Paul Sails for Rome
When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial 1Regiment. Act 25:25Act 10:1Act 25:12Act 18:2Act 27:11Heb 13:24Act 16:10Act 19:21 We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia, 2 and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. Act 19:29Col 4:10Phm 1:24Act 16:17Act 16:9-13Act 17:1Act 19:19Act 2:9
The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration, allowing him to visit his friends and receive their care. Act 24:23Act 28:16Act 27:43Act 12:20Act 27:1Gen 10:15Gen 49:13Isa 23:12 After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. Act 4:36Act 11:19-20Act 13:4Act 15:39Act 21:16Act 21:3Act 27:7Mat 14:24 And when we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. Act 6:9Act 13:13Act 15:23Act 15:38Act 15:41Act 2:10Act 21:39Act 22:3 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. Act 28:11Act 18:24Act 27:1Act 6:9
After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. Act 27:21Act 2:11Act 27:12-13Tit 1:12Tit 1:5Act 27:4 After we had moved along the coast with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.
By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. 3 So Paul advised them, Lev 23:27-29Num 29:7Lev 16:29-31 “Men, I can see that our voyage will be filled with disaster and great loss, not only to ship and cargo, but to our own lives as well.” Act 27:20-26Act 27:41-44Amo 3:7Dan 2:30Psa 25:142Ki 6:9-10Act 27:34Gen 41:16-25
But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship. Ezk 33:4Ezk 3:17-18Heb 11:7Act 27:21Pro 27:122Ki 6:10Exo 9:20-21Rev 18:17 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, if somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete facing both southwest and northwest. Act 27:8Psa 107:30
The Storm at Sea
(Jonah 1:4–10)
When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had their opportunity. So they weighed anchor and sailed along, hugging the coast of Crete. Job 37:17Luk 12:55Psa 78:26Sng 4:16 But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island. Mrk 4:37Psa 107:25-27Exo 14:21-27Ezk 27:26Jon 1:3-5Mat 8:24 Unable to head into the wind, the ship was caught up. So we gave way and let ourselves be driven along. Act 27:27Jas 3:4
Passing to the lee of a small island called Cauda, 4 we barely managed to secure the lifeboat. After hoisting it up, the crew used ropes to undergird the ship. And fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor 5and were driven along. Act 27:29Act 27:26Act 27:41
We were tossed so violently that the next day the men began to jettison the cargo. Jon 1:5Act 27:38Heb 12:1Mat 16:26Act 27:19Luk 16:8Php 3:7-8Psa 107:27 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. Job 2:4Jon 1:5Luk 9:24-25Mrk 8:35-37 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the great storm continued to batter us, we abandoned all hope of being saved. Mat 24:29Mat 8:24-251Th 4:13Eph 2:12Exo 10:21-23Ezk 37:11Isa 57:10Jer 2:25
After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss. Gen 42:22Psa 107:5-6Act 27:33-35Act 27:7Act 27:9-10 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience any loss of life, but only of the ship. Act 27:25Act 27:36Isa 43:1-22Co 4:8-9Act 27:34Psa 112:71Sa 30:6Act 27:44 For just last night an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood beside me Act 23:112Ti 4:17Act 5:19Rom 1:9Heb 1:14Act 12:8-11Act 18:9Act 8:26 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’ Act 23:112Ti 4:16-17Mat 10:28Act 9:15Gen 19:29Jas 5:162Ki 6:16Act 27:37
So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me. Rom 4:20-21Luk 1:452Ti 1:12Num 23:192Ch 20:20Act 27:11Act 27:21-22Act 27:36 However, we must run aground on some island.” Act 28:1Act 27:17Act 27:29
The Shipwreck
On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. 6 About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 1Ki 9:27Act 27:30Jon 1:6Rev 18:17 They took soundings and found that the water was twenty fathoms deep. 7 Going a little farther, they took another set of soundings that read fifteen fathoms. 8 Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak. Act 27:17Heb 6:19Act 27:26Act 27:30Act 27:40-41Deu 28:67Psa 130:6
Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea. Act 27:16Act 27:32 But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 2Th 2:13-14Jer 29:11-13Psa 91:11-12Act 27:21-24Act 27:11Act 27:42-43Ezk 36:36-37Jhn 6:37 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and set it adrift. Php 3:7-9Luk 16:8
Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food. So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost.” Mat 10:301Ki 1:52Luk 21:18Mrk 8:2-31Ti 5:23Luk 12:7Mat 15:32Php 2:5
After he had said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. Mat 15:361Co 10:30-311Ti 4:3-42Ti 1:122Ti 1:81Pe 4:161Sa 9:13Act 2:46-47 They were all encouraged and took some food themselves. 2Co 1:4-6Act 27:22Psa 27:14Act 27:25 In all, there were 276 9of us on board. Act 2:411Pe 3:20Act 7:14Rom 13:1 After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. Jon 1:5Mat 6:25Act 27:18-19Mat 16:26Heb 12:1Job 2:4
When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they sighted a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. Act 28:1 Cutting away the anchors, they left them in the sea as they loosened the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. Act 27:29-30Isa 33:23 But the vessel struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves. 2Co 11:25-26Ezk 27:261Ki 22:482Ch 20:37Act 27:17Act 27:26-29Ezk 27:34
The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom. Act 12:19Ecc 9:3Luk 23:40-41Mrk 15:15-20Pro 12:10Psa 74:20 But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul’s life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. Act 27:3Pro 16:72Co 11:25Act 23:10Act 23:24Act 27:11Act 27:31 The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land. Act 27:22Psa 107:28-30Act 27:24Jhn 6:39-401Pe 4:182Co 1:8-10Act 27:31Amo 9:9