SERMON OUTLINE:
The Passengers (vs 1-2)
The Route (vs 2)
The Choice (vs 9-12)
The Storm (vs 13-26)
The Speech (vs 21b-26)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• Many Christians use car stickers to witness to their faith i.e., Bible verse or a fish sign.
• Many non-Christians also use car stickers displaying messages.
• Some advertise a club or society e.g., Scouts, or the Caravan Club.
• Some tell you where they have been, e.g., Poulton’s Park, Alton Towers.
Some are humorous:
• i.e., ‘99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name’.
• i.e., ‘Dyslexics of the World: 'Untie!'’
• i.e., ‘Be nice to your kids…they will choose your nursing home’.
• i.e., ‘I love cats...they taste just like chicken’.
• My favourite car sticker is:
• i.e., ‘If you can read this, I’ve lost my caravan!’
Some car stickers reveal a person’s hobbies or desires:
• i.e., ‘I would rather be skiing,
• i.e., ‘I would rather be skydiving etc.’
• i.e., ‘I would rather be sailing’.
• Acts chapter 27 starts off with people wanting to be sailing,
• i.e., Those who own the cargo ship want to get their grain to its destination.
• i.e., The Roman Centurion wants to transfer his cargo (prisoners) to Rome.
• i.e., The apostle Paul is desperate to sail to Rome and speak with Nero.
• Acts chapter 27 starts off with people wanting to be sailing,
• But it finishes with everybody sinking!
• Now with such a long passage, we don’t have time to go into all the detail,
• We have 44 verses in 27 and another 10 in chapter 28.
• The verses contain more than one miracle,
• Hard to do justice to these supernatural events in a few minutes,
• So, I want to be selective and focus in on the big part of the narrative – the shipwreck.
• And even with that I am going to struggle to cover everything in my allotted time.
• So, let’s divide it up under five headings.
(1). The Passengers (vs 1-2):
Ill:
• Do you recognise these words, “Captain's log. Stardate 4513.3. A”
• They were spoken by Captain James T. Kirk (actor William Shatner),
• At the start of every episode in the original Star-Trek series.
• TRANSITION: From space to the sea,
• These first two verses of this chapter, reads like a page out of a ship's log.
• It gives us the list of passengers who were on-board this voyage.
“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. 2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium (Ad-ra-mid-i-um) about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.”
• Let’s take a quick look at the passenger list:
• We know from verse 37 that there were 276 people on board.
• So, let’s look at them all one-by-one…just kidding!
Question: Who were 276 people on board?
Answer:
• (a). Well, there were no sightseers on this trip!
• In Bible days people did not go on cruises, so no tourists on vacation.
• (b). Obviously that number included the crew who were operating the cargo ship,
• This was a working vessel – verses 6&38: it was an Alexandrian grain freighter.
• And so, it would have had a small group of experienced sailors to operate it.
• (c). Prisoners (vs 1) made up the vast amount of people on board ship.
• (d). Soldiers (vs 1) whose job of course was to guard those prisoners.
Note: Let’s pause and mention a three of those passengers.
(a). Dr Luke (vs 1).
• Notice the little word ‘we’ in verse 1 (& vs 4 & 6).
• “When it was decided that we would sail for Italy”,
• This informs us that Luke who penned the book of Acts,
• (As well as the gospel of Luke that bears his name).
• Has re-joined the apostle Paul once again on his travels.
• He has been absent from the storyline since chapter 21 verse 18,
• But now he’s back.
• So, Luke is writing as an eyewitness, first-hand account to these events.
Luke was such a good, thorough and comprehensive historian.
• That out of all the many stories told in antiquity regarding shipwrecks.
• This is one is one of the most famous, because of the details that Luke records.
Quote: Ray Steadman.
“And yet he (Luke) was such a careful historian that the detail which he gives in this chapter about ancient methods of sailing affords more insight into sailing practices on the Mediterranean in the first century than all other ancient manuscripts put together.”
(b). Aristarchus (vs 2).
“Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us”.
(a).
• We have met Aristarchus earlier in our studies of the book of Acts.
• He met the apostle Paul on his second missionary journey (chapter 19 verse 29)
• And became a travelling companion to Paul.
(b).
• Quote: In Colossians chapter 4 verse 10 he is called a “Fellow prisoner”.
• Aristarchus had to become a volunteer prisoner to stay with Paul.
• And he would travel as Paul’s servant (Dr Luke would have to do this as well).
Ill:
• Note: Aristarchus would not be a passenger in first-class accommodation,
• He would be alongside the apostle Paul.
• He would have to share his accommodation, his food and his conditions.
• Which would all be very basic - this was a cargo ship and not a cruise ship,
• It transported grain cargo and prisoners, never sight-seeing passengers.
