Acts 27:9-44 | "Power in Difficulty" [Live Stream Edition]

The Reading

Acts 27:21–26 ESV

21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 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.’ 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.”

If you receive this word by faith, would you confess that faith by saying: Amen.

Pray

Introduction

Southside Baptist Church is finishing a preaching series through Acts.

Acts begins with this promise from Jesus:

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jesus promises his followers power to accomplish his mission throughout all the earth - a mission to be witnesses. Not just any witnesses, but Jesus said, “my witnesses.” We are Jesus’ witnesses. We belong to Him, and we testify about Him.

But we cannot be witnesses without power. And Jesus promises power in His presence — the Holy Spirit.

Throughout Acts, in each section or pericope we have studied, we have asked the question — where is the power in this text? Where is the Holy Spirit at work in this text?

Sometimes the Spirit’s power is evident when the disciples are waiting, or acting in the name of Jesus, or being positioned by God for a work, or praying, or in agreement about something, or being courageous, or journeying through a process.

It is not a manufactured power. But it is a power of God’s presence that is demonstrated in all circumstances as the disciples are being witnesses for Jesus in all the earth.

The title of this sermon captures the power of the Holy Spirit evident in Acts 27.

This sermon is titled: “Power in Difficulty.”

It seems odd to say “Power in Difficulty,” but that word “difficulty” shows up repeatedly in Acts 27.

Acts 27 is a long chapter, and takes up quite a bit of space in the book of Acts going into details of the difficulties of Paul’s journey to Rome.

The difficulties are not those that Paul sought out for himself. He even tried to warn against some of them before they happened!

But nevertheless, it is through the difficulties that the work of the Spirit is seen, clearly witnessing for Jesus when all hope is abandoned.

Proposition

The Holy Spirit illuminates the salvation of God in Jesus Christ when we turn to God in our difficulty.

INTRODUCTION TO TEXT

For the sake of those who are joining us for the first time, the end of Acts follows the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul.

Paul is appointed by Jesus Christ —

Acts 9:15–16 ESV

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

Paul’s journeys have taken the gospel to many cities. Paul has suffered greatly already.

But now he is a prisoner, with a promise from God that he will stand before Caesar in Rome.

And so the Gospel has travelled from Jerusalem, to Judea, and Samaria, and now Paul is taking it to the “end of the earth” of this day — Rome.

He is on a ship, journeying to Rome, under guard of a Roman centurion and soldiers . . .

Acts 27:9–10 ESV

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.”

v.9 - “Paul advised” - “strongly recommended” (LEB), “to indicate strongly” (LN).

This word is used twice in the NT, both times in this chapter of Acts.

Paul is presented as having two opportunities to interject his strong advice. Here (27:9) as an urging to change course.

Also in Acts 27:22 - to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life.

This urging is not described as being based on a prophetic word, but on perception. On what is seen and observed.

Acts 27:10 ESV

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.”

“perceive” - this is Paul’s understanding based on what he has seen and heard.

It could be discernment.

It could also be a constant fellowship with the Lord - the Lord told him, but we aren’t told of this encounter.

This text presents a word of instruction for us. To keep our eyes open. To keep in fellowship with the Lord. To discern the times and outcomes of our present circumstances.

Already in this voyage, “the winds were against them” (Acts 27:4).

They —

Acts 27:7 ESV

7 We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.

Again,

Acts 27:8 ESV

8 Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

The word “difficulty” describes their journey thus far, and Paul perceives difficulty IF they push onward. Perhaps it was obvious that the season and weather was not right to continue on at this time.

Acts 27:11–12 ESV

11 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

The decision was made to continue on despite Paul’s warning. And this was a majority decision (v.12). “the majority decided.”

It’s appropriate to note that the majority is not always right!

And notice there is little certainty. They put out to sea from there “if somehow” (v.12) “On the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix…and spend the winter there.”

Acts 27:13–14 ESV

13 Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. 14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land.

