Reading: chapter 27 verses 1-22:
Ill:
• Many Christians use car stickers to witness (bad drivers – God gets the blame!)
• Many non-Christians also use car stickers displaying messages.
• Some advertise a club or society e.g. scouts, caravan club.
• Some tell you where they have been, e.g. Poultons park, Alton Towers.
Some are humorous:
• There are 3 kinds of people: those who can count & those who can't.
• 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
• Dyslexics of the World: 'Untie!'
• Be nice to your kids. They'll choose your nursing home
• Why is 'abbreviation' such a long word?
• I love cats...they taste just like chicken
• The best one I have read is:
• If you can read this, I’ve lost my caravan!
Some reveal a persons hobbies or desires:
• I would rather be skiing, sky-diving etc
• I would rather be sailing.
• Acts chapter 27 starts off with everybody wanting to be sailing;
• But it finishes with everybody sinking!
(A). The Start (verses 1-8):
• This first section of this chapter reads like a page out of a ship's log.
• It gives us the list of important passengers who were onboard this voyage;
(1). The travellers (vs 1-2).
(a). Luke (verse 1).
• “When it was decided that we would sail for Italy”,
• Notice the little word ‘we’ in verse 1 (also verse 4 & 6).
• This informs us that Luke has rejoined Paul once again.
• He has been absent from the narrative since chapter 21 verse 18, but now he’s back.
Luke was a Gentile:
• The only Gentile to write any of the New Testament books of the Bible,
• Luke’s Gospel & Acts.
• He was a skilful doctor, a devoted friend and a careful historian,
• All wrapped up in one!
• Now he was back with Paul, on hand to sail for Italy and to get to Rome.
• And Luke remains with Paul to the very end of his life (2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 11).
Luke is a glowing example of the professional man:
• Who uses his skills in the service of the Lord,
• And gives himself to go wherever God sends.
(b). Aristarchus (verse 2).
“Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us”.
(a).
• Aristarchus first appears in the book of Acts
• In chapter 19 verse 29.
• He was willingly to risk his life when a riot broke out in Ephesus.
• And like Paul he was captured by the mob.
(b).
• His devotion to Paul is seen when he became voluntary prisoner.
• Quote: Colossians chapter 4 verse 10 he is called a “Fellow prisoner”.
Ill:
• In order to travel with Paul to Rome:
• Both Luke & Aristarchus would pose as Paul's slaves.
• This meant that they became volunteer prisoners;
• And they were allowed to accompany him.
• So that he could be a help and comfort to the apostle.
• He was a voluntary prisoner for the sake of Jesus Christ and the Gospel.
(c).
• According to tradition,
• Aristarchus, like Paul, suffered martyrdom under Nero.
• Words of Jesus;
• “Greater love have no-man than this………”
Aristarchus is the type of friend everybody needs:
• He sticks with Paul through thick and thin;
• Ill: A riot, an uncomfortable voyage, a terrifying storm, even a prison cell and death!
• Aristarchus did not look for the easy option.
• He did not run when the going got tough, he suffered with Paul and laboured with Paul.
(3). Julius (verse 1)
• Paul, Luke, Aristarchus and some other prisoners who were also bound for Rome,
• Were placed in the custody of a centurion named Julius.
• Julius belonged to the Imperial Regiment;
• A special unit that acted as liaison officers between the Empower and the provinces.
• To hold that position would suggest that Julius;
• Was a man of long experience and with an excellent military record.
• Like other centurions mentioned in the New Testament he was a man of integrity.
• All through this voyage Julius, the Roman centurion
• Will treat Paul with kindness and consideration which was more than mere courtesy.
• e.g. verse 3
(2). The trip (verse 2):
• The ship set sail from its home port Adramyttium (Ad-ra-mid-i-um):
• Adramyttium (Ad-ra-mid-I-um) was located near Troas (modern-day Turkey).
• Going from there to Pheonix,
• They would have little trouble finding a larger ship sailing to Italy.
• The plan was to reach the imperial city by the end of October,
• So they put out to sea, and the next day made it to Sidon, seventy miles to the north.
Verse 3:
• When they docked at Sidon, Julius the centurion was very considerate towards Paul:
• Surprisingly, he allowed him to go to his friends and receive care.
This could so easily have backfired on Julius:
• (a). Paul was a very important prisoner to allow such freedom,
• Had Paul done ‘a runner’, Julius, may well have paid for that with his very life.
• (b). More significant, Paul was hated by the Jewish leaders at Jerusalem.
• His presence could have sparked a riot among Sidon's Jewish population,
In the space of twenty-four hours:
• Julius had grown to trust Paul;
• Maybe he saw the same qualities in Paul that were displayed in himself.
