Headed To Rome
Notes
Transcript
In Chapter 26, we found out that Paul had appealed to Caesar. If he didn’t, King Agrippa said that he might have very well been released, but God had a plan in all of these things. So now here in Chapter 27, Paul is going to travel, under Roman guard supervision by ship to Italy. This Chapter is going to show us how God continued to work through Paul to make a difference in other people’s lives, even when captive and considered a fugitive.
Read Acts 27:1-8
Here on the slide, we can see exactly what route the ship took as the worked their way through the Mediterranean Sea:
Work through the text, pausing to show each location along the way...
The personal pronoun we, suggests that Luke accompanied Paul on this journey. We are also told that another one of Paul’s fellow travelers were with them as well, a Macedonian of Thessalonica named Aristarchus.
This journey was difficult as the winds forced the ship to stay close to land almost the whole way, but I can see where this might have been by design. Paul was able to sail right by his own homeland of Cilicia (vs. 5), as well as many other regions where God had enabled him to take the Gospel. He was even granted the freedom to speak with some of those from the churches of those regions when the ship was at port (vs. 3).
Read Acts 27:9-12
Many days were lost while ported at Fair Havens, because they were waiting for the winds to change. Without the right winds to push the boat in the right direction, setting sail was pointless. Though we take so many things for granted today, something as simple as the right direction of wind could put a halt to an entire journey in these times.
In fact, so much time had been lost that they had entered the danger season for sailing, which is the meaning of the reference to the Fast (The Day of Atonement):
For ancient sailing vessels, travel was problematic and dangerous from mid-September to mid-November. All sailing in the open sea ceased from mid-November until at least February. Inasmuch as the Day of Atonement fell in late September or early October, Paul’s ship was already well into the danger period.
It was at this time, that Paul spoke up for the first time offering guidance to those who were supposedly in charge. Notice that on this trip, Paul was not recognized as the leader, but rather just a prisoner. Paul explains, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.”
This could have very well made sense seeing that they were dangerously close to the end of the sailing season, but Paul was speaking from a place much deeper than that. Paul was known to have a direct line to God, receiving direction and instruction from Him on a regular basis. Paul was not trying to hinder their advance towards Caesar, but rather shared this information out of general concern for their lives.
But since he was not the man in charge, the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul (vs. 11). Another key piece of evidence that played a factor in their decision to travel on was that the port here at Fair Havens was not suitable to winter in (vs. 12). This meant that the harbor provided very little shelter from the winds during the winter season. Therefore, the majority advised to set sail from there with hopes of making it to a more secure harbor of Crete (vs. 12), to where they could wait out the winter months.
Bad is not great, but bad could always be worse. Staying in a port with little shelter was bad, but becoming shipwrecked is worse. Paul, through divine revelation, was trying to warn them of what was to come if they pushed on but the hope of making things better clouded the word they received from him. When faced with life decisions, we must be careful to go with God, regardless of what the worldly signs point towards. Sometimes, this might mean that we do something that doesn’t make sense, but God knows all and will lead us through the trials of life with safety if we allow Him to.
Read Acts 27:13-26
It seemed that their decision to push on was accurate as a south wind blew softly, so they put out to sea and sailed close by Crete (vs. 13). But not long after, a tempestuous wind arose causing them not to be able to continue course (vs. 14-15). It was such a strong wind, that they had to let her drive (vs. 15).
The sailors received a short time of reprieve as they found the shelter of an island called Clauda (vs. 16). They used this time wisely and secured the skiff (vs. 16), which was a small lifeboat that usually towed behind the larger ship. They also took this time to undergird the ship, and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven (vs. 17).
This storm that they found themselves in did not let up any time soon. Over the course of the next few days, they lightened the ship (vs. 18), throwing overboard anything that was not considered absolutely necessary for their survival. After being tossed to and fro for many days…all hope that we would be saved was finally given up (vs. 20).
Paul seeing the desperation in these men used this time to speak up. Though not in a position of leadership on the boat, his words offered hope, springing him into a position of leadership regardless: “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this desaster and loss. And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night and angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. However, we must run aground on a certain island.” (vs. 21-26)
Read Acts 27:27-38
After 14 days of being driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea (vs. 27), they sensed that they were getting near some land. It was at this point that they started to check the depth of the water and sure enough, the water was getting more shallow by the minute. They still couldn’t tell where they were or what type of ground they were about to run upon, so they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come (vs. 29).
But some of the sailors, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, let down the skiff into the sea (vs. 30). They wanted off of that ship by any means necessary, but Paul spoke up and said their safety could only be guaranteed if they remained on the ship (vs. 31). So the soldiers cut away the ropes to the skiff and let it fall off (vs. 32).
Paul, still being generally concerned for them, urged them to eat because they had not eaten in fourteen days. So he took bread and gave thanks to God. After he had eaten, they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves (vs. 36). Paul had proven his love for them through his actions, and because of this, they were all now looking to him for leadership. He had won their hearts!
Read Acts 27:39-44
Once daylight had broke, they observed a bay with a beach, and decided their best move was to try to run the ship aground there. They let go the anchors and headed that way, but they ran the ship aground before they could reach it and the ship was being broken into pieces by the violence of the waves (vs. 41).
The Roman soldiers first instinct was to kill all of the prisoners so that none would get away once they got to shore, but the centurion’s heart had been won by Paul, so he kept them from their purpose (vs. 43). He rather instructed all of those who could swim to jump overboard and head for shore, the rest would have to grab onto something that would float and make their way best they could. As Paul had prophesied earlier, they all escaped safely to land (vs. 44).
God protects his own. In this life, there are cups and there are saucers. When coffee spills over from the cup, it runs down onto the saucer. The saucers should be thankful to the cups for what filling they receive.
Those who are saved are constantly being poured into by God. The saucers are those who are in the direct influence of those who are saved. Because the saved receive blessings from God, those who are under their direct influence also receive those blessings indirectly. They should be thankful for those who are faithful in their prayers and have a strong relationship with the Lord, because they too receive benefit from that.
Are you a cup, or are you a saucer?
