When Hope Is Lost

The first person pronouns appear again in this chapter. We don’t know if Luke was present for the above events or if he stayed away to avoid arrest as well. It is likely that he would have been included in the friends who had access to Paul described in 24:23.

We forget that we serve a sovereign God.

We forget that He has a reason plan and purpose for all things.

We forget to trust Him.

This is true in my own life.

Over and over again God has provided my needs. Yet far too often when a need arises, I panic. I question. I lack faith.

We need to have hope in trials. Why? Enduring trials with our faith intact attracts people to Jesus.

Trials come. Only through dependence on the Lord can believers have hope in trials.

We need to have hope in trials. Why? Enduring trials with our faith intact attracts people to Jesus.

So. How can we do this? How can we have hope in trials?

Here is the bottom line.

Trials come. Only through dependence on the Lord can believers have hope in trials.

We are going to learn about the breakers and builders of hope this morning.

This passage teaches of two circumstances that steal our hope.

AND

This passage teaches of two circumstances that steal our hope.

This passage teaches of two choices that strengthen our hope.

Today we learn to depend on the Lord and have hope in trials.

When we have hope in trials a lost world is attracted to Christ.

Let’s dive in as we learn about the breakers of hope.

1. Hope Is Lost When God Is Ignored vv. 1-12

How many of us have ever ignored a pain?

Did it get better?

I once ignored a pain in my foot until I ended up hurting myself so badly that it took almost a month to heal.

When we ignore God it is like ignoring a small pain thinking it will go away.

It doesn’t.

When then do we ignore God?

I believe that this passage gives us two illustrations of times when we ignore God.

In this passage we will find two circumstances that steal our hope.

Circumstance #1…

a. God is ignored because of blessing vv. 1-8

READ v. 1

The first person pronouns appear again in this chapter. We don’t know if Luke was present for the previous events or if he stayed away to avoid arrest as well. It is likely that he would have been included in the friends who had access to Paul described in 24:23.

Regardless, Luke is once again the travel companion of Paul and will be going to Rome with him.

God’s will is being performed. He told Paul he would testify in Rome, now that is happening.

This centurion was of the Augustan Regiment signifying his association with the emperor.

This passage is one of those where we deal with expectations.

We would expect that since God wanted Paul to witness in Rome, there would be an easy voyage by ship followed by an arrival in Rome.

But that’s not what happens at all, as we will see later on this morning.

READ v. 2

Adramyttium was a port on the northeast coast of Aegean Sea. Today Adramyttium is the Turkish city of Edremit. This ship sailed with them from Caesarea.

Aristarchus is traveling with Paul and Luke. We first met him in . Turn there please. Paul and Silas are in Ephesus and a silversmith and his companions cause a riot over the idols they make.

Walter A. Elwell and Philip Wesley Comfort, Tyndale Bible Dictionary, Tyndale Reference Library (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), 18.

v. 2 – Aristarchus is with Paul. He is mentioned in chs. 19, 20 and ; .

Acts 19:29 NKJV

29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions.

We see him again in where we are told he travels to Asia with Paul. Turn there please.

Acts 20:4 NKJV

4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

Aristarchus is a faithful brother who has suffered for Christ! He is mentioned two other times in Scripture.

In He is called a fellow laborer. And in Paul calls him a fellow prisoner.

This faithful brother is traveling with Paul. Why?

Not because he has to. Not because he was arrested.

Luke and Aristarchus travel with Paul to be a source of encouragement and strength!

Folks, this is how the body of Christ is supposed to function.

Those who have trusted in Jesus Christ are Christians, we are all part of a body of believers.

We are supposed to support and encourage one another!

There are two requirements for that to happen.

1 - We have to know when you need help.

2 - Once we know we have to do something.

These two men don’t just wish Paul a safe journey. They travel with him.

READ v. 3

This was a very short trip (S), only one day.

The centurion, Julius, treats Paul kindly, allowing him to be cared for by his friends.

Kindly – φιλανθρώπως (philanthrōpōs) benevolently, kindly. philanthropically. In a manner marked or motivated by concern for the alleviation of suffering.