• Experience, integrity, bravery, trustworthiness………….godliness!
• And believed the apostle would not do anything to bring harm to him.
Note:
• What Luke describes, as Paul's friends;
• Was the church of Jesus Christ which gathered at Sidon
• It was probably founded by Christians forced to flee Jerusalem;
• After Stephen's martyrdom (Acts chapter 8 verses 1-4).
During this brief visit:
• Paul no-doubt spent time teaching the Sidonian believers;
• And enjoying fellowship with them
• This of course would have been impossible,
• During his imprisonment at Caesarea.
• The Christians at Sidon responded by showing their love and care to him,
• Probably in the form of provisions for his journey.
Verse 4:
“Out to sea again, we sailed north under the protection of the northeast shore of Cyprus because winds out of the west were against us”.
• The late summer winds in the eastern Mediterranean;
• Prohibit sailing across the open sea south of Crete.
• So smaller coastal vessels (like theirs) avoided crossing long stretches of open ocean,
• Preferring to stay as close to shore as possible.
Verse 5:
• Tells us the ship continued its voyage across the north-eastern Mediterranean,
• Sailing along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia.
• Those regions were very familiar to Paul; he was originally from Cilicia (Acts 22:3)
• And had travelled extensively in those areas on his missionary journeys.
Helped by local offshore winds and a west-flowing current:
• The ship worked its way west along the southern shore of Asia Minor,
• Making port at Myra in Lycia and disembarking.
• Myra was a chief port for the Imperial grain fleet,
• Whose ships made the circuit between Egypt and Rome.
Verse 6:
• There the centurion, needing to find transportation for the rest of the journey to Rome,
• He found an Alexandrian grain ship sailing for Italy, & sailed on it
Verse 7-8:
“We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus (Sni-dus). When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.
We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea”
• Leaving Myra, the ship sailed slowly for a good many days;
• Against the strong northwest wind and with difficulty arrived off Cnidus (Sni-dus).
• Cnidus (Sni-dus) was another harbour frequented by Egyptian merchant ships.
• It was located on a peninsula at the southwest tip of Asia Minor,
When the travellers arrived off Cnidus (Sni-dus), they left the shelter of the mainland;
• And the strong, contrary wind did not permit them to go farther west.
• The ship was forced to turn south toward the island of Crete.
• Reaching the shelter of Crete off Salmone (a peninsula on Crete's northeast shore),
• The ship again with difficulty sailed along the coast.
• Rounding the southeast corner of the island,
• It finally arrived at a certain place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.
• Being weary from fighting the weather, the travellers entered the bay.
• This was the first foreboding sign of what was to come.
(B). THE STAY (verses 9-12):
(The message):
9By this time we had lost a lot of time. We had passed the autumn equinox, so it would be stormy weather from now on through the winter, too dangerous for sailing. Paul warned, 10"I see only disaster ahead for cargo and ship--to say nothing of our lives!-if we put out to sea now."
12But it was not the best harbour for staying the winter. Phoenix, a few miles further on, was more suitable. 11The centurion set Paul's warning aside and let the ship captain and the ship-owner talk him into trying for the next harbour”.
(1). The wrong season (verse 9)
• The ship was delayed for some considerable time in Fair Havens,
• Waiting for a change in the winds.
• To continue the voyage was now dangerous,
• Since it was late in the sailing season.
Notice: In verse 9b:
• Luke notes that even the fast (the Day of Atonement) was already over.
• The Day of Atonement fell in late September or early October,
• For ancient sailing vessels,
• Travel was problematic and dangerous from mid-September to mid-November.
• Paul's ship was already well into the danger period.
• All sailing in the open sea ceased from mid-November until at least February.
(2). The wrong person (vs 9b-10):
“So Paul warned them,
10 Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also”
• Apparently the sailors and Julius had a discussion to plan their course of action.
• They were obviously unsure what action to take.
• Paul, even though he was a prisoner was allowed to speak.
• This may be because of his friendship with Julius the centurion.
• Or it may be because who was an experienced traveller
• He had already experienced three shipwrecks (2 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 25).
The apostle wisely warned them not to gamble with their lives & their expensive cargo:
• They had already had problems with the winds,
• And Paul was not anxious to experience a fourth shipwreck!
Regrettably (but understandably), the centurion:
• Was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship,
• Than by what was being said by the prisoner named Paul.
(3). The wrong advisers (verses 11-12);
• Because the ship belonged to the imperial grain fleet:
• The centurion-not the pilot or the captain-was the ranking officer on board.
• He decided to accept the advice of the professional seamen,
• Over the advice of one of his prisoners.
Quote:
“It was professionals who built the Titanic, while amateurs built the ark”.
