Shipwrecked and Saved
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Shipwrecked and Saved
Shipwrecked and Saved
.Acts 27:1-28:16
Throughout antiquity and history there have always been great stories about life and hardships on the sea.
Homer’s Odyssey
Gulliver Travels
Robinson Crusoe
Moby Dick
These are all fictitious stories, but the reality is travel is necessary, but it can be dangerous.
Each of these stories speak to some type of shipwreck.
But did you know that the most detailed and historical account of a shipwreck that we have is found in the text that we are going to cover today.
This is the account of Paul making his way in chains from Caesarea to Rome.
Preachers and Teachers have tried to turn this account into something that its not.
The chief idea in Luke’s account is to show us the providence and promises of God becoming real.
Paul has longed to go to Rome.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—
12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
Jesus promised Paul that he would arrive in Rome
11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
And Paul eventually makes it to Rome, but even though it has been desired and promised that does not mean that it will be smooth sailing.
In fact, the journey is going to be difficult.
Let’s Pray.
We are left in Acts 26:32 with these words“32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.””
Now Paul is beginning his journey.
1 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius.
2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.
3 The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.
4 And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.
5 And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.
6 There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board.
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.
8 Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.
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.”
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.
On the “Road” Again
Paul and his companions are given over to a centurion named Julius.
He is in charge of making sure that they safely and securely get to Rome.
Paul is not the only prisoner on this ship there are others as well.
Luke and Aristarchus are traveling along with Paul.
This is unusual b/c prisoners could not travel with other people.
There are a few possibilities that could arise from this note.
One option is that Prisoners could travel with their slaves if they wished. So Luke and Aristarchus could have claimed to be Paul’s slaves.
Secondly, this could have been a ship for hire and Paul’s companions bought their way on the ship to travel with him.
Thirdly, because Festus and Agrippa knew that Paul was innocent they could have allowed some leniency when it come to Paul’s travels.
Regardless of the reasons, Paul and his companions were traveling together.
When they arrived at Sidon, a short trip and their first stop Paul was allowed to go and visit some fellow Followers of Jesus.
Julius trusted Paul to not run away.
Paul had the kind of character that Julius could trust.
This is a trustful endeavor by Julius b/c if Paul ran away Julius would have been Executed.
We can already see that even though Paul is under arrest he is not as bound as some others would have been.
He still has some freedom.
Now there is some pretty technical language when it comes to sailing in this passage, and I am going to try to explain it the best that I can.
So, if you aren’t a sailor and you were wondering, as I was, what under a lee meant in verse 4, it means that they were using the island as protection.
They were sailing close to the coast so that they didn’t have to be too far into the open sea.
The Ship makes its way to Lycia and there they hop on a ship from Alexandria and on its way to Italy.
The ship was from Alexandria, Egypt.
Egypt was the primary provider of grain to the Roman Empire.
This ship was on a delivery mission heading to Italy with some food to feed the Roman People.
Luke is a master story teller.
So you read in the these early verses things like
Acts 27:7 “7 We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty.
Acts 27:8 “8 Coasting along it with difficulty
Acts 27:9 “9 Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,”
This is an important detail. What does Luke mean that the Fast was over?
Well the fast that he is talking about is the fast of Yom Kippur (the day of atonement).
This year in which the voyage took place Yom Kippur was later than normal.
Probably around October 5.
Acts (2) The Decision to Sail on (27:9–12)
For ancient travel on the Mediterranean, mid-September to early November was considered a dangerous time for traveling the open sea. After early November such travel ceased altogether and generally was not resumed until the beginning of February at the earliest.
What this means for the sailors is that they are entering into the time period where sailing is the most dangerous for ships in the Mediterranean.
They were going to hit stormier seas if they decided to continue their journey.
They didn’t have enough time to make their destination of Italy and were putting themselves in danger.
Paul knows this so he speaks up and tells them that they should wait.
Because if they didn’t he believed that they would lose the cargo and people would die.
This is not a prophetic warning but a well traveled sharing his opinion.
