STARTING FOR ROME - ACTS 27

Acts 27
Starting For Rome



Once Agrippa was finished hearing Paul, Festus had the praetorian guards deliver Paul to a Roman centurion for the voyage to Rome. This centurion, named Julius, found a ship in Caesarea heading back to the port of Adramyttium in Asia. It was the type of ship that stayed close to the coast rather than sail in open seas.



Luke was with Paul, as seen by the use of “we” in verse 3.



Also with Paul was Aristarchus, who was from the church in Thessalonica. (1) There are several mentions of him in connection with Paul. Aristarchus had been seized by the mob at Ephesus and taken into the theater (Acts 19:29). He returned with Paul from Greece to Asia (Acts 20:4). Paul later wrote that Aristarchus was Paul's fellow prisoner and fellow laborer. (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24)

The ship sailed north from Caesarea to Sidon in Lebanon and stopped there. Julius allowed Paul to leave the ship to see believers in Sidon and be cared for. (3) They may have given Paul food for the journey in addition to friendship.

Leaving Sidon, things got difficult as the winds turned agains them. They sailed “under the lee” of Cyprus, meaning on the side that protected them from the wind. From Cyprus, the sailed across a stretch of open sea to reach Myra, a port on the south side of what was then known as Lycia, and now as southern Turkey. (5)



At Myra, Julius the centurion found a ship from Alexandria sailing for Italy. This was likely a grain ship. Egypt grew most of the wheat for Rome and shipped it via the sea.




Julius got Paul, his friends, and Julius’ soldiers on board. There were other prisoners on board also, as we see later in the text. (6)

The wind continued to be a problem for the trip, blowing hard from the northeast and slowing the progress of the ship until they finally reached Cnidus. There they could not continue to sail northwest toward Italy because the wind was so strong. Therefore, they let the wind take them southwest to Crete, again sailing around the lee side of the island for protection. They made it to the port of Fair Havens on the outside of the island. (8)




Because the wind had made them travel slowly, it was too late in the year for safe travel across the sea to Italy. Luke wrote that the “Fast” was already over. He referred to the Day of Atonement. This would occur in September or October of the year, when storms were common on the Mediterranean Sea.

Because of this danger, Paul; advised staying in port rather than sail and risk destruction. The ship’s owner and pilot, however, wanted to press on because the harbor at Fair Havens was not good for spending the winter. They did not want to try and reach Italy, but did want to try and reach Phoenix on the western tip of the island. (12) Phoenix had a better port for spending the winter.

So they took off, staying as close to shore as possible. The plan did not work, however, for a storm from the northeast (a northeaster) drove them out to sea. They began to worry that the ship would fall apart in the rough seas. They pulled the ship’s boat (used to take passengers from the ship to land) up onto the deck and secured it. They also pulled cables around the ship to help hold it together. (17)
The storm continued to drive them west and, they feared, south. They worried about being driven onto the coast of Africa (Sirtis) and run aground, destroying the ship. (17) They were driven at the mercy of the wind. They began to jettison the cargo, likely barrels of wheat. They even threw equipment over to lighten the ship and come into ground riding as high as possible. As the storm raged on, they finally gave up all hope. (20)

At this low point, Paul again inserted himself into the situation. He inserted a “I told you so”, saying they should have listened to him.(21-22)

 But, he wanted them to take heart because an angel of the Lord had told him he would survive, along with all the people on board, even though the ship would be destroyed. (21) The angel told Paul he would stand before Caesar in Rome.

He urged them to run the ship aground on some island. On the 14th night of this stormy journey, the sailers began to think they were nearing some land. The water got more shallow. They did want to run aground in the dark, so they dropped anchors hoping to hold out until daylight. (29)

At this point, the sailors attempted to desert the ship. They lowered the ship’s boat into the sea, thinking they were close enough to land to make it if they were not hindered by passengers or soldiers. (30)

Paul alerted the centurion and his soldiers. Without the sailors, they would not survive. (31) The soldiers took drastic action, cutting the ropes and letting the boat go.

Paul encouraged the whole group to eat so they wold have strength for the remainder of the ordeal. he promised them they would not die. (34) To set an example, he took bread, gave thanks, and began to eat. The others followed his example. When they were all full, they threw the remainder of the wheat overboard to lighten the ship. (38)

At daylight, they saw land, a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship aground on the beach. They removed the anchors, unhooked the rudder, then hoisted the foresail to propel them to the beach. The foresail is a small sail at the front of the ship.



They didn’t make it, though, and grounded on a reef. The ship began to break up. It was clear they would end up in the sea.

When you think all is lost, despite God's promise, do you take matters into your own hands? Or do you continue to trust God?

The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners so they would not escape. They did not want to be punished for letting the prisoners escape. The centurion prevented that because he wanted to save Paul. He was grateful for all Paul had done. So, he sent everyone into the water, swimmers first, then non-swimmers holding on to whatever would float. And all of them made it to the land. (44)

The word of the Lord, spoken by an angel, and repeated by Paul, was completely fulfilled. The ship and the cargo were lost, but every person on board was saved.

Luke recorded this adventure in incredible detail. He wanted to show that God’s purpose of sending Paul to Rome must be fulfilled despite all of the circumstances that made it seem impossible.

As Daniel 4:35 says, “all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as noting, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitant of the earth, and none can stay his hand…”

God will accomplish his will in your life, also. Nothing can prevent that. Your job is to trust him even when the future looks bleak, and to be faithful to him.