Kindly – φιλανθρώπως (philanthrōpōs)

This seems unusual to me. Your jailer lets your friends minister to you. More than that, notice the wording. He lets Paul go to them!

Wouldn’t he be afraid of an escape attempt? Paul’s behavior in 1 day has given this man a desire to alleviate his suffering!

Is that a God thing or what?

v. 3 – Paul is treated kindly and allowed to be cared for by his friends. How many of the soldiers and other prisoners do you think were believers by the time the voyage ended?

How many of the soldiers and other prisoners do you think were believers by the time the voyage ended?

We don’t know of course, but it is an interesting thought.

READ v. 4

This is the first hint we get of trouble.

So far everything has gone smoothly and God has blessed.

Now the winds are contrary. The winds are against them, opposing them.

An interesting side note. We believe that Scripture is inspired by God. He breathed out the words that men wrote. However, God did this in such a way that the personality, writing style, and word choice of the individuals was left intact. What I mean is that when Luke writes, he sounds like Luke! He was a Doctor, a highly educated man and the way he writes makes that clear.

In chs. 27-28 Luke uses very technical Greek to describe the sailing activities. I have always found that fascinating.

READ v. 5

Here is the route they are traveling (S).

They go around Cyprus because of the wind, past Cilicia and Pamphylia and land at Myra.

We’ll get to the rest in a moment.

READ v. 6

They are now transferred to a new ship. The centurion goes with them as we will see in v. 11.

READ v. 7

The wording of this verse emphasizes that this voyage is getting harder.

This difficulty continues in the next verse.

READ v. 8

Once again, here is their route (S).

They go past Cnidus, under Crete by Salmone, and land at Fair Havens near Lasea.

This is one of those times where we might think, “Lord, do we really need all this detail? I mean, all they are doing is sailing.”

This seemingly needless detail is actually one of the proofs of authenticity. Luke is writing about these events as they take place.

How do these verses teach us that God is ignored because of blessing?

We are about to see Paul warn the soldiers and sailors of danger on the journey. He will be ignored. Why?

Because things have gone well so far.

Yes there has been some difficulty, but we made it, right?

This is an attitude we ourselves can have.

When things are good, when difficulties have been overcome, we start to feel pretty good about ourselves.

When our kids are behaving, when our spouse is loving, when our families are at peace, when our friends are attentive, when work is going well and life is good we forget how much we need God!

Don’t get me wrong, times of blessing are nice!

But they can also be dangerous.

God is ignored because of blessing.

When things are going well, the temptation is to think we don’t need God!

Therefore.

When life is good, keep seeking Jesus.

If we don’t keep seeking Jesus, if we ignore our God, we will lose hope when hard times come again.

Don’t lose hope. Don’t ignore God. Keep seeking Jesus even when life is good.

That’s circumstance #1. God is ignored because of blessing.

Circumstance #2…

b. God is ignored because of blindness vv. 9-12

READ vv. 9-10

We are not told why, but they are at Fair Havens for an extended period of time. It could be that bad weather continued and stranded them there.

The result of this delay is dangerous sailing conditions.

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown write that this fast was

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 27

the day of atonement, answering to the end of September and beginning of October, about which time the navigation is pronounced unsafe by writers of authority. Since all hope of completing the voyage during that season was abandoned, the question next was, whether they should winter at Fair Havens, or move to Port Phenice, a harbor about forty miles to the westward.

In a very interesting twist, Paul, the prisoner, is included in the conversation about what they should do.

His advice is to stay where they are.

He gives this advice because of his perception.

The idea behind this word is that Paul has this understanding.

If they sail on their way destruction will be the result.

How does Paul have this understanding?

I would argue that Paul is speaking here from his experience in sailing on his previous journeys.

Why would I say that? Because it is only later that God sends Paul a message about this voyage. What Paul says here and what God says later doesn't match.

Therefore, I believe this is Paul offering an opinion based on his experience.

By the way, This is one of the reasons God gives us experiences. So that we can share them with others.

Again, we are the body of Christ. We are supposed to help and support one another. One of the ways we do that is through sharing our experiences.