• So, life was very basic and sacrificial.
• But when life is tough you need friends and colleagues like these!
Ill:
• My Moldova mission trips – I have invited over the years a number of people to join me,
• But I have also turned down offers from a few people to join the team.
• In tough conditions you need people you can rely on!
• The job is hard enough without difficult and problematic people on the team.
• TRANSITION: It is obvious from the Book of Acts and also his letters,
• That the apostle Paul was a team player.
• Paul was not a one-man-show.
• He always worked with and through a team of people who were committed to ministry.
• That is one of his secrets of his success.
• The name ‘Aristarchus’ might not mean a lot to most Christians,
• But he meant a lot to the apostle Paul.
• And he played a huge part supporting and encouraging and working alongside Paul.
(3). Julius (vs 1)
• Julius was a centurion in charge of the apostle Paul,
• His commission was to get Paul safely to Rome.
• I assume he was also responsible for the other prisoners who were on board the ship.
Ill:
• A Roman centurion was in charge of 100 men,
• And Julius like most (if not all) of the Roman centurions mentioned in the Bible,
• Is shown in very good light, and he appears to be a man of integrity.
Ill:
• My favourite Roman centurion in mentioned in Luke chapter 7.
• The Roman centurion walks up to Jesus as he is teaching.
• You can imagine the hatred in the crowd towards him,
• This Roman centurion was an invader occupying their country.
• This Roman centurion implores Jesus to heal his servant,
• And stands up to go walk to the man’s house.
• But the soldier stops him and says, “No need to come.”
And the Roman centurion makes a great statement, he says,
“I am as man under authority, and I am a man of authority.
Being under authority I know what it is to take orders,
Being a man of authority, I know what it is to give orders.
If I tell this soldier to come – he comes,
And if I tell another soldier to go – he goes.”
• Then the Roman centurion makes an incredible statement,
• He says to Jesus, “Just say the word and he will be healed.”
• It is one of those rare moments when Jesus is surprised and amazed,
• And he responds by saying (Luke chapter 7 verse 9),
• “I tell you; I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”
• And he tells the Roman centurion to go home his servant is well.
• And when he returned to his house, he found the servant well.
• TRANSITION:
• Julius like the other Roman centurions is shown in very good light,
• He appears to be a man of integrity.
• To hold that position as a Roman centurion would suggest that Julius.
• Was a man of long experience and with an excellent military-record.
Note: As you read this chapter that all through this voyage,
• Julius, this Roman centurion treated the apostle Paul with kindness and consideration.
• He even did something outrageous (vs 3).
“The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs”.
Allowing Paul to go and meet with other Christians could so easily have backfired on Julius:
• Paul was a very important prisoner to allow him such privilege and freedom,
• Had Paul done ‘a runner’,
• Julius may well have paid for that with his very life.
• Roman practice was if a prisoner escaped the person guarding him would pay with his life.
• Yet. in the space of twenty-four hours:
• Julius had grown to trust Paul.
• I think he had figured out for himself that this man was not a threat,
• That he actually displayed the same qualities that he had built in his own life.
• Experience, integrity, bravery, trustworthiness!
(2). The Route (vs 2):
• “We boarded a ship from Adramyttium” - (Ad-ra-mid-i-um)
• (Today that would be ‘Edremit’ in Northwest Turkey.
• So, at first, they board a smaller vessel (vs 2),
• And then further down the coast they would transfer to a larger ship (vs 6).
• And it is in the larger ship that they experience the storm and the shipwreck.
Their plan worked well.
• They found an Alexandrian grain ship sailing for Italy, & so they all sailed on it.
• These ships would have been much bigger than the slower coastal ships.
• In verses 7-8 Dr Luke records the details of their difficult journey.
• Strong winds are hindering their progress, and it took ‘many days.
• Eventually they cover the 130 miles from Myra to Cnidus (Sni-dus).
• And they arrive at a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
• Being weary from fighting the weather, the travellers entered the bay.
• But these volatile weather conditions are a sign of what was to come.
Pause to say:
• The detail here is a reminder of the accuracy and reality of this book.
• It is a reminder that we are dealing with real people in real places,
• And their journey was both difficult and frustrating!
Ill:
• A boss sent one of his workers the following email to stop him moaning:
• "Be thankful for problems, for if we didn't have them, you wouldn't be here.
• And if they were less difficult someone with less ability would have your job.”
• TRANSITION: Problems, hardships and difficulties are all part of life.
• Both Christian and non-Christian experiences them.
• No-one is immune.
• The important thing about a problem is not its solution,
• But how we handle it, the strength we gain in finding the solution.
• For the Christian we find strength to cope with the problems of life,
• In our relationship with the Lord,
Ill:
• The British preacher Stuart Briscoe used to say,
• That whenever people said, “His faith was a just crutch,”
• He would reply, “Well I hope you break your leg!”