“a tempestuous wind” is the word τυφωνικὸς Think of the word “typhoon.” “like a hurricane.” This is a violent wind that lasted for a long period of time. Not like a tornado that comes and goes, but more like a hurricane that persists. (LN).

Acts 27:15–16 ESV

15 And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship’s boat.

Notice again the word “difficulty.” Now its third usage, and a continued descriptor of this journey.

Acts 27:17–20 ESV

17 After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. 18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. 19 And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 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.

“fearing they would run aground” / they lowered the gear / were violently storm-tossed / began to jettison the cargo / threw the tackle overboard…

Last line “all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned”

This is a progression of these sailors doing everything in their ability, incrementally, to deliver themselves from this storm. The storm continues to press on them, and they take more drastic measures to keep themselves afloat until finally — they abandon all they can abandon, EVEN THEIR HOPE!

We can identify with this in our current pandemic. Taking new progressive measures each day and week to combat this virus. It could be that we get to a point after abandoning our work, our travel, our lifestyles, that we even abandon hope!

We hear “it must get worse before it gets better.”

But remember that the Lord may bring things to such a point where all hope is lost, all human attempts have proved futile, where if there is to be a salvation it can ONLY happen by the act of God ALONE.

It is a paradox that belongs to the faith we believe — that in order to gain living hope, we must let go of hope in anything and everything else.

In order to receive the salvation of God in Jesus Christ, we must forsake salvation in anything and everything else.

With God, only when we give what we are holding onto away, do we then receive what God offers.

Only when we yield ourselves to the point of giving in to the inevitable and disastrous outcome of the storm, are we able to yield our will to the One who calm the storm.

Only when we count everything as loss, everything as trash, everything as dung — only then do we gain Christ!

God will not compete as one among many.

God will not support these sailors in their endeavor to save themselves. Instead, God waits.

Instead, God lets the storm continue to blow.

And God waits until all hope is abandoned of being saved because ONLY at that point are they then ready to call out to God in their trouble and receive deliverance from Him, the master of the waves and the storm.

Because they have exhausted all other options.

The space in between verses 20 and 21 represent a turning point. (You might draw a line between them in your Bible to represent this).

Because verse 20 ends with all hope being abandoned, and verse 21 begins to speak hope and life in the midst of hopelessness.

Acts 27:21 ESV

21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss.

This is a great “I told you so” moment in Scripture!

But don’t miss this — It is BECAUSE they did not listen to Paul at first, that now he is in a position to be heard!

Had they listened to Paul — it would have been a better voyage, but in the providence of God they did not listen, and now they witness (and we witness) God’s mighty power in the storm, and also God’s mighty ability to save.

Acts 27:22 ESV

22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

This is the second use of that word “urge” in this chapter and in all the New Testament.

The first time Paul urged (strongly advised) them against taking the trip.

But the grace of God is displayed as Paul now a second time urges them, strongly advising them, to take heart. That is, to become encouraged, to cheer up! (LN).

This Paul seems to go against the grain! To always be contrasting with their circumstances!

They were determined to go on their course at first, and Paul urged them not to.

Now they have abandoned hope, and Paul urges them to be cheerful!

Contrary Motion! Yet God is like this too! Our ways our our ways - but God’s ways are not our ways!

We are born in sin, yet where sin abounds God’s grace much more abounds!

Paul is presented as going against all circumstances, because God has the power to go against all circumstances! God can save them! God can deliver them!

Paul is not crazy. Before at his urging, warning them not to go on this trip, Acts doesn’t tell us Paul received any vision. Only that Paul “perceived” that the voyage would result in loss.

But now Paul has received a promise!

Acts 27:23–26 ESV

23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 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.’ 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.”

Notice that phrase in verse 23: “an angel of the God TO WHOM I BELONG AND WHOM I WORSHIP.”

Literally: “Whose I am, and Whom I serve.”

Let this text remind you Whose you are, and Who you serve!