Those who have been married a long time, share how you have made it. Those who have had marriages end, share what went wrong. Those who have already raised kids, share the things you did wrong and right! If you have suffered loss, share how God got you through it. Sharing our experiences helps to equip one another to do life Biblically.

Paul is sharing his experience.

READ v. 11

In some ways this makes sense.

Paul is not a professional sailor.

Yet we have also seen that Paul has earned the respect and trust of the centurion.

Regardless, the centurion is persuaded by the helmsman and the owner.

READ v. 12

Here we find the motivation.

The harbor they were in wasn’t the best place to winter in.

The rest of the verse suggests that the way this harbor faced made it more susceptible to storms. Basically, it wouldn’t have been as comfortable.

The decision was to try and reach a different harbor with a more favorable placement.

What we have here is a blindness to what is best.

We can be blinded by our own desires.

That is what seems to be taking place here. They want to spend the winter in a better port. So they ignore warnings to make their desires happen.

We do this with God.

Our desires blind us to the direction He would have us take.

We have probably all heard someone say, “But I love him or her.”

“God may say it is wrong for us to sleep together because we aren’t married, but we are in love.”

Desire is allowed to blind us and we end up ignoring God.

We can do this with money, with our time, with any number of things.

The bottom line is that we want what we want more than we want to obey God.

When we are focused on our own desires, we become blinded to the will of God.

What can we do about this?

When desire rises, submit to the will of God.

Why?

Because trials are going to come, and our desires will not give us hope.

Don’t be blinded by desire.

God is ignored because of blessing and God is ignored because of blindness.

Those are the breakers of hope. We ignore God in times of blessing and we ignore God when we are blinded by our own desires.

Now we turn to the builders of hope.

2. Hope Is Found When God Is Enthroned vv. 13-38

Over the course of my life I have learned the value of having things in their proper place.

Now, this doesn’t mean I do it all the time.

But I understand that it is important.

How many of us have spent hours looking for something simply because it wasn’t put back where it belongs?

When we have a place for everything and everything in its place, things go better.

The Christian life is no different.

When God has His rightful place in our lives, things go better.

This passage helps us to keep God on the throne of our lives.

Here we learn about two choices that strengthen our hope.

Choice #1…

a. God is enthroned when we are finished vv. 13-26

READ v. 13

There is a key word here, “supposing.” This is how we get into trouble. We make assumptions.

It seems like things are going their way.

READ v. 14

Some translations have this word spelled differently. Regardless, the point is that a very strong storm came up.

This word “tempestuous” is where we get our English word typhoon.

This is bad!

READ v. 15

This means they gave up trying to steer the ship. The just let the wind and tide take it wherever.

READ v. 16

A skiff is a smaller boat, usually a row boat, that is carried aboard larger vessels. It would be suspended above the deck on the side of the ship.

What this tells us is that the storm is blowing so hard the skiff almost became a liability.

Here is the route they are taking (S).

They have passed by this small Island, and are out to sea here.

Cauda vs. Clauda. Same Island, just different spelling.

Notice that it didn’t take very long to get in trouble.

READ v. 17

They get the skiff secured and then run cables under the ship to strengthen it.

With the wind pulling at them and the waves twisting the ship, they were afraid it would be broken apart.

The normal practice in a storm is to reef the sails. This means they would tie them up to the cross pieces of the mast. This way the sails wouldn’t be damaged by the wind.

However, there was a sand bar they were worried about getting stuck on. So they let down the sails.

Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible The storm at sea 27:9–26

The “shallows of Syrtis” probably refers to the quicksand and shoals off the African coast west of Cyrene (modern Libya) toward which the ship headed.

All of this is setting the stage for how bad things are getting.

READ v. 18

For a ship to start throwing items overboard indicates a very serious danger of sinking.

There is only so much you can throw out before you have to jettison cargo which means you lose money.

READ v. 19

This is incredibly serious. They are almost to the point of no return.

To throw out the gear that enables you to manage the ship is a move of desperation.

One of the fascinating things in these verses is the use of the word “we.” Apparently the situation was such that even the prisoners and passengers were drafted into doing these things.

READ v. 20

This is where the title for today’s message came from.

They have lost hope. Why? Because things were going good, so they ignored the warning signs. They had a desire to spend the winter somewhere better, so they were blinded to the danger.

