Verse 1-3-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.
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.
Aristarchus to be Paul's slave in order to accompany the apostle
on this voyage. So great was his love of Paul and so strong was his desire
to minister to his needs that he volunteered to serve in that capacity.
Verse 4-8-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.
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.
Why is it that, even when we are doing what we take to be God's
will for us, we oftentimes; still have such great difficulty in accomplishing it
Verse 9-l2-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.”
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.
They didn't want to stay at Fair havens, it would be boring
there so they thought it would be better to winter in Phoenix.
The great fast is on the Day of Atonement of the Jews, which means it was
early October.
Verse 13-20-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 under gird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.
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.
South wind blew gently-As soon as these sailors found a fair day they immediately cast all caution to the wind and believed what they wanted to believe that this fair weather would last despite all facts to the contrary and so they ventured out of their harbor..
The woman who keep throwing the stick up in the air—"It didn't land the way, I wanted it to go".
Neither sun nor stars-This was a terrible handicap to them because these
ancient navigators had no compass nor any other instrument.
They were drifting helplessly with no idea where they were headed.
Verse 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.”
Paul Stood In The Midst Of Them-Sometimes we need someone to stand up in the midst of our troubles and say what Jesus said, John 16:33-“ These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 14:1-4-“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Sometimes we need to be the ones to stand and proclaim that assurance!
Indeed God Has Granted You All Those Who Sail With You-Sometimes what happens to you in a circumstance is not about you but it is about showing others that God is in control and it about reaching them when they are lost!
Verse 27-32-Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land.
And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.
Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.
And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow,
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”
Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.
Paul knew the sailors where going to abandon ship, they had
to have them to sail the ship.
We all have a part to play in God's plan. God will do his part but we have
to do our part.
Verse 33-38-And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.”
And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.
Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.
And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.
So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.
The physical weakness is due to spiritual despair. He encourages them by his actions.
Verse 39-44-When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible.
And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore.
But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves. And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.
But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,
and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.
Paul grew in faith...God strengthened him with a word of encouragement in
the midst of the trial. He didn't take him away from it. The storm was no
less severe for Paul than it was for anyone else. The danger was just as
evident, the waves were just as high, the darkness just as intense, the
apparent hope just as absent from the circumstances for him as it was for
them. Everything was exactly the same except that God granted to him an
encouraged word, a secret knowledge that the others did not possess.
He didn't lessen the pressure but he gave an inward reassurance that enabled
Paul to stand out from the rest of them and be different.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
we have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought us safe thus far,
and grace will lead us home.