• TRANSITION: Crutches are very helpful when you are in need!
• For the Christian we find strength to cope with the problems of life,
• In our relationship with the Lord,
(3). THE Choice (vs 9-12):
(The message paraphrase):
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”.
Note: There are a number of wrongs choices made here.
FIRST: IT WAS THE WRONG SEASON (VS 9)
• The ship was already delayed in Fair Havens,
• As it waited for a change in the winds.
• Luke dates for us when in the calendar this trip took place.
• 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.
SECOND: THEY LISTENED TO 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 to do.
• Paul was a prisoner, but he was allowed to speak.
• This may well be because of his friendship with Julius the centurion.
• Or it may be because who was an experienced traveller.
• Remember that he had already experienced three shipwrecks.
• (see 2 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 25).
• ill: If you watch ‘Only Fools & Horses’
• Paul seems to be thew Uncle Albert of the New Testament!
• ill: Reminds me of the old joke – a newspaper advert that read:
• ‘Missing dog, blind in one eye, has an ear missing, asthmatic and only has three legs.
• Answers to the name Lucky.’
• Note: Paul was not lucky or dependent on luck – either good luck or bad.
• But he was in the will of God and that caused him both blessings and problems.
• Those problems included three shipwrecks.
• So do not expect a problem free life if you follow Jesus – it ain’t gonna happen!
So, the apostle warned these Roman officials and sailors:
• Not to gamble with their lives & their expensive cargo:
• Regrettably (but understandably), the Roman centurion:
• Was more persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship.
• They were the experts, this was their livelihood,
• So, Julius the Roman centurion 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.
(4). The Storm (vs 13-26):
Ill:
• Joke:
• A young naval student was being put through the paces by an old sea captain.
• He asked him:
• "What would you do if a sudden storm sprang up on the starboard?"
• The student replied, "Throw out an anchor, sir,"
• "What would you do if another storm sprang up?"
• The student replied, "Throw out another anchor, sir."
• The captain then said,
• "And if another terrific storm sprang up forward, what would you do then?"
• The student replied for a third time, "Throw out another anchor, sir."
• "Hold on," said the captain. "Where are you getting all those anchors from?"
• The student replied, "From the same place you're getting your storms, sir."
• TRANSITION:
• From imaginary storms to the real thing.
• Although in verse 13 when they set sail there was no sign of any storms.
• They waited for a good sailing day:
• And they got one (vs 13)
“When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so, they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete”.
Quote: I like how The Message paraphrase describes verses 14-20:
“But they were no sooner out to sea than a gale-force wind, the infamous nor’easter, struck. They lost all control of the ship. It was a cork in the storm.
16-17 We came under the lee of the small island named Clauda and managed to get a lifeboat ready and reef the sails. But rocky shoals prevented us from getting close. We only managed to avoid them by throwing out drift anchors.
18-20 Next day, out on the high seas again and badly damaged now by the storm, we dumped the cargo overboard. The third day the sailors lightened the ship further by throwing off all the tackle and provisions. It had been many days since we had seen either sun or stars. Wind and waves were battering us unmercifully, and we lost all hope of rescue.”.
To say that the ship is in big trouble is an understatement!
• Luke also records that, “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days.”
• With the sun and stars hidden from sight in the darkness of the storm.
• It meant that navigation was impossible,
• They had no way of knowing where they were or where they were going.
• This crew and passengers were wet, cold, tired, frightened and battered individuals.
• Being unable to navigate seemed to be the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’.
• And we are told that they: “…finally gave up all hope of being saved”.
• Those on board knew,
• That this was no small storm that they could ride out!
• It was a monster of a storm!
• There hope of being saved was gradually fading away!
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”.
(5). The speech (vs 21b-26).
After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and spoke.
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”.
• Both passengers and crew were hungry.
• They had gone a long time without food.
• They were unable to prepare food in the height of the storm,
• And lots of their provisions were thrown overboard to lighten up the ship.
Paul then chose this moment to stand up to speak:
• It did not matter if you were a professional sailor or an amateur,
• They are all just a group of desperate men fighting for their lives.
• When all else fails, you call for the preacher!
Ill:
• In the military it is often said, "There are no atheists in foxholes."
• The adage suggests that in times of extreme stress or fear,
• People suddenly have belief in a higher power.
• These sailors were tough hardened seamen,
• But in there “foxhole" these sailors are prepared to listen to anyone – even a preacher!
Now the news the apostle Paul delivers is not at first good news!
• He says, “The ship will be lost!”
• But…” all on board will be safe!”
• To all of those listening that may have seemed like wishful thinking.
• So, in verses 23-24 Paul backs up his statement by saying.
