ETB Acts 27:31-44

Session 13 p. 118 Trust

How do you respond to difficulties, fight, flight, or faith?

Discuss: What makes it difficult to trust God in every circumstance? (p. 118)

Transition: Paul had gone through a lot of tough times during his ministry. On his three missionary journeys, he constantly faced opposition and threats. This session focuses on another chaotic time for the apostle—and how he found joy by trusting God even in difficult circumstances. We’ll also see how his example can encourage us when we’re struggling.

Understand the Context

Paul’s journey to Rome was really just another missionary endeavor for him. As a Roman citizen, Paul had appealed his case to Caesar. For a Roman citizen, the emperor was the ultimate human authority on all matters concerning Rome or Roman law.

But Paul knew that God had a deeper plan. The journey to Rome for a trial was just a vehicle the Lord was using in His sovereignty and providence to get Paul before the emperor. If the mission of the early church was to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, witnessing to Caesar would be a milestone moment. [LifeWay Adults (2024). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide, Spring 2024]

A couple of weeks ago we discussed how Paul “knew” he was going to Rome and “knew” that hardships would be coming, but he did not know that part of those hardships would be in the traveling to Rome. Technically, as a prisoner, the apostle would have no legal authority over anyone else on the trip, especially not his jailers and escort. However, because of Paul consistent witness of God’s power and speaking the truths revealed to him, he had significant practical influence over the trip. This authority given by God over his captors allowed all present with him to be physically saved, and in turn some probably were saved spiritually.

After leaving port against Paul’s recommendation, the ship was caught in a significant storm.

Lexham Geographic Commentary on Acts through Revelation Mediterranean Sea Travel

weather on the Mediterranean Sea differs from one quadrant to another. Barry Beitzel points out that the northwestern quadrant remains quite stormy, even during the summer, while the southeastern quadrant is rarely stormy, even in winter. Ancient shipping manifests indicate that in the southeastern region of the Mediterranean Sea there was year-round open sea trade and travel. Generally speaking, we can conclude that some parts of the Mediterranean Sea were open for travel year-round, whereas some parts were dangerous for travel in the fall (September and October) and spring (between March and May), while the larger part of the Mediterranean was extremely dangerous between November and February.

As the storm raged around them, Paul offered a word of encouragement to everyone on the ship. An angel of God had promised to protect Paul regardless of the storm. In His grace, He also promised to protect every person on the boat. To make sure the people stayed safe, though, everyone had to stay on the ship. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Our passage joins Paul and Luke on the voyage just after Paul learns of some of the sailor’s deceptive plan to leave the ship.

Explore the Text

Acts 27:31–34 ESV

31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go. 33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.”

Despite Jewish anger toward Rome, centurions in the New Testament are portrayed in a positive light.Paul was placed in the custody of a Roman centurion named Julius (Acts 27:1). Centurions were Roman army officers generally placed in command of at least one hundred soldiers. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Assuming that Julius was not being transferred to another unit, most of those onboard the ship would be under his command and not the boat’s captain or owner.

I find it interesting that Paul addressed the centurion about the sailor’s actions and not the captain of the ship. I am not sure if there was some recognition on Paul’s part of his influence with the centurion or if there was an expected process for Paul as a Roman prisoner.

to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men

Centurion, soldiers, and “these men” are three different groups of men.

The Centurion was in command of the soldiers and the prisoners.

The “these men” were the sailors and possibly the captain.

Paul did not know what was coming but God did and prompted Paul’s declaration. We will see later how the truth of this statement is revealed.

you cannot be saved

The “you” in “you cannot be saved” is plural so Paul was warning that not only the Centurion, but all his men as well would be lost. The soldiers probably cut the ropes under orders.

This is a reminder to me that there may be times when I am more like the soldiers and do not have the skills or knowledge to be effective in the current situation and must rely on faith and others for a beneficial outcome. Other times, I am more like the sailors who need to remain in a bad situation for the benefit of others that cannot get themselves out of it.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twenty-Four: Paul Arrives in Rome (Acts 27–28)

We sometimes suffer because of the unbelief of others.

