The Stormy Sea

Text: Acts 27:1-44

Central Idea of the Text: Paul’s deliverance to Rome would come thru the trials of the Stormy Mediterranean.

Proposition: When Christians are stuck in perilous situations, Christ shines thru them all the brighter.

Purpose: All hearers should prepare for the storms they may face, to bring God’s peace, and to help the lost see the hope of Christ.

There are reasons we live in Nebraska.

We love football! We love cold weather! We love Runza!

We hate earthquakes! We hate mountains! We hate highly populous areas!

But I would say that among the things that we hate, hence we choose to live here? We hate the sea. Note I didn’t say the beach. I think everyone can appreciate a good beach. But the sea? That is another matter entirely.

We don’t often pause to think about it, because we live far from it. But unless you’ve done something wild and crazy, like joining the Navy, it’s likely you’ve not cared much for the sea at all. It is beautiful, and it is an adventure. But it is dangerous and deadly. People can traverse it, but they can’t control it. And people who travel constantly by sea? They are a different breed.

I was reminded of this when I watched the great seafaring movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. That film does a great job of depicting all of the challenges of sea life: from weather conditions, to weather emergencies, to equipment failures, to backstabbing and mutiny. It all takes place in a VERY SMALL space upon the water, and there is plenty that is out of a person’s control when you sail the waters.

But if you’ve lived in Nebraska, trying to avoid the risks and dangers of the waters? Too bad, because today’s text brings the adventure and danger of the sea to you. Open up your Bible to Acts 27, and let’s set sail with Paul as we start by reading the first 2 verses: [Read Text] This is the word of the Lord for us this morning.

Please pray with me: Lord, we come with gratitude that the journey that Paul took toward Rome would be seen through to completion. Yet it was not without danger and setbacks. Lord, you helped Paul to endure and thrive in the face of danger. Please help us and prepare us, that we would thrive under pressure like Paul. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Now, at the outset, just so you know, I’m not preaching just those two verses. We are going to note the whole chapter this morning, so I want you to keep your Bible open there and follow along at points with me to note some key happenings and quotes of this incredible story.

And what an incredible story it is! I was pining that there should be a movie made of this portion of Acts, because it would be gripping. You’ll see why as it unfolds and as I tell it this morning. One of the commentators I’ve been reading, Gareth Reece, notes that this description of ships, sea travel and seamanship “surpasses anything else in extant Greek and Roman literature … it’s nautical descriptions are authentic to the last detail.” What the movie Master and Commander are to helping us understand sea travel from 200 years ago, this text is to helping people 2000 years later understand sea travel. And it will be hard to sum up into 1 brief sermon, but I will do my best.

The journey begins with “we should sail” in verse 1. That “We” is important, because it means that Luke has joined the traveling party. None of Paul’s travels have been done without companions, and this trip would be no different. Paul’s imprisonment over the last 2 years, as noted back in Acts 24:23, had been one where Paul was a prisoner with some freedoms. He was not prevented from having visitors, and they would not be prevented from attending to his needs. Now at this point, Paul is also allowed two to travel with him: Luke who was likely considered a servant or slave of Paul’s for the purpose of travel with the prisoner, and Aristarchus of Thessalonica. Aristarchus is referred to in Colossians 4:10 as a fellow prisoner. So these three set sail as part of the prisoner contingent, under the care and authority of the Centurion, Julius, who the text says in verse 3: “treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.”

But to be clear, and to help us get the right picture, this is no pleasure cruise. There are two different ships involved. The one that handles the first leg of the trip is the “ship of Adramyttium” in verse 2, setting sail to the coastal cities up into Asia. It was made for passengers as well as cargo, but valued utility over comfort. No balcony, no pool, no desserts, no karaoke. It’s just there to get people up the coast between ports. But Julius sees to it that Paul and all of the prisoners make it to the port city of Myra. There, Paul boards a much larger ship. We see in verse 6 that they board “A ship of Alexandria”. These ships were known for transporting large amounts of grain from Egypt to the capital in Rome. From the other descriptions of these ships in ancient literature, it is estimated that these could transport between 1000-1100 tons of grain. Along with transporting grain, we know both from the scripture and historians like Josephus that these ships were capable of transporting 300-600 people without issue. Often, officers like Julius would be able to commandeer so much space for the transport of prisoners on a commercial ship, which he apparently does here. So, we need to get a picture of a LARGE sea vessel that could travel 7 knots with the wind at its back, but could also cut into the wind at a slower pace when necessary.