In fact, we know from 2 Cor 11:25 “Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;”
So at least 2 other times, Paul had been part of a shipwreck.
So he wishes to give his two cents, but the centurion didn’t listen and instead they set sail once again.
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.
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.
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.
Tempestuous Seas
They set off and begin sailing and not too long after they get moving something happens.
A “tempestuous wind” came off of one of the Mountains off the island and sends the boat into chaos.
This is where we get the word typhoon.
So this wasn’t a simple wind, rather there was a storm brewing.
Something more powerful then they could have anticipated.
They were tossed by the wind and the waves.
They were driven wherever the wind would take them unable to control what was going to happen.
Unable to control where they were heading, and they simply allowed the wind to do with them what they wanted.
But they didn’t stand idly by.
No, they wen to work.
They secured the life boat, or dingy.
They wrapped supports around the bottom of the ship so that it wouldn’t break apart.
To lighten the ship, they began to through some of the cargo overboard hoping to regain control of the ship.
Still the violence of the storm wouldn’t cease.
Three days in they start throwing the tackle over the side of the ship.
This was any of the gear that was essential for sailing.
Obviously they didn’t get rid of all of it, but they definitely got rid of some.
With the hope of gaining the ability to endure what lied ahead.
But things went from bad to worse.
Acts 27:20 “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.”
They had no way of knowing where they were and where they were headed.
They didn’t have compasses.
The only way that they could navigate on the sea is by the stars in the sky and they were gone.
Blotted out by the darkness of the storm.
No sun. No Stars. No stability.
No hope.
There was no hope for salvation.
No hope that they would survive.
All hope was gone.
Or was it?
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.”
Prophetic Encouragement
Paul knew that he was right that they should have stayed back in Fair Havens.
And here he asserts so.
It could have easily been an “I told you so” moment.
But more in line with Paul’s character is that he is demonstrating that he can be trusted.
That is was right and now they are in this situation, but he has something that the need to listen to.
He brings to them encouragement.
He brings the same encouragement that he recieved from an angel of the Lord.
The God that he worships.
The God that he serves.
The God that he belongs too has made a promise.
They will survive.
Paul must stand before Caesar.
God will also allow all those that are with Paul to survive.
All hope is not lost, b/c the God of hope has made a promise.
Paul trusts in God.
Paul has seen God work.
Paul knows that when God declares something it will come to pass.
So they need to trust what he has heard.
Where are the gonna end up?
On some Island.
Where? Who knows.
When? Who knows.
How? Who knows.
But God can be trusted.
His promise will be fulfilled.
This account should remind of the story of Jonah.
Except we see the opposite happen b/c of Paul’s faithfulness.
Jonah was on a ship that encountered a storm b/c he was outside of God’s Will.
The sailors he was with were in danger of losing their lives.
Unless they cast the disobedient Jonah overboard.
These men with Paul are safe b/c the prophet of God is now traveling in the center of God’s Will.
And his very presence is the reason that those men on that ship are going to be saved.
Here’s what we need to know, just b/c we are in the center of God’s will doesn’t mean that it will always be smooth sailing.
We can’t count on our obedience keeping us out of trouble.
Sometimes obedience causes us to enter into the storm.
Sometimes obedience calls us to endure the storm.
Sometimes obedience seems harder than abandonment.
But remember God is working at all times. in all places. for your good. For his glory.
These people on this ship didn’t know what to expect, but Paul had now given them hope of survival.
Hope of salvation.
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.
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.
Closer to Safety
This ship had been adrift for 14 days.
14 days of not knowing where they were headed.
14 days of being lost at sea.
14 days of no hope.
But then, the sailors heard the crashing waves.
They heard waves breaking along a beach.
And they started to measure how deep the water was.
20 fathoms, then 15 fathoms.
A fathom is about 6 feet.
So the first measurement was 120 feet, the second 90 feet.
They were closing in on the shore.
So they dropped anchors in such a way that the front of the ship pointed toward the shore.