What a statement of identity! Rooted in belonging to God and serving God!

This angel delivers a message:

Acts 27:24 ESV

24 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.’

“Paul must stand before Caesar” and God’s PROMISE gives Paul confidence — that Paul will stand before Caesar. Even if Paul has to drown, and God reach down and raise him back to life again, Paul will stand before Caesar!

But graciously, God gives Paul the life of all who are sailing with him too. And this is the source of their cheer.

Acts 27:25 ESV

25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.

Underline in Verse 25 “for I have faith in God.”

That’s a confession. It says “I believe in God.”

Say that out loud: “I believe in God.”

And that belief in God is based upon what? What Paul can see? NO — all he sees around him is storm, rough seas, and desperate men!

That belief in God is based on what God has spoken! God’s word!

“I believe in God that it will be like this—according to the way it was told to me.”

Paul not only received God’s word to him through the angel, but he received that word WITH FAITH. And he confessed that faith.

But IT WAS JUST THAT — FAITH. Faith is believing without being able to SEE. And in the present circumstances, there was not visible way out of this predicament.

Acts 27:26 ESV

26 But we must run aground on some island.”

Be encouraged that the journey to realizing the promise may require first running aground on some island.

Whatever God has in store for us after this virus pandemic will obviously require us to go through this virus pandemic.

Acts 27:27–32 ESV

27 When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. 28 So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. 29 And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, 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 ship’s boat and let it go.

The sailors try to escape without being noticed. Acting as if they were lowering anchors, they were instead lowering a boat to escape in. But —

Acts 27:31 ESV

31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”

Upon hearing that verse it calls to mind the necessity of the cross.

For unless Christ offered up himself on the cross for sin in our place, we likewise “cannot be saved” from sin and death. We likewise are hopeless!

Apart from Christ we “cannot be saved.”

That is a strong statement! “Cannot be saved.” But there was one exception — those who stay in the ship can be saved.

Just as those who were in Noah’s ark were saved from the judgment of God during the flood, — those who are in Christ — are saved. (see 1 Pt 3:20).

Acts 27:33–38 ESV

33 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. 34 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.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

This text certainly draws to our mind as readers when the Lord took break, gave thanks, and broke it feeding more than 5,000 from a few small loaves.

And it certainly reminds us of when the Lord himself took bread, gave thanks and broke it, giving it to the disciples before his death. The Lord’s Supper. The word “eucharist” is there in the word “gave thanks.”

This text reminds us that Jesus is the bread from Heaven. That his body was broken for our salvation. And here this bread is offered to these men with the word of hope to strengthen them.

Acts 27:39–44 ESV

39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. 41 But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. 42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

“So it was that all were brought safely to land.”

As the Psalmist proclaims in Psalm 107:28-30:

Psalm 107:28–30 ESV

28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.

CONCLUSION

Why is this passage so long? Why so many details of the journey?

Because it was a difficult journey. And had the difficulty not happened, the deliverance would not have happened!

We, like Paul, live contrary to the ways of the world. The ways of the world are not the ways of Christ.

The Christian life is lived out in storms. That does not mean we are abandoned. That does not mean we have no hope.

On the contrary — the storms, the difficulty, help us bear witness all the more of the living hope we have in God alone!

Paul is going to Rome — but he’s going to Rome on a promise.

And after reading this long story, we may think — He’ll never get there! (GCM). But he will get there — because God promised him that he would, and Paul believes God on account of God’s word.

That is a good place for us to make a commitment to obey God.

Yes — he has promised us salvation.

Yes — we are saved in Christ and are being saved and will be saved!

But even more narrowly — our ministry. Our mission. What unique things has God given us to obey? What purpose does God have for each of us?

Do we have such a hope and belief in the sovereign God that he will accomplish in us his purpose for us, no matter what difficulties we face?

No matter what pandemic we face?

Do we believe in the hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

The Holy Spirit illuminates the salvation of God in Jesus Christ when we turn to God in our difficulty.