‏ Acts 27

Paul's Voyage towards Rome

After Paul's meeting with King Agrippa, he was sent to Rome because he had appealed to Cæsar. The exact time between these events is not given, but it seems they sent him as soon as possible. While waiting, Paul stayed with his friends in Cæsarea, bringing comfort to them and receiving encouragement himself. This section describes how Paul began his journey to Rome, who traveled with him, and the early part of the voyage.

v. 1: Paul was put under the care of Julius, a centurion from the Roman army. Julius was responsible for Paul and other prisoners who were also being sent to Rome. They boarded a ship from Adramyttium, which was a port city in Asia Minor. Paul was not alone; Luke, who wrote the book of Acts, and Aristarchus, a believer from Thessalonica, traveled with him. It was a comfort for Paul to have friends with him, even though he was surrounded by other prisoners and soldiers. Sometimes, innocent people are treated like criminals, just as Jesus was crucified between two thieves (Luke 23:32 ^a).

v. 2: The ship set sail and stopped at Sidon the next day. Julius, the centurion, was kind to Paul and allowed him to visit his friends in Sidon so he could refresh himself. This shows that God can give his people favor even with those who have authority over them (Psalm 106:46 ^b). Paul did not try to escape, but kept his promise and returned to the ship, showing his honesty and trustworthiness.

v. 3–6: From Sidon, they sailed near Cyprus because the winds were against them. They could not take a direct route, so they had to go around the island. At Myra, a city in Lycia, they changed ships and boarded an Alexandrian ship that was sailing to Italy. Alexandria was a major city in Egypt, and its ships often carried grain and goods to Rome. This new ship would take them on the next part of their journey.

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v. 7–8: The voyage was slow and difficult because of bad winds. It took them a long time to reach Cnidus, and then they had to sail south of Crete, passing by Salmone. Finally, they arrived at a place called The Fair Havens, which was a harbor on the island of Crete. Even though the place was pleasant, it was not a good harbor to spend the winter in, because it was exposed to bad weather. This reminds us that not every "fair haven" in life is truly safe or the final destination (Psalm 107:30 ^c).

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v. 9–10: By this time, much of the sailing season had passed, and it was dangerous to continue. The Jewish Day of Atonement, a time of fasting, had already happened, which means it was late in the year and storms were common. Paul warned the crew and passengers, saying, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the cargo and ship, but also of our lives (Acts 27:10 ^d). Paul may have known this by experience or by a message from God. He cared about everyone on board, both good and bad, because all were in danger together.

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v. 11–12: However, the centurion did not listen to Paul’s advice. Instead, he trusted the ship’s captain and owner, who wanted to continue the journey. They thought Paul did not know about sailing, even though he had traveled a lot and knew the area well. Sometimes, people respect good leaders but do not follow their advice. The harbor at Fair Havens was not comfortable for winter, so they decided to try for a better port, even though it was risky. This shows that people often choose what seems pleasant over what is truly safe.

Paul's Voyage towards Rome

In this part of Paul's journey, the ship leaves the Fair Havens to try to find a better place to spend the winter. At first, the weather looks good, but soon a terrible storm hits. The people on the ship do everything they can to survive, but the situation becomes desperate. This story shows how quickly things can change at sea and how human plans can fail when faced with the power of nature.

v. 12: The crew decided to leave the Fair Havens because it was not a good place to stay for the winter. Even though it was pleasant in summer, it was not safe in winter. Most of the people on the ship wanted to try to reach another harbor called Phenice, which was thought to be better protected from the wind. Sometimes, people risk greater danger to avoid a small inconvenience. They set out, hoping for a short and safe trip.

v. 13: At first, things looked promising. A gentle south wind began to blow, so they thought it was safe to continue. They sailed close to the coast of Crete, feeling confident because the weather seemed perfect. But even when things look good, we should not be too sure of success, because storms can come suddenly (Acts 27:13 ^e).

v. 14–15: Suddenly, a violent wind called Euroclydon, a strong northeast storm, struck the ship. The wind was so powerful that the ship could not face it, so they had to let the ship be driven by the storm. This shows how quickly things can change, and how little control people have over nature. God can use storms to show his power and to fulfill his plans (Psalm 135:7; Psalm 148:8 ^f).

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v. 16–17: The ship was blown near a small island called Clauda. The sailors worked hard to bring the lifeboat on board so it would not be lost. They also tied ropes under the ship to hold it together, afraid it might break apart in the storm. They lowered the sails and let the ship be carried by the wind, hoping to avoid running into dangerous sandbanks (Acts 27:16-17 ^g).

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v. 18–19: The storm was so bad that the next day they began to throw cargo overboard to make the ship lighter. On the third day, they even threw out the ship’s equipment. People will give up their possessions to save their lives, but sometimes they are not willing to give up things for God. In times of trouble, the wealth of this world cannot save us (Ecclesiastes 5:13; Hebrews 10:34 ^h).