Between these two vessels, we can easily trace the path that Paul and his companions followed because Luke is such a good historian and recorded of these events. You can actually go and find all of these places and locations. Some of you with Google Maps may even pull up your phones and look at the satellite imagery and imagine navigating a path up this coast and around these Islands as verses 1-8 describe the journey: from Caesarea to Sidon, around the northeast corner of Cyprus, to Myra, navigating Isles around Cnidus, while finally rounding the eastern part of Crete to Salmone and finally to the port at Fair Havens.

It’s at this point that I want to pause. We are simply setting up everything that is to come, and it is the calm before the storm. What is about to happen is a storm of epic proportions. As we look at the rest of the story this morning, I simply want to examine Paul’s words and Paul’s actions. When Paul gets thrown into a situation that is largely out of his control, how will he react? That is what I want to examine both for Paul’s account, and for our own pattern of speaking, acting and reacting. How will we respond … when the storm comes?

When the Storm Comes … Know what time it is.

Now for the most part, it has been smooth sailing to this point. But Luke notes in verse 4, as they came around Cyprus, that the winds were against them. In verse 7, they arrived with difficulty off Cnidus. In verse 8, they came with great difficulty to Fair Havens. In other words. To get as far as they had gotten, it was a LOT of work. The wind was not with them. It’s at this point that we should note what Acts 27:9–10 tell us: “9 Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.””

Now, there is a lot of good info in those two verses: The voyage was now dangerous because the fast was over. The fast that is being referred to here is the fast related to the Day of Atonement, celebrated by the Jews. Wildly, we can actually determine exactly when this took place, because we know from Jewish calendars that the Day of Atonement in 60 AD would have been September 23. The observation here is that it is well into October, that great time of the changing of seasons and the winds. This is why they've been sticking close to the coast and using the isles for cover. It keeps them out of the worst of the winds that come from the Northeast and prevent travel toward Rome in the winter season. But now, the prospects are dicey. Even to this day, those who sail the Mediterranean refer to the period of September 14-November 11 as travel at your own risk time.

Paul can see what time it is. That’s why he speaks up and warns everyone. In essence: “We should not move forward. The wind is not in our sails. It is against us. If we try to fight it, there will be a lot of loss.” It doesn’t say that Paul receives some Revelation of the Holy Spirit in this moment to speak prophetically. He just knows what time it is. He’s using the mind that God gave him, and noting the circumstances, and bringing wisdom to bear on those who are commanding the ship.

Christians ought to know the times in full awareness and live accordingly. We are not called to be a group of people who sits idly in prayer and worship, or sits unengaged with the happenings. We ought to, as Paul does, speak warning, speak direction, speak wisdom when it is warranted. Listen to the words of Ezekiel 33:6 “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.” Those with eyes to see and Godly wisdom have a responsibility to speak up. We can look at the signs of the times (when danger, death, temptation or evil are near), and we can speak with right judgement and godly wisdom. Our faith is made to be applied to the times.

Paul has spoken, but will they listen? Nope. The Centurion, the pilot and captain all agree. We can’t winter here … too small. Not enough resources. We have to push forward to the west end of Crete and the more fully equipped port of Phoenix. And in not heeding Paul’s warning they really start to catch the blunt force of the fall winds. Verse 14-15 note “14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. 15 And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.” And that leads to what Paul will need to do next in reaction ...

When the Storm Comes … Project Hope.

What the entire ship and crew are faced with from this point is a hopeless situation. This very large ship is being carried along and away from their target port at Phoenix. The text vividly describes in verses 16-20, just how dark the situation is. The lifeboat, which was normally towed, had become waterlogged and had to be hauled on board. The next day, the storm continued and they lowered the gear, which likely means they lowered the equipment off the mast and brought down the yard arm (used for loading and unloading) thus trying to give the ship less pitch and roll in the gale. They also proceed to start tossing unessential cargo overboard. On the third day, as the storm was unrelenting, they threw over the tackle, which likely means all of the ship’s equipment that would have been unnecessary to their survival. Luke records in verse 20 that the situation was very bleak without sun or stars for days. This is depressing in and of itself, but when you consider how essential the sun and the stars are for navigation on the water? And to do all this work for several days without eating because of all the turbulence? It is especially disheartening.

After days in this situation, Paul finally speaks up. Look at his words in verses 21-26: “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss.” It is somewhat poetic that even in a situation like this one, Paul has to throw in a “see? I told you so!” But look what he follows it with in verse 22: “Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before 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 Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.”