The sailors came up with a plan:
• The harbour at Phoenix (about forty miles away) faced southwest and northwest,
• It provided much better shelter from the winter storms.
• The decision was made so they could enjoy a comfortable winter,
• Yet this would be a decision that the sailors and Julius would very soon regret.
(C). The Squall (verses 13-26):
(1). The sailing (verse 13).
“When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete”.
They waited for a good sailing day:
• And lo and behold they got one, a gentle south wind came up,
• So they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, close inshore.
(2). The storm (verses 14-20).
(The Message):
“But they were no sooner out to sea than a gale-force wind, the infamous nor'easter, struck. 15They lost all control of the ship. It was a cork in the storm.
16We came under the lee of the small island named Clauda, and managed to get a lifeboat ready and reef the sails. 17But rocky shoals prevented us from getting close. We only managed to avoid them by throwing out drift anchors.
18Next day, out on the high seas again and badly damaged now by the storm, we dumped the cargo overboard. 19The third day the sailors lightened the ship further by throwing off all the tackle and provisions”.
• Shortly after they had set sail;
• A violent wind, called ‘the north-easter’ broke;
Verse 16: The travellers gained a brief respite from the fierce storm:
• Under the shelter of a small island called Clauda,
• Which is about twenty-three miles southwest of Crete.
• Making good use of the temporary shelter Clauda provided,
• The sailors took what steps they could to rig the ship to bear the storm.
The sailors took 5 steps to try and survive this storm:
Step 1: Verse 16b-17b: First they made the lifeboat secure:
• Normally this lifeboat was usually towed behind the ship,
• But with the weather conditions being so bad they decided to take it on board the ship.
Step 2: Verse 17b:
• After they had hoisted the dingy on board,
• The crew members used supporting cables in under girding the ship.
• This procedure is known as frapping,
• And it involved wrapping cables around the ship's hull and then winching them tight.
• With this extra support,
• The ship would be better able to withstand the severe pounding of wind and sea.
Step 3: Verse 17c: The third precaution taken by the sailors is not all that clear.
“Fearing that they would run aground on the sand-bars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along”.
Two possible explanations as to what action the sailors took:
Explanation number 1:
• The Syrtis was feared by sailors;
• It was the dreaded graveyard of ships off the North African coast.
• Although the Syrtis was still far away,
• The sailors did not know how far, nor how far the storm might blow the ship.
• Lowering the sea anchor would act as a drag,
• And help prevent the ship from drifting that far south.
Explanation number 2:
• The phrase translated ‘lowered the sea anchor’;
• May be translated "lowered the gear:'
• In that case, the reference would be to lowering the mainsail,
• Which otherwise would be torn to shreds by the violent wind.
• However the phrase is translated, the sailors obviously did both:
• It would have been self-defeating; to put out an anchor with the mainsail still rigged.
Step 4: Verse 18:
• The next day, the crew began to jettison the cargo;
• Although verse 38 informs us, not all of it at this time.
Step 5: Verse 19:
“On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands”
• The ship's tackle refers to miscellaneous equipment not crucial to sailing the ship.
• That probably included the massive spar to which the mainsail had been attached.
• Luke notes that they threw it overboard with their own hands
• Some Greek manuscripts read "we threw;' indicating that the passengers helped:
• The crew would likely have had no lifting equipment on board ship,
• That was able to lift the heavy spar – so they used passenger power.
Verse 20:
All the sailors' efforts were to no avail, however.
• With out the sun or stars appearing for many days;
• This meant navigation was impossible,
• They had no way of knowing where they were or where they were going;
• They were cold, tired, frightened and battered individuals.
• This news seems to be the ‘straw that broke the camels back’
• It brought home to them all the fact;
• That this was no small storm that they could ride out! It was a monster of a storm!
• From then on all hope of being saved was gradually abandoned.
Quote:
“Only those who have been in a violent storm at sea can fully appreciate the terror the passengers and crew must have felt.
The towering, white-capped seas; the roaring of the wind;
the violent rocking of the ship as first the bow; then the stern rose high in the air, only to plunge quickly down again;
the constant motion, inducing seasickness and making it difficult to stand, let alone walk;
the wind-driven salt spray stinging and blinding those exposed on deck;
and, worst of all, the looming reality of an awful death by drowning
-all those factors combined to unnerve even the most experienced sailor”.
(3). The speech (verses 21b-26).
“Paul stood up before them and said: Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.
22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.
23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me
24 and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.'
25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island”.
When they had gone a long time without food;
• Probably due to seasickness, or the difficulty of preparing food in the storm,
• And perhaps the spoilage of some of their provisions (maybe all three reasons and more),
Paul then stood up to speak:
• He saw this as the right opportunity to speak
• They had not listened to him when they were safely anchored at Fair Havens.