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v. 20: The storm continued for many days, and they could not see the sun or stars. This made it impossible to know where they were. The people on the ship lost all hope of being saved. They were so afraid that they could not even eat, even though there was food on board (Acts 27:20 ⁱ). Paul did not stop the storm by a miracle, because miracles were meant to confirm the message about Jesus, not just to make life easier for the apostles.

Paul Warns and Encourages the Crew During the Storm

This section describes how Paul encouraged everyone on the ship during a violent storm at sea. After many days of danger and despair, Paul shared the message that God had given him through an angel. He assured the people that, although the ship would be lost, no one would lose their life. Paul’s faith and leadership helped give hope to all on board.

v. 21: After the people on the ship had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up and reminded them that they should have listened to his earlier advice not to sail from Crete. He tells them that if they had listened, they would have avoided the damage and loss they were now facing. Paul’s words are not to blame them, but to prepare them to trust his advice this time.

v. 22: Paul encourages everyone to take heart and not give up hope. He tells them that even though the ship will be lost, none of them will die. Paul’s confidence comes from what God has revealed to him, not from his own guesses.

v. 23–24: Paul explains that an angel of the God he serves appeared to him during the night. The angel told him not to be afraid, because he must stand trial before Caesar in Rome. The angel also said that God had graciously given the lives of all those sailing with Paul. This means that everyone on the ship would be saved because of God’s promise to Paul.

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v. 25: Paul tells the people again to have courage and not be afraid. He says he believes God, and he is sure that things will happen just as God promised. Paul’s faith is strong, and he encourages others to trust God’s word as well.

v. 26: Paul warns that the ship will run aground on an island. Even though they will be shipwrecked, they will survive. Paul’s message helps the crew and passengers prepare for what will happen next, and gives them hope to keep going in the storm.

The Ship Approaches Land in the Storm

v. 27–29: After two weeks of being battered by the storm, the ship’s crew and passengers were exhausted and fearful. On the fourteenth night, as they were driven across the Adriatic Sea, the sailors sensed they were nearing land. They measured the depth and found it was getting shallower—first twenty fathoms, then fifteen. Realizing the danger of crashing onto unseen rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and anxiously waited for daylight. This shows how, even in darkness and uncertainty, God provides natural signs and prompts us to hope for deliverance. Like the sailors, when we cannot see the way forward, we should anchor our souls in hope and wait for God’s light (Hebrews 6:19 ^j).

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v. 30–32: Some of the sailors, fearing for their own lives, tried to abandon the ship under the pretense of lowering anchors from the bow. Their plan was to escape in the lifeboat, leaving the rest behind. Paul saw through their scheme and warned the centurion and soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” The soldiers immediately cut the ropes and let the boat drift away. This teaches us that God’s promises often include the use of ordinary means—here, the sailors’ skills were necessary for everyone’s survival. Trusting God does not mean neglecting wise action; we must do our part while relying on His providence.

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v. 33–34: As dawn approached, Paul urged everyone to eat, reminding them that they had gone fourteen days without proper food due to fear and anxiety. He encouraged them, “Take some food; you need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” Paul’s words combined practical wisdom with spiritual assurance. In times of crisis, caring for our physical needs is not a lack of faith but a necessary preparation for the challenges ahead.

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v. 35–36: Paul took bread, gave thanks to God in front of everyone, broke it, and began to eat. His public act of gratitude and calm faith encouraged the others, so that all 276 people on board were cheered and ate as well. Paul’s example shows the power of visible faith and thankfulness to inspire hope in others, even in desperate circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ^k).

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v. 37–38: The total number of people on the ship was 276. After eating, they lightened the ship by throwing the remaining wheat into the sea, making it easier to run aground safely. Sometimes, we must let go of even valuable things to preserve life and fulfill God’s purposes.

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The Shipwreck and God’s Deliverance

v. 39–41: At daybreak, they saw a bay with a sandy beach and decided to run the ship aground there. They cut loose the anchors, untied the rudders, hoisted the foresail, and made for the beach. The ship struck a sandbar and stuck fast; the bow was immovable, and the stern was broken apart by the waves. Even when we see hope ahead, we may still face final trials before deliverance. Yet God’s word stands sure.

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v. 42–43: The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any from escaping, since they would be held responsible. But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, stopped them and ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The centurion’s favor toward Paul resulted in the salvation of all the prisoners, showing how God can use the respect for one righteous person to bless many (Genesis 39:5 ^l).

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v. 44: The rest of the people reached land safely, some swimming, others clinging to planks or pieces of the ship. In the end, everyone escaped safely, just as God had promised through Paul. This remarkable deliverance highlights God’s faithfulness and power to save, even when all human hope seems lost. The ship was lost, but every life was preserved, reminding us that God’s purposes will stand, and His promises never fail.