promise he’d make it to Rome, he was worried concerning the lives of all the men on board that ship who didn’t have such a promise to hold onto. It’s why the first words intended to calm his fear… “Do not be afraid, Paul!” 


Paul knew he’d survive whatever this particular storm brought with it, but he wasn’t so confident about everyone else. The statement that “God has granted you all those who sail with you” indicated Paul has been praying to God for their safety (intercessory prayer).  


Understand… If this storm is a metaphor for life itself the example modeled by Paul is both powerful, compelling, and convicting. As Paul, you (a follower of Jesus) should have confidence that these storms of life have no lasting power over your final destination. You have been given the promise of heaven! And yet, it is equally true that not everyone else in the storm you share possesses the same type of eternal assurance. 


Based upon Paul’s example what should our approach be in light of this reality? 


First, we should care about our fellow journeymen! 


Secondly, we should intercede for them in prayer! 


Finally, we should have the boldness to share the promises of God found in His Word!


Before we continue… I love this line “the God to whom I belong and whom I serve!” In the Greek this phrase “to whom I belong” can literally be translated “in whom I exist.” Not only does Paul see himself positionally as a “purchased possession” of Christ (Ephesians 1:14), but as a practical byproduct of this reality he existed to “preform a sacred service.”


The knowledge that he belonged to God and had been given unshakeable promises by God served to be great encouragement to Paul in the midst of his storm. 


Look how Paul closes… “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. However, we must run aground on a certain island.” Don’t overlook those three all important words by which Paul’s entire perspective and outlook hung… He could confidently declare that they all “take heart” saying with confidence… “I believe God!” 


Notice his belief was in the present tense! “I believe God” right now! Paul’s confidence was not based in human wisdom or the fact he had some insight the situation would take a turn for the better, instead the sold ground on which he could boldly declare these things was the fact that he “believed God!” May I ask… Do you believe the God behind the promises?


Though Paul has promised the there would be no loss of life in spite of the fact the ship would be lost, he says to the crew, “We must run aground on a certain island…” Paul had come to the understanding during his time in prayer that God was the one behind the storm and was using it to accomplish a divine purpose. 


While Paul did not know which island they’d “run aground” (translation - shipwreck) he could say with confidence this would happen (“we must run aground”). As we’re going to see in Acts 28 God wanted Paul to stop by the island of Malta before going to Rome which would not have occurred if not for a storm taking this ship some 500 miles off course. 

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