Jesus taught his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount: “You are the Light of the World.” It’s a nice sentiment we sing with our kids in songs, but we rarely stop to think about what it means … that when the darkness is really dark, the Christian is meant to shine the brightest. And that is EXACTLY what we see Paul doing here. He speaks with surety a peace that only someone who knows for certain what God has shown him can speak. TAKE HEART he says. Don’t melt away in this moment. Don’t give up. This boat is pitching and rolling. Everything is dark. Everyone is sick, without a toilet to puke in. But it’s not lost, because God has shown Paul now for ANOTHER time via the revelation of an angel even now: “Paul will see ROME. He will stand before Caesar.” And Paul’s sure rock in the storm is: I HAVE FAITH IN GOD. This light of Paul’s is shining in the darkness. These are the words of someone whose life and faith are built on the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have at points put myself in the shoes of someone like Todd Beamer on Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. Some of you remember that he was the one who spoke to a group of passengers, realized what was happening, rallied them in the moment, and rushed the cockpit to bring that plane down rather than see it crashed into another building. If you had just a few short minutes to rally people, and shake them from despair, and bring them hope, would you speak Jesus to them, and speak of the hope we have to come. Would you give them a moment to call on His name for their salvation? Whether we would be in a situation like Paul, where we would like, or a situation like Todd, where we would die, hope is always at the core of the believer. When we are crushed it comes out. Paul is living out Romans 12:12, as we ought to as well. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Let your light of Christ shine in all moments, especially the darkest ones, and offer that hope to others.

But the storm is not over yet. They are very much in the thick of it. And it is in these days that follow that Paul exhibits another trait of the Christian in the storm ...

When the Storm Comes … Care for those in your care.

Now we read in verse 27, that the ship had been blowing to sea for two weeks. They were nowhere near land. And while some took heart as Paul’s earlier speech, some had their doubts, and some would look to preserve only themselves. We read in 27-32 of how the sailors (those responsible for the commanding of the ship and it’s operation) were taking soundings, measuring the depth of the water beneath the boat to see if they were near land. They did find themselves to be in water that was about 120 feet deep, followed by at the next measurement by water that was 90 feet deep. Land is getting close. But then, they planned something nefarious. The crew plotted to take the lifeboat, and get away, while leaving all of the roman soldiers and prisoners on board the ship to get dashed to pieces against the rocks. In the time of the people’s greatest need, the boatmen are about to abandon their post and leave the ship and everyone on it condemned to die.

But look at what Paul does. He sees past the ruse that they’ve played that they were just going above ship to let the anchors down. He knows they are trying to escape. And now, at this point, the Christian who is a prisoner speaks to those in command as a commander: Bring those men back. Make them stay on board. If they don’t stay, none of us live! And so that Roman soldiers follow Paul’s orders by cutting the lifeboat away and letting it blow off. Either we all live, or we all die. That is the pact that Paul has now led them into. And he follows that up by gathering everyone in the hold once again, and giving them these words in verses 33-34: “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. 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.’” In the midst of the hunger, the sickness and the darkness … Paul says it’s time to eat something. Everyone please do it. You will need your strength if we are to survive. And it is from that point that the 276 people on board take, and eat, and then dispose of the remaining cargo of the wheat, so that they may lighten the load and find land.

What is Paul doing during these difficult moments? He is still a shepherd. He is a leader. And he is looking out for all the people that God has entrusted to his care. This is what separates the men from the boys, and the sheep from the goats, is that even in difficult and tense moments, those who would follow Jesus would keep their heads, look to the needs of others over themselves, and either guide or aid in serving those who need it.

I suppose the instinct that we are talking about here is something of a parenting instinct. Perhaps you have seen it, if you have good parents, modeled in their lives. They have fed you before them, cared for you before themselves. They have put off selfish desires so that you might be cared for. If Christian character of sacrifice have been modeled, then they can be put into practice. Christ himself said in John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Yes, Christ does lay down his life for them. Only he can do that. But he models for us the care of the shepherd as well. As Psalm 23 says: the shepherd leads, feeds, guides, cares, prepares, comforts. He models for us this, and models it through shepherds like Paul, so that we may learn from the model. As I told you in the email I sent this past week to the church, one of the best ways we can be the church is by seeking to meet a need when we are able. Know of someone who’s family needs food, and have means to help? Then help as the Lord leads. And extrapolate this out into many ways and means of loving your neighbor.

All on board the Alexandrian had been through an incredible ordeal, but it was not over. Paul and his men with him would need to display one other trait in the midst of this storm.

When the Storm Comes … Be steadfast to do what is right.

It is at this point, in verse 39, that those on board the ship can see land, a bay with a beach. A place that we come to know in chapter 28 as Malta. The crew heads the ship into the bay, cutting off the last of the anchor weights, and planning to run the ship into the reef. But as the ship crashes the reef, it is apparent that there will be no easy departure, and the ship is going to break up. It is at this point, that we are reminded in verse 42, that this is no pleasure cruise. (not that you thought it was already). It is a prisoner cruise for some, and certainly there will be no escaping for them. For Roman soldiers to allow prisoners to go free would mean the death penalty for them. The plan is for the Romans then to just execute them right and the ship, then make a break for their lives. And that is what would have happened, had Paul not been there.