• But being a professional sailor or an amateur did not matter now;
• They were all just a group of desperate men fighting for their lives.
Verse 21-22:
• Paul is not so much saying “I told you so!”
• He is not being sarcastic here, but rather he is establishing his credibility,
• The apostle's motive is clear;
• He was not only to chide them but to encourage them.
• So he reminded them, had they heeded his sound advice,
• They would not have been in this difficulty.
“But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed”.
• To those listening that may have seemed like wishful thinking;
• After all they certainly did not see any hope.
Verse 23-24:
• So Paul backs up his statement by saying;
• This is not wishful thinking, rather he had received this news by divine revelation!
'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.'
• The sailors, soldiers and the other passengers;
• Would all benefit from the Lord's protection of Paul.
Then, perhaps for the benefit of any sceptics who might have wondered how they were going to escape drowning if the ship were lost, the apostle added,
• Verse 26:
• “Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island”.
• And so the stage was set for the dramatic conclusion to this ill-fated voyage;
• And the fulfilment of God's promises.
Application:
(1). Paul the Leader
• Looking back over this dramatic episode in Paul's life,
• Several key principles of true biblical leadership can be clearly seen.
First, a leader is trusted.
• Paul was an important prisoner,
• Whose escape or death would have meant serious trouble for Julius.
• Yet somehow during the brief journey from Caesarea to Sidon,
• Paul convinced the centurion that he could be trusted.
• As a result in verse 3, Julius the centurion,
• Let him leave the ship to be ministered to by the Christians there.
Second, a leader takes the initiative.
• At the council at Fair Havens (verses 8-10)
• Paul, although a prisoner, did not hesitate to give his advice.
Third, a leader uses good judgment.
• Had the centurion and sailors heeded Paul's sound advice (verse 10-11).
• They would have been spared a terrible ordeal-and the loss of the ship.
Fourth, a leader speaks with authority.
• In the midst of the raging storm, Paul's confident assertion;
• That all on board would be saved must have seemed like madness.
• But his unshakable confidence in God's Word;
• Caused him to speak out boldly.
Fifth, a leader strengthens others.
• Paul three times encouraged the terrified passengers and crew
• Verses 22, 25, 34).
• Twice not to lose hope and once to eat.
• His calmness, confidence, and optimistic trust in God also reassured the others.
Leaders do not push people from behind; they lead them from the front:
• These timeless principles of leadership,
• Seen in the middle of appalling circumstances,
• Reveal Paul as the godly leader he was.
• And they ought to characterize every leader who wishes to effectively lead God's people.
(2). Paul and the presence of God.
• Paul knew that God was with him.
• On this occasion an angel of the Lord appeared to him to reassure him of God's presence.
• Verse 25: Paul based his hope on the word he was given,
• He believed God to keep his word.
Ill:
• Campbell-Morgan made a house visit to two older ladies in his fellowship.
• As was his custom he would pray and read the Bible before he left.
• That day he read to them Matthew chapter 28 verse 20:
• The Lord Jesus Christ, "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age".
• Campbell Morgan said to the ladies; "isn’t that a wonderful promise?."
• Young man, the ladies replied, “That is not a promise, it is a fact!”
(3). Paul Knew He Belonged to God
• When Paul mentioned God he identified him in verse 23:
• " An angel of the God The God whose l am".
• That is, I am not my own; I am bought with a price; I belong to him.
• And my life is in his hands not mine!
Ill:
• The bride belongs to the bridegroom.
• The child belongs to the father.
• The sheep belong to the shepherd.
• The Christian belongs to God!
Ill:
• There was a man who whenever temptation came to him;
• Or people were giving him trouble used to look up to heaven and say,
• "God, do you know that they are attacking YOUR property?"
(4). Paul Was in the Service of God:
• Paul knew he was in God's service, and about God's business.
• Verse 23 speaks of "an angel of the God whose I am and whom I SERVE. . ." .
• God had told him what he was to do:
• He was to bear witness in Rome.
• But he had not gotten to Rome yet,
• And it does not take an Einstein to figure out the implication of those two facts.
• The storm that was battering the ship on which he was sailing;
• Was not going to take his life. God was going to preserve him.
You and I do not have special revelations of that nature:
• God has not revealed to us any specific length of service;
• Or specific future place he wants us to serve him.
But the principle is still the same:
• But can be sure that as long as God has work for us to do,
• God will preserve us to do it.
• If God has work for us to do,
• Then God will keep us alive to do it.
• When you have finished the work that God has given you to do he will call you home,
• But until then we need to get on with our Father's business!