Second, storms have a way of revealing character. Some of the sailors selfishly tried to escape, others could only hope for the best; but Paul trusted God and obeyed His will.

Third, even the worst storms cannot hide the face of God or hinder the purposes of God. Paul received the word of assurance that they needed, and God overruled so that His servant arrived safely in Rome.

Finally, storms can give us opportunities to serve others and bear witness to Jesus Christ.

That is what Paul did.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 27

The ultimate reason for Paul’s deliverance was his testimony in Rome (cf. 19:21; 23:11). Therefore, whereas Jonah’s presence on the ship threatened to destroy everyone (Jonah 1:12), Paul’s presence assured everyone’s deliverance.

the ship’s boat

The ship’s boat was “man’s” solution to the situation; however it was not God’s.

Some English translation have lifeboat instead of boat, but it was used for more than just emergencies or rescues. I think version with “skiff” probably describes it the best as that lets us know it a small multi-purpose rowing vessel. These types of small boats were used often to transport men and goods back and forth to the land when the main ship could not come close to shore. It was however too small to transport all those on board effectively, so there was definitely a selfish intent to leave all the “non-sailors” to fend for themselves on the larger ship.

Courson had a practical insight into the symbolism of cutting away the boat. Sometimes it is necessary to remove distractions or opportunities that will prevent us from following God’s plan that He has already revealed to us. Dwelling on “our escape plan” instead of God’s revealed plan can lead us away from what is best.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Don’t Jump Ship!

if you keep an escape option open in your mind, I guarantee you will end up using it.

Think about divorce—and you will end up divorced.

Think about other men or other women you wish you had because you’re feeling tricked by the one you’re with—and inevitably, you’ll bail out.

Think about changing jobs, even though you gave your word—and you’ll miss out on what could have been.

Think about leaving home, even though that’s where God has you—and you’ll never see His reality.

Get rid of the lifeboats.

Cut the lines.

Paul recognized that it may have been disheartening to some to see the skiff float away empty. When the time was right, he spoke up and encouraged them about the coming morning.

Acts 27:34 “34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.””

Part of being an encourager or comforter is saying things in a “beneficial” way.

What did he just tell them was going to happen today?

He did not say “Take heart, the ship is going to sink so let’s all go ahead and eat.”

Take some food

Regardless of the reason, Paul encouraged the crew to take some time to eat. He recognized that there was still work to be done, and they would need all their strength in the hours to come. Paul’s encouragement marked the third time he had taken on an active leadership role during the voyage (see also vv. 9-10,31-32). [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Not a hair is to perish

Paul assured the passengers of their safety using an old proverbial phrase. You can find this same phrasing and meaning back in the book of Samuel and Kings, so it had been in use for a long time. It may have made its way from Jewish literature into the general speech over the centuries.

While the danger was real, none of them would suffer injury under God’s care. Believers can read this as a gentle reminder. The same power that harnessed the storm and kept the passengers safe brought Jesus out of the grave to provide salvation for humanity. We can trust God’s promises and be just as confident in His work as Paul was. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Transition: By encouraging the crew and the other passengers, Paul was also pointing them toward God. He knew the true Source of their rescue, and He wanted them to be as confident in God as he was.

Acts 27:35–38 ESV

35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

Paul took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and ate. This typical of Jewish tradition of the day, much like many believers say “Grace” before eating.

Although the words used for “taking bread and giving thanks” are the same as those used to describe the Lord’s Supper, it is doubtful with the people on board if that was Paul’s intent. Whether others participated with him or not, for Paul this meal was an act of worship and Luke in part recognized that. Visibly worshipping God in the midst of danger and among non-believers can be a powerful testimony to the strength of one’s faith. For Paul, it showed his complete trust in what God had revealed to him.

all were encouraged and ate some food

Paul’s optimism rooted in his faith in God proved to be contagious. Even those who did not follow Christ felt their spirits lifted. They had hope for the first time in at least fourteen days. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twenty-Four: Paul Arrives in Rome (Acts 27–28)

There are times when one dedicated believer can change the whole atmosphere of a situation simply by trusting God and making that faith visible.

