The Book of
Acts 27
44 verses≈ 7 min3 peopleBSB
Images are artistic interpretations.
Tap any post to go deeper
In this chapter
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 Regiment. We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture
Stylised map · locations approximate
Where it happened
Caesarea to Crete
From Caesarea the prisoners sail up the coast to Sidon, then “to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.” At Myra they change to a grain ship from Alexandria, crawl west to Cnidus, and limp along the south side of Crete to Fair Havens.
By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. So Paul advised them,
Paul
“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.”
But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship. Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, hoping that somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete facing both southwest and northwest.
The Storm at Sea
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.
But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island.
Unable to head into the wind, the ship was caught up. So we gave way and let ourselves be driven along.
we abandoned all hope of being saved
Acts 27:20
Reflect
When hope runs out
When “neither sun nor stars appeared for many days,” everyone on board “abandoned all hope of being saved.” They had thrown away the cargo and the tackle. Is there a storm in your life where you have run out of things to throw overboard? Write it down honestly, and then keep reading: the next voice on the ship has something to say.
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. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience any loss of life, but only of the ship. For just last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 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.’
So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me. However, we must run aground on some island.”
0:43
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
I believe God that it will happen just as He told me
Acts 27:25
The Shipwreck
On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.
Stylised map · locations approximate
Where it happened
Driven across the sea
They hoped to winter at Phoenix, but the Northeaster caught them off Crete. They ran past “a small island called Cauda,” feared “the sandbars of Syrtis” off Africa, and drifted west for two weeks, “driven across the Adriatic Sea” toward land they could not see.
They took soundings and found that the water was twenty fathoms deep. Going a little farther, they took another set of soundings that read fifteen fathoms. Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.
Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea.
Paul
But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.”
So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and set it adrift.
Paul
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.”
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. They were all encouraged and took some food themselves. In all, there were 276 of us on board. After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
Pray
Courage in the storm
Paul had no more control over the wind than anyone else on board. But he could say, “take courage, men, for I believe God.” Then he gave thanks and ate in front of them all. Ask God for that kind of courage in whatever storm you are in: to trust what He has said, to give thanks before the shore is in sight, and to steady the people around you.
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. 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.
But the ship 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.
The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom. 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. The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.
Question
Quick question
On the last night before the wreck, Luke stops to count everyone on the ship.
How many people were on board?
You’ve experienced
Acts 27
0 of 28 chapters read
A verse to carry with you
So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me.
Acts 27:25
or swipe left