Acts 27 | How to Safely Land a Shipwreck

SCRIPTURE READING

Acts 27:

Acts 27:9–14 KJV

9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, 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. 11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. 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 south west and north west. 13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

INTRO

Back in Chapter 21, we read how Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem.

Wrongly accused by religious Jews

Conspired against

Protected as a Roman prisoner

tried before the Sanhedrin

In Chapter 23, Paul is taken to Caesarea.

Tried before Felix

Tried before Festus

Tried before Agrippa

After more than two years in Caesarea, Paul is sent to Rome because of his appeal to Caesar.

This brings us to Chapter 27, our text.

The journey to Rome proves to be a difficult one.

Paul, a prisoner, is one of 276 people on a ship that finds its way into a tempestuous storm and eventually a shipwreck.

The storm is similar to a typhoon.

You and I can expect life to bring storms on occasion.

Storms can bring disorientation and feelings of panic.

Have you ever been disoriented?

ILL—International plane rides are disorienting to me…you lose track of time and location.

We see this happened to Paul and the 275 others in this storm.

We see in this text that Paul went from being prisoner to captain as he helped the crew safely land their shipwreck.

Today, we will look at four provisions of grace Paul had to safely land this shipwreck.

These same provisions are available to you and me.

1) Good Friends

Acts 27:2–3 KJV

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. 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.

v. 2 Paul had two companions, Luke and Aristarchus.

vs. 3 Paul had friends in Sidon that helped him get refreshed for the journey.

You and I need to be and have good, godly friends.

“Someone said, a friend is someone who knows all about you and likes you just the same.”

God in His wisdom purchased and ordained the church for believers.

Church is not an event, location, or program—its a local body of believers following Christ.

A. Friends love at all times

Proverbs 17:17 KJV

17 A friend loveth at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

B. Friends sharpen you.

Proverbs 27:17 KJV

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

C. Friends can be trusted.

Proverbs 16:28 KJV

28 A froward man soweth strife: And a whisperer separateth chief friends.

2) Bible Promises

Acts 27:22–25 KJV

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. 23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

Paul had a promise from God.

God’s Word is full of promises to which to cling:

Psalm 1:1–4 KJV

1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Ps

Psalm 112:1–3 KJV

1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, That delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: The generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: And his righteousness endureth for ever.

Romans 10:13 KJV

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Gal 5:16

Galatians 5:16 KJV

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

John 10:27–28 KJV

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 10:27 KJV

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Promises of God are sure and stabilizing.

3) Sound Thinking

Acts 27:9–12 KJV

9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, 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. 11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. 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 south west and north west.

Paul’s warning

Acts 27:31–34 KJV

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. 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. 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.

Stay in the ship, trusting God.

Acts 27:33–37 KJV

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. 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. 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. 36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. 37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

Eat! Trust God’s promised grace.

4) Spirit-let Leadership

Acts 27:35–38 KJV

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. 36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. 37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

Paul leads by example.

The church needs Spirit-led members to be patient, trusting God.

Conclusion:

You an I can whether the storms by God’s grace.