Acts 27 - God’s Warnings Through Godly Counsel

Genesis 1:27

Introduction

Illustration: “In June 2023, the world watched as the submersible Titan, on its way to explore the wreckage of the Titanic, disappeared with all five people aboard. Later investigations revealed the owner and designer had repeatedly ignored warnings from engineers and safety experts over the years. Despite advice about the vessel’s dangerous design and untested materials, these were brushed aside because of confidence in their own expertise—and the tragedy cost everyone their lives.*

This is what can happen when we ignore wise warnings. It’s not always dramatic or immediate, but it’s always destructive. The same principle is at work in spiritual matters. In Acts 27, Paul’s warning was ignored—and nearly everyone aboard suffered as a result. Let’s look at what happens when we dismiss God’s counsel, and how His mercy extends even to those who have ignored Him.

Literary Connection: “Stories of stormy sea voyages grip us—not just in the Bible, but in classics like The Odyssey and The Aeneid. Homer writes of Odysseus braving storms sent by Poseidon. Virgil describes Aeneas suffering shipwrecks as he journeys to found Rome. Paul’s story reads like a ‘Christian epic’—but with a crucial difference: its aim is not just heroism, but obedience to God amidst chaos.”

Big Idea: Ignoring God's warnings through godly counsel leads to unnecessary suffering and loss—but His mercy ensures deliverance for His people and grace even for those who reject it.

1. The Gift of Godly Counsel

Scripture: “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)

Acts 27:9–10 “Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 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.””

Explain: In epic literature such as The Odyssey and The Aeneid, heroes often receive counsel from gods. Similarly, Paul receives a message from the one true God (Acts 27:23–24 “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.’” )—but unlike the epics, this is not myth or legend, but verifiable, historical guidance meant to save lives.

"It is a blessed thing to have a friend who will tell you of your faults, to have one who will not flatter you but will faithfully let you know wherein you do not walk according to the truth." —Charles Spurgeon

Application: Who are the people God has placed in your life to speak truth, warn, and point you to faith? Epic heroes sought divine messages—how much more should we value godly, Bible-rooted counsel?

2. The Danger of Worldly Wisdom

Scripture:

(Acts 27:11, ESV)“But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.” 

(Proverbs 14:12, ESV)“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” 

Compare & Contrast (Literary Illustration):I n The Odyssey and The Aeneid, human wisdom and expertise are often overruled by fate or divine intervention. Odysseus and Aeneas know the sea is unpredictable, but survival depends on heeding the gods. In Acts 27, the experts—the ship’s pilot and owner—are trusted above the godly wisdom of Paul. The difference? In the Gospel, God’s wisdom is knowable, not capricious. He speaks clearly, but we often run aground by trusting only what seems logical.

"Outside the will of God, there is nothing I want. And in the will of God, there is nothing I fear." —A.W. Tozer

Illustration: Like choosing the advice of a news anchor over a trusted doctor, people frequently prefer “credentials” or public opinion to the quiet wisdom of someone grounded in God’s will.

3. The Consequences of Disregarding Godly Advice

Scripture:

(Proverbs 18:1, ESV)“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” 

Acts 27:20 “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.”

Literary Contrast: The ancient epics relished dramatic storms as symbols of fate and divine rivalry—yet the gods of Homer and Virgil are unpredictable. In Acts, God is sovereign, not whimsical. The storm is not due to the petty quarrels of deities, but rather an opportunity for God’s will and warning to triumph. Ignoring Him leads to predictable outcomes—loss, turmoil, despair.

"God’s warnings are merciful, but when men refuse them, their doom is near." —Charles Spurgeon

Application: Are you ignoring a warning God keeps placing in your path? Listen to Paul’s story, and remember: biblical warnings are not meant to rob us of freedom, but to preserve us for God’s purposes.

4. Responding to Godly Counsel Today

Scripture:

(James 1:19, ESV)“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” 

(1 Thessalonians 5:21, ESV)“Test everything; hold fast what is good.” 

Dramatic Parallel: In The Odyssey, Odysseus’s survival required humility—accepting advice from even unlikely sources, like the goddess Ino. In Acts, the crew is finally saved when they act on Paul’s instruction—from eating together for strength to leaving the ship when God directs. God’s wisdom is practical and trustworthy—a bright contrast to the ambiguous omens of ancient epics.

"The voice of God is a friendly voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it." —A.W. Tozer

Application: God’s word comes to us not in riddles or peer pressure, but clearly—in Scripture, by His Spirit, and through His people. Will you humble yourself to listen, test advice by the Word, and obey?

Conclusion

Illustration: At the end of Acts 27, everyone makes it safely to shore - but only after the ship is wrecked and everyone has to let go of everything and trust God’s promise.There’s a story about a missionary who was once shipwrecked on his way to a faraway country. He lost all his possessions and nearly his own life, but years later, he said, ‘That shipwreck was the best thing that ever happened to me, because it stripped away everything except for my faith in Jesus, and from then on, God used me powerfully.’

Paul’s shipwreck - and those in classic tales like The Odyssey - point us to a bigger rescue story. Sometimes God allows storms to break our dependence on ourselves and drive us to trust Him alone. The cross of Jesus Christ looks, at first, like a shipwreck: utter loss. But through that “wreck,” God brought salvation to all who trust Him (1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”) Warnings are mercy. God calls you out of stormy rebellion and into the safe harbor of His grace.

Gospel Invitation: God’s greatest warning—and His greatest invitation—comes in the person of Jesus Christ, who rescues us from spiritual shipwreck through faith (Romans 10:9–13 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” ). In a world of confusion and self-confidence, Jesus alone is the anchor that holds (Hebrews 6:19 “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,” ).

Call to Action: Are you listening to God’s voice, or ignoring His warnings? Receive His warnings as an act of love. Repent, trust, and be rescued.