Note verse 43: “But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan.” Why? Well, I think the earlier part of the account speaks for itself. Paul is committed as one of them. They live and die together. He has encouraged them. He has given wise advice. He has cared for all of his fellow men on board. And now his reputation and credibility that he has built remind the Centurion that this Paul is a man who will ALWAYS do what is right. Including jumping off this ship, finding his way to land, and allowing us to take him and his fellow prisoners back into custody. It is from that realization that the centurion gives the order to all on board. Abandon ship! Swim for land! Or grab a piece of the ship that is breaking apart around you. And verse 44 says: it was in this way that ALL were brought safely to land.

The church, God’s people who claim Jesus as savior and Lord, must adopt a “no excuses” mindset. Our integrity matters to God, and he is our witness and judge in all things. Do not let the storms of this life wear you out from doing what is right. It is our integrity seen in moments of pressure that makes our lights shine all the brighter. Peter says it this way in 1 Peter 1:6–7 “6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while … you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Our integrity, offered under great pressure and under fire, is a great praise to God, and it displays an authentic faith. So train yourselves in the now for the trials that would come, that you would do what is right to the praise of our God … no matter what.

Closing:

This morning, we have been reminded in life’s storms, that when our lives are built on the rock, believers do not fall apart. We watch to understand the times we live in, and bring Godly wisdom and preparation to the situation. We project hope to others, so that they can see that there is reason to live and not despair in Christ. We care for those who need it in the storm, so that as our Lord has blessed us with wisdom and resources, we can be a blessing and care for others. And We do what is right in all circumstances, so that we might maintain our witness and point those around us toward Jesus.

That’s all well and good, you might say. But we are sitting in a building with heat. On land. In the middle of Nebraska. With no storms blowing in. Sure, there are troubles in the world, but not too many where we are at this morning. Doesn’t seem super applicable. And it won’t be. Until it is.

The most similar day that I’ve lived through related to the storm of Acts 27 happened in June 11, 2008. I was the dean of our camp week, in charge of 90 Campers and another 25 staff at Camp Nebowa, 2 hours north of us near Onawa, Iowa. It’s a pretty big deal, feeling responsible for not just the programming but also the safety of the campers at a week long camp. I remember the day well, because there had been thunderstorm warnings, and our manager Mark had the TV on in the kitchen, keeping an eye on the weather. Supper was at 6, but around 5:30, the skies were darker, the winds picked up, and we were generally alert that we were about to get pounded by rain. Campers were hanging out before supper, milling around. But at around 5:40: we saw coming out of the Northwest what looked like a wall of cloud. Very scary and unnatural. And the wind pressing hard with it. We put out the call for all the campers. Everyone to the dining hall. Once inside, we covered all the windows with the metal rolling shutters. We were sitting waiting to eat as the storm started to pound. We were flying blind. And the wind started to howl. And roar. All while sitting in a building that was basically a large Morton pole barn. And no other shelter to take the students to at a moments notice.

So what do you do, if you’re the overseer of 120+ people in that moment. Freak out? Melt down? You could. But that would help no one. So what did we do? We prayed. We passed out the food that had been prepared. And while the campers gleefully feasted as usual beneath the storm’s roar, myself and a few other more seasoned adults who understood the gravity of the situation silently prayed that God would deliver us. And we praise God that he did.

We were sitting, we would later come to find out, right under the storm that would feed the Tornado that hit the Little Sioux scout camp. Four boy scouts would die because of that storm that day. It was a very memorable and consequential day, because it led to our camp and many other camps focusing on building or having facilities that are safe spaces when tornadic storms strike. But it reminded me that in the storm, the Lord gave me a peace to lead that flock and not freak out. He helped me project hope, care for our campers, and rely on his provision to bring us through.

Here’s the thing about storms: The things that we do today, prepare us to weather the storms to come. If you wait until the storm comes to prepare for the storm, you will be listless, tossed and troubled. But if your heart is prepared by Christ and his salvation, by hope and by the joy that is ours in Jesus? You will stand firm as Paul did.

Where does that journey begin? It begins by being right with Christ. To know that he is your Lord and your Savior this day is the greatest joy and peace to every human heart. It begins when you say: “Jesus, I can’t save myself. I’m no good on my own. I’m filthy in my sin. And I need you to save me.” If that is you today, respond by either filling out a connect card, or by talking to myself or Zach after the service.

Helpful page on logistics: https://readingthebible2021.com/2021/12/14/acts-27-28/comment-page-1/