Acts 27
Summary for Acts 27:1-28:16: 27:1–28:16 a The vivid nautical language used throughout the account of Paul’s journey to Rome yields one of the best available accounts of an ancient sea voyage.• This is the last “we” section in Acts (see also 16:10-17 b; 20:5-15 c; 21:1-18 d). During the two years of Paul’s imprisonment, Luke had probably done much of the research for his Gospel throughout Judea and Galilee. Here, as a member of Paul’s sailing party, he was an eyewitness participant in the danger at sea. 27:1 e Julius is otherwise unknown.
• The Imperial Regiment (see study note on 10:1-8) served in Syria during this time.
27:2 f Aristarchus was a native of Thessalonica and a co-worker with Paul in Asia (see 19:29 g; 20:4 h, 6 i; Phlm 1:24 j).
• Adramyttium was a port on the west coast of Asia Minor southeast of Troas.
27:3 k Sidon, on the coast about 70 miles (110 km) north of Caesarea, was the first port of call. Julius treated Paul kindly and allowed his local Christian friends to care for him.
Summary for Acts 27:4-6: 27:4-6 l Luke describes in detail the sea voyage north and then west along the southern coast of Asia Minor.
• Myra was a regular stop for Egyptian grain ships bound for Italy.
27:7 m The great difficulty was due in part to the lateness of the season (27:9 n).
• Cnidus was a seaport on the southwestern coast of Asia Minor near the island of Cos.
• The cape of Salmone was located at the northeastern tip of Crete, the largest of the Greek islands.
27:8 o Fair Havens was a small bay on the southern side of the island of Crete.
27:9 p because it was so late in the fall: This was a dangerous time for a voyage on the Mediterranean.
Summary for Acts 27:10-11: 27:10-11 q Paul realized what would happen if they went on. He warned the ship’s officers, but they and the Roman officer were unlikely to listen to an imprisoned Jewish rabbi with no experience as a seaman. Later, however, they would respect him more (27:30-36 r, 42-43 s).
27:12 t The prevailing southeasterly winds made Fair Havens an unsafe place for ships to harbor in the winter, but Phoenix, a town farther up the coast of Crete, offered a better harbor.
Summary for Acts 27:14-16: 27:14-16 u The storm, called a “northeaster,” was of typhoon strength, very threatening to both the cargo and the crew. Forced to let the ship run before the gale, they sailed past a small island called Cauda (known today as Gaudos), south of Crete.
27:17 v Binding ropes around the ship’s hull (called frapping in nautical terms) was intended to strengthen it against the tremendous pressure of the storm.
• Syrtis refers to the shallow bays filled with sandbars off the coast of North Africa west of Cyrene.
Summary for Acts 27:18-20: 27:18-20 w The violence and persistence of the storm led to throwing the cargo overboard (cp. Jon 1:5 x) and the crew’s abandoning hope.
Summary for Acts 27:21-26: 27:21-26 y Paul addressed the crew, first scolding them for not listening to him (27:10-12 z) and then encouraging them with the angel’s assurance of survival for all of them.
27:27 aa The Sea of Adria, south of Italy and Greece and between Malta and Crete, is now known as the Ionian Sea.
Summary for Acts 27:30-32: 27:30-32 ab This time the soldiers listened to Paul (cp. 27:10-11 ac).
Summary for Acts 27:33-35: 27:33-35 ad Paul’s words and actions are those of a true leader who personally assesses a perilous situation, decides on action, and leads others in solving the problem (cp. Neh 1–3 ae; contrast Jon 1 af). Paul’s positive example and strong faith in God (Acts 27:22-25 ag) encouraged the others to eat and take heart.
Summary for Acts 27:36-37: 27:36-37 ah The food brought renewed strength and encouragement to the frightened and exhausted crew and prisoners.
• all 276 of us: The exact number of persons onboard fits well with what is known of grain ships of the period.
Summary for Acts 27:39-41: 27:39-41 ai They ran the ship aground on a shoal or reef.
Summary for Acts 27:42-44: 27:42-44 aj Even in a crisis, the prisoners remained the responsibility of the soldiers (see 12:19 ak; 16:27 al; 27:32 am; see study note on 16:27). Fortunately, the commanding officer intervened on their behalf. It was a clear indication of God’s protection and favor that all 276 people made it safely to shore, precisely fulfilling the angel’s promise (see 27:24 an).
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