They finally gave up.

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. It is when we come to the end of our resources that we find God waiting to step in.

So often we finally give God the proper place in our lives only after we have exhausted all of our own effort!

That is what we see happen here.

READ v. 21

The abstinence from food is probably caused by an inability to prepare anything in the galley with such a horrible storm raging.

v. 16 Cauda vs. Clauda. Same Island, just different spelling.

This is not a proud or boastful statement by Paul. It is simply a statement of fact.

They should have listened to him and stayed in the harbor even if it wasn’t as good as the one they were trying to reach.

This is where discontentment leads us. Into disaster and loss.

READ v. 22

Paul tells them to “take heart.”

Take heart – εὐθυμέω (euthymeō) be cheerful. to be encouraged v. — to be inspired with confidence; be given hope or courage.

This is why I believe Paul was simply speaking from experience in v. 10.

Take heart – εὐθυμέω (euthymeō)

They probably though Paul had lost it. They are about to die in a storm and he tells them to be cheerful!

They have basically lost everything at this point. They have no hope of survival!

This is why I believe Paul was simply speaking from experience in v. 10.

There he said there would be loss of life, cargo, and ship.

Here he says there will be no loss of life, only of the ship.

This also indicates that the cargo had already been tossed overboard.

How does Paul know this? Why does he tell them to be cheerful?

READ vv. 23-24

I love how Paul words this. “The God to whom I belong and whom I serve.”

We belong to Jesus. He purchased us with His blood. He is our master.

We love Him because He first loved us. We serve Him because of all He has done.

The word translated “serve” here can also be translated “worship.” When we say we worship God, we are expressing our willingness to serve Him.

Paul is serving because he belongs to God.

Who do you belong to this morning?

Have you trusted in Jesus?

Who do you serve? There are only two options. We either serve self or the savior.

We have to make a choice.

Paul states that an angel appeared to him with this message.

An angel appeared to Paul with a message.

The word angel means messenger.

They are God’s messengers. Because we have the completed revelation of God. We do not need messengers. If they were sent, what they said would line up with Scripture.

It is not that God cannot send angels to give us messages, but that it is not normative for today. It is not something we can all expect.

I love the message the angel gives in v. 24. Let’s break it down a little bit.

I love the message the angel gives. Let’s break it down a little bit.

1 - Do not be afraid.

Right. I’m on a sinking ship in the middle of the ocean. Nothing to fear, right?

Yet that’s what the angel says.

Why shouldn’t he fear?

2 - God isn’t finished.

You will stand before Caesar!

God still has a plan! He is still doing something!

He isn’t finished with you yet!

If you are still breathing. (pause) Okay, everyone is still breathing. God still has a plan and purpose for your life!

It may look different today than it did in the past, that’s okay.

Don’t be afraid because God has a plan. Also, don’t be afraid because…

3 - God will protect.

God didn’t have to save everyone else. Paul was the only one promised to stand before Caesar.

But God is in the business of saving people. Literally and spiritually.

The word used here has the idea of something graciously given.

God, in His boundless grace, is allowing everyone on the boat to live.

All of us live each moment because of the matchless grace of God.

READ v. 25

vv. 21-26 – How awesome! What a testimony to the power and grace of God! Again, this is not normative for today.

Based on everything the angel has told Paul, he commands the men to take heart.

This is the same word he used earlier. “Be cheerful!” Paul says, “everything is going to work out fine.”

How can Paul say that?

The wording here is vital. Paul says “I believe God.”

v. 25 The wording here is vital. Paul says “I believe God.”

This is the bottom line. God has revealed in His Word certain promises. It is up to us to believe them.

Paul says he believes that God will do what He has said. Do we believe that?

Let’s look at just a few passages.

(S).

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Do we believe that?

If God is always with us, we have nothing to fear. We also have added incentive to live for Christ.

(S).

Romans 8:28 NKJV

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Do we believe this?

If we believe it, than we endure trials and difficulties with hope.

(S).

Proverbs 31:30 NKJV

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Do we believe that?

If we do, than we need to stop emphasizing outward appearance and start training our daughters to fear the Lord above all else.