Paul had told them about his vision, about their need for food, promised they would not die, and began eating in front of them.

Which of these would have encouraged you the most to eat as well, even if you were not physically feeling like it?

Ask: How was stopping to eat an act of faith? How did Paul lead by example?

The ESV reads “we”, the CSB of the books reads “us”.

What does that tell us about this account in Acts?

(27:37) By identifying the number of people on the boat, Luke was emphasizing the provision of God in the moment. God gave them food to eat, and He was giving them a promise of protection and rescue. With such a large number in such a perilous situation, God’s power and God’s grace took center stage in the narrative. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Once the eating was finished and all were “satisfied”, their belief in Paul’s words and actions went to the next level. Not only did they believe enough to eat, but they also were willing to cast out the rest of the provisions to further lighten the boat. They had kept this weight and food for 14 days even though they did not eat it or use it. Paul’s witness was very powerful.

When have you stepped out in faith, trusting God to provide for your needs? Did it help other’s trust God also?

Acts 27:39–44 ESV

39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. 41 But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. 42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 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, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

When it was day

Earlier, Luke had noted that those on the ship had gone days without seeing the sun or stars (v. 20). He also shared how men had been praying for light in the darkness (v. 29). Along with a meal, day may have added to their encouragement. If nothing else, the light gave them a better sense of what was around them. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

they did not recognize the land

After 14 days in a storm, it did not matter to them if the land they saw was friendly territory or not, they saw a place that could give them safety and possibly provisions and they headed for it.

Acts 27:40 “40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.”

I sailed enough in my younger years to understand what this verse decribes and how each event affects the ship. Admittedly the soldiers would have been physically able to accomplish these tasks, but “when” to do them and in “what order” is critical to get the ship toward the shore they wanted. This is the reason why it was critical for the sailors to stay on board until the next morning. The ship would have still run aground somewhere, but God needed it to run into the reef where it did to ensure that all the people could get to shore alive.

reef

The word “reef” in the ESV and “sandbar” in the CSB are just two of multiple words used for the place. The most literal translation is apparently “place of two seas.” This convergence would be observable from above the sea while still on the ship. Because of the slowing down of the currents it is a likely place for sand or coral to gather underneath the waves. These opposing forces would also add to it destructive ability to the ship later like bending a piece of thin metal back and forth in the same place over and over.

When circumstances get more difficult instead of getting better, we can choose steadfast trust in God. That’s hard on a human level. Only by depending on the Holy Spirit and having a personal relationship with Christ can we choose to live in faith, not fear. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

those who could swim

It is not unreasonable to think that only the sailors would have been adept swimmers. They would also know which way to swim without being carried out to sea or getting stuck in the crosscurrents as well. Once again, they were used by God to help save the rest of the group by going first and showing the path to safety.

on planks or on pieces of the ship

Without these pieces of debris and parts of the ship already available in the water from the crosscurrents between which God wedged the ship, many of the passengers would have died. Out the destruction of the vessel upon which they were standing, came the means of their salvation.

All were brought safely to land

Every person got to land safely, strengthening the reputation of Paul and Paul’s God. Paul continued to honor God through his words and actions on Malta, before finally being able to enter Rome (Acts 28). [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

The Open Bible Chapter 27

A shoal on the north side of Malta bears the name “Bay of St. Paul.” Since Paul’s visit in A.D. 60, without interruption, the inhabitants of the island have been Christian.

Ask: What spiritual disciplines or habits have helped you to trust God in the face of ongoing difficulty? (p. 125)

Apply the Text

God does not place us in the midst of “storms” of life for no reason. Courson had a nice synopsis of the possibilities.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 27

Storms of correction and perfection, storms of protection and direction—how can you know which one you might be in?

Talk to the Father.

Pray: Close in prayer, thanking God for His salvation and His reassurance in difficult times.

Help us the trust You more and know that You keep Your promises and are with us in the midst of any circumstance.

Guide and strengthen us to step out in faith and show others of our trust in Your provision for our needs.

When circumstances appear to be getting more difficult instead of getting better, remind us of Your love and grace that we can choose to remain steadfast in our trust of You.