ACTS

ACTS 27

Act 27:1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
Act 27:2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
Act 27:3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

This is the mercy and kindness of God in action. God touches the heart of this Julius to treat Paul with kindness in allowing him refreshment. When we read these accounts in Acts we sometimes forget that these apostles had needs the same as most humans do. They needed rest, they needed to eat, drink, sleep and take a bath like we do everyday without thinking about it. Paul couldn't jump in a hot shower and change into clean clothes. They had to go days without a bath.

Also in that day jailers were allowed to torture and harass prisoners if the authorities ask them to and probably they often did it without the consent of authorities. It wasn't like the prisons in the United States where a guard abusing a criminal would result in the loss of his job and prosecution by the government.

Act 27:4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
Act 27:5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
Act 27:6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
Act 27:7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
Act 27:8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
Act 27:9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
Act 27:10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

The spirit of God spoke to Paul. If Paul had not have been with them, none would have been saved. It pays to be around a praying person when tragedy strikes.

Act 27:11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

Sound familiar? The educated world of today believes the report of evolutionary scientists rather than those that believe in God and know of His creation. They are blind to the fact that the Holy Spirit knows all things and will only reveal the truth to those that have come God's way, the way of Jesus Christ. I don't care how politically correct that may sound. I didn't say it, the bible says it: There is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved. We can't receive the Holy Spirit without being saved by faith in Jesus so if we do not have the Holy Spirit abiding within us, how can we possibly know anything worthy knowing since He is the spirit of truth.

Act 27:12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the southwest and northwest.
Act 27:13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
Act 27:14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
Act 27:15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
Act 27:16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
Act 27:17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, struck sail, and so were driven.
Act 27:18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
Act 27:19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
Act 27:20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
Act 27:21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

If only people would listen now to those that warn of trouble ahead and we need to prepare ourselves and get right with God. There is not a day to lose. Yet we are laughed at and called names.

Act 27:22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.

Because of Paul God had mercy on them and still was showing a way of deliverance. We can count it a privilege when God gives us a second chance to repent from dead works and live for Him.

Act 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

I notice that angels usually come in times of great danger. They never preach false doctrine or change anything already written.

Act 27:24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

According to the word of God, not one would die or fall overboard.

Act 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
Act 27:26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
Act 27:27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
Act 27:28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
Act 27:29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
Act 27:30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under color as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
Act 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

We can say that except we abide in Christ we cannot be saved.

Act 27:32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

This time they listened to Paul.

Act 27:33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
Act 27:34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
Act 27:35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
Act 27:36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
Act 27:37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
Act 27:38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
Act 27:39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
Act 27:40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
Act 27:41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmovable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
Act 27:42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
Act 27:43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
Act 27:44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

It seems that danger came not only from the sea and the storms but from the soldiers themselves who would have killed all prisoners if not for the fact that one valued the life of Paul and would not consent to such a plan.

There is nothing like reading the book of Acts to see that when Paul ran into trouble he didn't sit and pout, whine or complain, he made use of everything that happened and continued to use those opportunities to preach the gospel. When he went to prison, he preached to the jailers, when he was shipwrecked, he preached to the sailors, when he was brought to trial he preached to the judges.

Why was this so important to him and others who preach the gospel? Because if no one hears the gospel, no one can be saved. If no one is saved then all will die and be lost forever in eternity. So to Paul it was a life or death matter. If he died (Paul) he would be with Christ but if people die without Christ, they would be in hell.

Acts 28