(S).

Proverbs 16:7 NKJV

7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Do we believe that?

This means we must focus more on doing what God says than being right.

When a man’s ways please the Lord, enemies will be at peace. - believe?

We need to build character instead of physical strength and mental prowess.

If we believe God, it should change how we live.

Paul believes God.

Yet the promises of God do not mean that there will be no difficulty. It doesn’t mean smooth sailing!

READ v. 26

God is going to deliver us. But we still have to wreck the ship.

These men have tried everything humanly possible to save themselves. Now that they have exhausted all their options, they will trust the Lord.

God is enthroned when we are finally finished trying it on our own.

I find it so interesting that the ship will still wreck.

God will work everything out for good. But He may make a mess first.

Do you trust Him?

There are storms in life! Storms we think we can handle on our own. When our strength proves insufficient, God is there.

How many of us have finally turned to the Lord in a trial and thought “why didn’t I do that sooner?” (Raise Hand)

God is always faithful.

For God to be enthroned in our lives, we must quit trying to do it on our own.

At this point discuss angels appearing to people? They are God’s messengers. We have the completed revelation of God. We do not need messengers. If they were sent, what they said would line up with Scripture. Poss. talk about this with Peter in Ch. 12? It is not that God cannot do it but that it is not normative for today. It is not something we can all expect.

Reach the end of yourself and find God waiting.

God will not direct our lives from the passenger seat.

It is not until we give up, until we are done trying things our own way, that God will take over!

God is enthroned when we are finished. That is our first choice.

Choice #2…

b. God is enthroned when we have faith vv. 27-38

READ v. 27

14 nights they have been out in this storm.

14 nights of uncertainty. 14 nights of danger. 14 nights going back and forth.

Do we still trust God when it seems like He is taking forever to answer our prayer?

When hope is lost, where do we turn?

It is 14 days before they finally come close to land.

READ v. 28

They measure the depth of the water to determine if they are getting closer to land.

A fathom is about 6 feet. So 120ft.

A little ways forward and they are at 15 fathoms or 90ft.

So they are getting closer to land.

READ v. 29

They don’t know how fast the water will get shallow, so they cast out anchors and pray for daylight.

I like this as a picture of faith.

The storm is raging. Land is near. They just need to hold on until dawn.

In our lives there are times when we need to hold steady, weather the storm, and pray for God to bring the dawn.

Beloved. God always comes through.

READ vv. 30-31

Again we see just how bad things were.

The sailors are trying to abandon ship!

THe

More than that, they are trying to do it with stealth and deception.

How Paul finds out what they are doing we are not told.

Apparently, the angel revealed to Paul that they all needed to stay with the ship.

Again, no detail is given as to why this is so.

However, what we do see here is how Paul has come to be trusted by the centurion.

He is willing to act on Paul’s word.

READ v. 32

What is interesting here is that they have now removed any possibility of escape from the ship.

The centurion has forced everyone to trust in what Paul has said.

Everyone on board is now placing their faith in the promise that God will deliver them and no one will be lost.

Sometimes this is what we need. We need to cut off our escape plan.

“God, I want to serve you, but if it doesn’t work out, I’m escaping in the skiff.”

We’re guilty of that, aren’t we? We want God to take the drivers seat of our lives, but we want to have the drivers ED brake and steering wheel in case God doesn’t go our direction (S).

That isn’t faith!

Faith cuts the life boat free and throws everything on the promises of God!

Either God comes through or this ship is sinking!

Do we have that kind of faith?

Would we join Paul in trusting God? Or would we join the sailors in the skiff?

Are you trusting God this morning?

READ v. 33

This is what they were praying for, right? For dawn to come?

As dawn is arriving, Paul pleads with them to eat food.

Why? They are going to need their strength for what lies ahead.

God provides exactly what we need to face the trials He allows.

14 days they have gone without food.

Now they are just waiting, so it’s time to eat.

READ v. 34

This is an incredible revelation.

v. 34 – This is an incredible revelation. I take it literally. But it could be an expression of no harm being done.

I take it literally. But it could be an expression of no harm being done.

Either way, God will miraculously preserve them.