Because they felt like they were getting close enough to run into rocks.
And they all prayed.
Most were praying to their false gods.
Praying for daylight.
Then some of the men thinking that they were slick and under false pretenses tried to escape.
But Paul knew what was happening and approached Julius.
Acts 27:31 “31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.””
It was all of them saved or none of them.
So Julius stopped the men from leaving.
Cut loose the life boat and trusted Paul.
What a difference a difficult journey makes.
Paul is now trusted by Julius. Julius listens to Paul.
Trusts Paul b/c Paul has proven to be trustworthy and willing to put in the work to aid in survival.
We also read that these men hadn’t eaten for 14 days.
Why?
They could have been stressed.
There could have been no safe place to prepare the food.
They could have been distracted by the fact that they are going to die.
But Paul urged them to eat.
They all needed strength.
They need to know that all wasn’t lost.
They were going to be saved.
So eat. Because the work isn’t over yet.
And before them all Paul gave thanks for the food.
Thanks for their survival.
He boldly thanked his God in front of these pagans.
And they ate.
And this encouraged those aboard.
It’s like that snickers commercial.
You’re not you when you’re hungry.
They needed to come back to their senses.
Luke reveals that there were 276 people on the ship.
they all ate their fill and then they cast the rest overboard.
Remember this is a cargo ship.
The only way that the captain and his crew would get paid would be if they delivered what was ordered.
But on this day they decided that living is a better gift than money.
That there are more important things than full pocketbooks.
It’s interesting that when they went through a storm and survived their priorities changed.
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.
Land, At Last
The Sunlight peaked over the horizon and they could finally see the land they had longed for.
Again, b/c of where they were the didn’t know where they had landed, only that by the grace of God they had been saved.
So they cut the anchors and headed toward the island.
Intentionally, running the ship aground.
The ship continued to be battered by the surf, and was breaking apart.
They had to abandon ship in order to get to the land.
The soldiers aboard the ship wanted to kill the prisoners.
Because if any of the prisoners escaped the soldiers’ lives would be lost.
They would be killed for being unable to follow orders and keep the prisoners in custody.
But Julius, spared the prisoners.
On behalf of Paul.
He ordered the soldiers to stand down.
Then told all those that could swim to head toward shore.
Those that were unable to swim would float on the pieces of broken ship.
And by the Grace of God all the people got to the shore safely.
1 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta.
2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.
3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
Welcoming Party
After two weeks on the sea, the finally come to rest on the island of Malta.
It’s interesting that the Phoenician Word Malta means Escape or Refuge.
These sailors had indeed found refuge from the storm.
And the native people showed them unusual kindness.
The word native here is the Greek word barbaroi where we get our word barbarian.
They were identified as such because Greek was not their primary language.
Yet they were held in high esteem by Luke and the travelers b/c they showed hospitality toward the travelers.
Paul and the rest of the ship were wet and cold, and these natives built them a fire and welcomed them with open arms.
Hospitality is an important characteristic for Christians.
Yet often we can look at those that don’t know Christ and they are more hospitable and open than we are.
People are afraid to darken the doors of the church b/c of the actions and response that they believe some church people will give them.
And rightly so. Religious people are not always the most welcoming and loving people.
Paul experienced this with some of the Jewish People who wanted to chase him out or stone him to death.
We don’t have to agree or accept everyone’s lifestyle, but we do need to be welcoming and open when they arrive.
We need to show them the love of Jesus.
And when we are not hospitable we do not demonstrate the love of Jesus.
I love Paul.
Paul is a man of action.
Even after being shipwrecked.
Malnourished.
and No doubt exhausted.
What does he do when he gets to the island?
He starts to work. Gathering fire wood.
He starts to serve the people on the island.
He starts to serve those that are bound in chains.
He starts to serve those that have him arrested.
Your position and circumstances should not be a reason that you don’t serve others.
Serving in even the most menial task speaks volume about your character.
While Paul is gathering wood, he brings it near a fire and gets bit by a snake.
