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The Book of Acts
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BIBLE STUDY ACTS 27:1-44 REVIEW: Chapter 26 was Paul’s defense of his ministry before King Agrippa, Bernice, and the Roman governor Festus. It is his last major discourse in Acts. Luke obviously intends it to be the final summary of who and what Jesus is to Paul – and it literally fulfills Jesus’ prophecy in Lk. 21:12-15 that his followers will be “brought before kings and governors because of my name” and that this would give them “an opportunity to testify.” Paul begins by repeating his assertion that he is on trial because of his hope in the resurrection of the dead (and that Jesus is the fulfillment of that hope). This is not only literal – but he shows that this has happened spiritually in his own life. Before his conversion, he had been “dead” to God, but now through Jesus he was truly “alive” – his changed life is a resurrection! Paul recounts his conversion experience on the road to Damascus for the third time – and then states that his subsequent ministry was to call both Jews and Gentiles to turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. At the end of his defense, the Roman governor Festus calls Paul “insane” because of his assertion of Jesus’ resurrection. King Agrippa may agree with the “idea” of a resurrection, but does not heed Paul’s appeal to put his faith in Jesus. The chapter ends with both Festus and Agrippa agreeing about Paul’s innocence – and that he could have been set free if he had not appealed to the Emperor. CHAPTER 27:1-12 “Paul’s Final Journey Begins” “When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius. Embarking on a ship of Adramyttium that was about to set sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly, and allowed him to go to his friends to be cared for. Putting out to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. After we had sailed across the sea that is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy and put us on board. We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind was against us, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. Since much time had been lost and sailing was now dangerous, because even the Fast had already gone by, Paul advised them, saying, “Sirs, I can see that the voyage will be with danger and much heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. Since the harbor was not suitable for spending the winter, the majority was in favor of putting to sea from there, on the chance that they could reach Phoenix, where they could spend the winter. It was a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest.” This begins the last of the “we” sections. As in other personal narratives, Luke very specifically describes the details of the journey. Luke also seems to “highlight” the kindness of the Roman Centurion Julius – as I (Pastor George) have noted a number of times previously – Luke almost always show Roman centurions in a positive light (Lk. 7:1-10; Lk. 23:47; Acts 10:1-48). We also note how Luke seems to stress Paul’s authority – even though he is a prisoner. CHAPTER 27:13-26 “Perils at Sea” “When a moderate south wind began to blow, they thought they could achieve their purpose; so they weighed anchor and began to sail past Crete, close to the shore. But soon a violent wind, called the northeaster, rushed down from Crete. Since the ship was caught and could not be turned head-on into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven. By running under the lee of a small island called Cauda we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. After hoisting it up they took measures to undergird the ship; then, fearing that they would run on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and so were driven. We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard, and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss. I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it was be exactly as I have been told. But we will have to run aground on some island.” Commentators have wondered why Luke would recount the details of the storm in such detail. Be that as it may, the main point here seems to be that Paul took command, because he was the only one with any courage left. Why? Because he trusted in God. So it is with us. As Paul wrote in his famous passage from Romans: “Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom, 8:37-39) CHAPTER 27:27-44 “Shipwreck and Safety” “When the fourteenth night had come, as we were drifting across the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. So they took soundings and found twenty fathoms; a littler farther on they took soundings again and found fifteen fathoms. Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. But when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea, on the pretext of putting out anchors from the bow, 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 boat and set it adrift. Just before daybreak, Paul urged all of them to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been in suspense and remaining without food, having eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads.” After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat. Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves. (We were in all two hundred seventy-six persons in the ship.) After they had satisfied their hunger, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea. In the morning they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned to run the ship ashore, if they could. So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes that tied the steering-oars; then hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. But striking a reef, they ran the ship aground; the bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none might swim away and escape; but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest to follow, some on planks and others on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.” The most noteworthy thing shown in this passage is that Paul now seems to be the one in command - even telling the centurion and soldiers what to do. There are also overtones of the Eucharist in Paul's "giving thanks, breaking the bread, and eating it" - that somehow through this God gave courage to everyone in the midst of their fears. Finally, we note that Paul's earlier statement that there would be no loss of life but only the ship comes to pass - thereby once again showing that he is truly a prophet. -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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