Notice why Paul says to eat. Two reasons.

1 - Their survival.

Survival – σωτηρία (sōtēria) salvation; deliverance. Recovery or preservation from loss or danger, whether physical or spiritual.

Survival – σωτηρία (sōtēria)

They are to eat for deliverance. From what? The context suggests deliverance from hunger.

2 - Because no one will be harmed.

As we mentioned, this will give them strength for what’s coming.

2 - Because no one will be harmed.

Basically, there is no reason not to eat.

READ v. 35

I love this. Paul gives thanks to God in the presence of everyone!

This is faith!

Calmly, in the midst of a storm and certain destruction, Paul takes bread, gives thanks, and eats.

v. 36

This is the result of faith! Everyone is encouraged.

Ready for something really cool? Twice now Paul has told them to “take heart.” This word translated “encouraged” is the same Greek word.

It is the actions of Paul that finally get them to take heart!

They are encouraged, they are cheerful, because of Paul’s display of faith!

When you and I trust the Lord and walk in obedience to Him, other people are blessed by it.

Others are encouraged to trust. Others are encouraged to walk by faith.

In this context, even unbelievers benefit from Paul’s faith!

We have been called by God to be a blessing to the world around us.

One of the ways we do this is through our faith in the promises of God.

When we believe what God has said, we live differently. We give differently. We treat our neighbors differently. And the result is people being attracted to Christ.

Paul’s faith encourages everyone. What is our faith doing?

READ v. 37

This had to have been a very large ship.

We are told the number because of the promise that no one will be lost.

READ v. 38

v. 38

Talk about faith! They throw all their food out to sea.

God is going to do something.

I feel it is important to give us a reminder at this point.

Acts is descriptive not prescriptive.

This is a record of things that were done. It is not a mandate for us to do these same things.

We need to have faith, but that doesn’t mean we get rid of all our food and wait for God to provide.

Wisdom is also needed.

If we want to have hope when trials hit, hope in the hard times. God must be on the throne of our lives.

That means we need faith.

We have to trust Him.

Trust the God of the storm and know His provision.

When we trust God, He always provides.

God is enthroned when we are finished. God is enthroned when we have faith.

That is where hope is found.

Conclusion

Is God being enthroned or ignored in our lives?

I cannot answer that question for you.

You cannot answer for me.

When God is ignored, we lose hope.

God is ignored when we are experiencing blessing.

When things are going well we can forget our desperate need of a Savior!

God is ignored when we are blinded by our own desires.

Our desires must always be subject to the will of God.

Do you have hope this morning?

When we are lacking hope we must ensure that God is enthroned in our lives.

God is enthroned when we lay down our own efforts and rest in the sufficiency of Christ.

He can and will work through us, but He will not direct from the passengers seat.

God is enthroned when we have faith.

One of the things we can always count on in this life is that there will be storms.

When the sea of life is raging and it seems our ship will sink, where do we turn?

Let me leave you with three challenges.

Don’t ignore God.

When things are going good, look up.

When desire is rising, look to the Word.

Keep God on the throne.

Never rely on human effort.

Rest your faith in the promises of God.

Live to attract others

Live to make Jesus attractive.

The only way to do that is to always be aware of our desperate need of Him.

“Lord I Need You”

Sometimes when life seems gentle And blessings flood my way I turn my gaze away from You And soon forget to pray But when the sky grows darker And courage turns to fear My anxious voice cries upward With words You long to hear

chorus

Lord I need You When the sea of life is calm O Lord I need You When the wind is blowing strong Whether trials come or cease Keep me always on my knees Lord I need You Lord I need You

Lord help me to remember I'm weak but You are strong I cannot sing apart from You For Lord You are my song Although I'm prone to wander And boast in all I do Lord keep my eyes turned upward So I depend on You

Acts 27:1–38 NKJV

1 And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. 2 So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. 3 And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care. 4 When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 5 And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board. 7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone. 8 Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. 9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” 11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there. 13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. 15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. 17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. 18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands. 20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. 21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 However, we must run aground on a certain island.” 27 Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land. 28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, 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 skiff and let it fall off. 33 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. 36 Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. 37 And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship. 38 So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.

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