A poisonous snake.
The natives believe that this is the justice needed toward Paul.
They thought him to be a murderer.
He may have survived the shipwreck but now the goddess Justice, Dike, had found him and his time was up.
He suffered no harm.
He didn’t swell up.
So they thought he was a god.
Luke doesn’t tell us what Paul does when they think this but we can look back on a similar episode in Lystra, and I am sure Paul was quick to divert attention away from himself and toward Jesus.
But Paul isn’t done on the island.
7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him.
9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.
10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.
Hospitality and Healing
The sailors are extended more hospitality by the natives and they are invited back to Publius’ home.
And for three days they were entertained and well taken care of.
Paul then hears about Publius’ father who is sick with fever and dysentery.
This illness is caused by a microbe in goats milk.
It’s called “Malta Fever”
And the fever can last a few months and up to 3 years.
So we aren’t sure how long Publius’ father was sick, but we do know that it was bad.
When it comes to dysentery, as a millennial the only thing I can think about when I hear that word is the old video game, Oregon Trail.
I died many times of dysentery while playing that game.
So Publius’ father was sick, but Paul through the power of God, layed hands on him and prayed.
Publius’ father was healed.
This is the only time in Acts that we read about both the laying on of hands and prayer for healings.
Then Paul was able to heal many who were sick on the island.
The natives extended more hospitality toward their visitors when they were about to depart.
The people of Malta provided them with “whatever we needed” for the rest of the trip.
Here’s the thing we don’t have any account of any conversions on Malta.
We don’t even read about the preaching of the gospel.
But we do know that Paul was there for 3 months.
And I am certain that he shared the gospel with these people.
One thing we have to realize is that even unbelievers can do good things.
They can be hospitable to strangers.
They can be loving toward family.
They can be accepting toward outsiders.
I was taught when I was younger that those outside of Christ can’t do good things.
That is patently false.
But what they don’t have is forgiveness.
What they need is to recognize the love of God.
What they need is to submit to Jesus.
They can do good, but still be lost.
We see that here, the people of Malta loved, cared for, and provided for these weary travelers.
Without knowing, loving, or serving God.
But that doesn’t mean that they don’t need God.
11 After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead.
12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.
13 And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.
14 There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.
15 And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
Brotherly Welcome
Paul and the travelers arrived in Italy and were met by some of the brothers there.
Paul was encouraged.
It had been a long trip.
But Paul was about to arrive in Rome.
And it was time to thank God for His protection and providence.
16 And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
Rome at Last
There is a sense of relief in those words “and when we came into Rome.”
After an intense beating in the temple courtyard by his own people.
After 4 trials before rulers and kings.
Before the Sanhedrin.
Felix.
Festus.
Agrippa
After being tossed to and fro on a ship for two weeks.
A shipwreck.
A Snakebite.
3 months of waiting on Malta.
He had finally made it to his destination.
He had finally arrived, by the grace of God.
And in Rome he was allowed some freedom.
He was still a prisoner, but he was able to visit with others.
Minister to the people in Rome.
But he was in Rome.
He was right where God wanted him to be.
Here’s what we know through this story.
We can trust that God is working.
We can trust that God is moving.
We can trust that what he is doing, regardless of our circumstances, will get us to where he wants us.
Things don’t happen immediately.
These things take time.
But God is in control.
He is protecting his people.
He is not absent.
He is with us.
If you love and trust Jesus, just know that you will go through times of difficulty.
But God is there with you.
He hasn’t left you.
He hasn’t forsaken you.
He is right there next to you.
And in these trials.
In these difficulties.
It really does show who and what you actually trust in.
Where your hope lies.
Where your trust is anchored.
Do you believe that God is working?
Do you believe that God is with you?
Do you believe that God is in control?
I can assure you he is.
I don’t know if you have ever submitted your life to Jesus, but if you haven’t this is an opportunity to do so.
This is the time to follow after Him.
He is calling out to you.
Will you answer him.
Let’s Pray.