• This is not just hopeful words but rather he had received this news by divine revelation!
• God had made him a promise that he would get to Rome!
• And God always keeps his promise!
'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.'
• If those on board (the sailors, the soldiers and the other passengers), stick with him,
• Then they too would benefit from the Lord's protection.
Then, the apostle Paul gives details of what will happen and what they must do.
• Verse 26:
• “Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island”.
• Later in Verse 43-44:
• “He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.”
• “The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship.”
• And the conclusion in verse 44:
• “In this way everyone reached land safely.”
• Quote Joseph Parker:
• “Paul began as prisoner and he ended up as captain”.
Application:
Question: How do you ride out a storm?
Answer: With a good anchor!
• Verse 17: “the experienced captain ordered that they deploy a “sea anchor””.
• Not all the translations of the Bible mention the “sea anchor”.
• Some translators, being theologians and not mariners,
• Did not know the name or purpose of this piece of equipment,
• Some translations refer to the lowering of “gear”.
Ill:
• The sea anchor is like a parachute that is tied from the stern of the ship,
• It creates drag.
• This would have lessened the rate of drift considerably,
• Hopefully allowing the storm to pass over them,
• And that they would again enjoy safe seas before approaching land.
• It would also create drag on the stern.
• And thus keep the ship pointing in the direction of the storm,
• Preventing the waves from hitting it along its side
Quote:
• Mark Gatt in his excellent online look at this incident.
• He looks at the ship and the sailing references and details that abound in this narrative.
“In my humble opinion,
the sea anchor is the mechanism that brought the Apostle Paul’s ship to Malta”.
• Source:
• St Paul’s voyage and shipwreck: the ship and its wise captain (timesofmalta.com)
• https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/St-Paul-s-voyage-and-shipwreck-the-ship-and-its-wise-captain.638728
• TRANSITION: Well good use of an anchor,
• Maybe a human explanation of what helped keep the people on board alive.
• But the Bible says it was that & super-natural deliverance that made all the difference.
Ill:
• In Bible times when the sailors went to sea, the anchor always went with them.
• To leave without the anchor would mean suicide.
• Likewise, to go through life without "The Anchor" is foolish and suicidal!
• In Bible times, the Greeks used stones to anchor the boats.
• The Romans used iron and some ancient ships had as many as eight anchors.
• Note: And above the transverse bar on the anchor was the letter "E".
• It was an abbreviation for the word "Elpis" which was the word for hope.
• In other words, that anchor gave you hope!
Ill:
• In all the celebrations during the Platinum jubilee and the funeral tributes,
• We were reminded again & again that Queen Elizabeth II called her Christian faith,
• “An inspiration and an anchor” of her life.
Question: What is your anchor through the storms of life?
Answer: Every Christian has at least two anchors!
First: Our anchor is Jesus Christ!
• The author of the New Testament book called Hebrews.
• Likens our hope in Jesus to the ship's "sure and firm” anchor.
• Hebrews chapter 6 verse 19:
• “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
• When we have hope in Jesus,
• Even though circumstances in our life are stormy,
Ill:
• Most of us never use an anchor.
• ill: But we all know what it is to be anchored by a seat belt in turbulence on a plane,
• ill: We know that a building needs a strong foundation to stay standing,
• ill: We know a climber needs a safety rope (and we could go on).
• You and I need an anchor in our soul.
• To keep us stable and confident through the good and the bad of life.
• Our anchor is steadfast - the Lord Jesus Christ,
• Who never changes; “He is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
• Although my circumstances are constantly changing.
• My life is anchored and attached to something that will never move,
• Never change and never let go.
• Our anchor, our hope is safe and secure in Jesus Christ!
Second: Our anchor is God’s word (vs 22-26):
• We might not have visions or angelic visitors to reassure us.
• But we all have the Word of God (The Bible) – it is there in black & white!
• Therefore, more certain than visions or experiences that can be questionable.
• This book is our anchor and guide through the storms of life.
• Neglect it at your peril!
Note: Paul shared God’s word with the crew and passengers (vs 22-26):
• “This Book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation,
• The doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
• Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding; its histories are true,
• And its decisions are immutable.
• Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy.
• It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.
• It is the traveller’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass,
• The soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character.
• Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.
• Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.
• It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.
• Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully.
• It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.
• Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty tomb,
• To a resurrected life in Christ, yes, to glory itself, for eternity.”
Punchline:
• When the sailors went to sea, the anchor always went with them.
• To leave without the anchor would mean suicide.
• Likewise, to go through life without "The Anchor" is foolish and suicidal!
• Challenge: Make Jesus Christ your anchor!
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=pVdneaaZdC0Q37TIBqvPz93wvxuUHvP6
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/iQuHnnEOGFw
