37 Paul's Journey to Rome, Part 1 The Storm and Shipwreck

Acts 27:1–44 ESV

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. 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. 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.” 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. 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.

Our society places a premium on leadership. Government, the military, business, education, even sports teams, are all desperately seeking qualified leaders. Books, seminars, tape albums, and training courses on leadership abound. Some people even make their living traveling around lecturing corporate executives on the fine points of leadership.

The world’s traditional model of a leader has been labeled the Strong Natural Leader. The profile of such leaders might include the following characteristics. They are visionary. Their goals and plans reach far into the future. They are action-oriented and are always on the move; they are never content with the status quo. They are marked by courage (or the willingness to take risks because they believe in their plans). Such leaders have the nerve to make the tough decisions. They are usually energetic, capable of working long hours. They tend to be objective-oriented, not people-oriented. Their focus is usually more on the task than the persons involved in the task. Like overprotective parents, they have to control those under them. They are egocentric. Their whole world revolves around themselves, their plans, and their objectives. They possess resolute self-confidence. They are intolerant of incompetence in others. People who do not meet their expectations or fail to perform at a high level are not retained. Finally, they are seen by others (and themselves) as indispensable. Without them, the enterprise is doomed to failure.

It was such natural leaders, dominating dictators who use charismatic control, that our Lord described in Mark 10:42: “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them.” As common as such leadership is in the world, it is not an acceptable role model for leadership in Christ’s kingdom:

But it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43–45)

Several factors combine to make leadership difficult. The first is fear of failure. Leaders’ failures are out in the open for all to see; there is no place for them to hide. Such fear, often resulting from leaders’ underestimating themselves, can paralyze them into inaction.

Relatedly, sometimes leaders struggle with mistrusting their own judgment. They fear making a decision, lest it turn out to be the wrong one. So to avoid saying the wrong thing, they say nothing.

Some insecure leaders find it difficult to trust others enough to delegate tasks. Their motto is “If you want a job done right, do it yourself.” And when they do give a task to someone else, their perfectionism drives them to be constantly peering over that person’s shoulder.

Leaders who take firm, authoritative stands run the risk of alienating others. For leaders in the church, commitment to the Word must never be compromised. Yet that commitment must be expressed in humility and love.

A final tension in leadership is defensiveness. Some leaders feel the need for explaining and justifying their actions, which can lead to weak, indecisive expressions.

It is times of challenge and crisis that reveal the qualities of true leaders. Winston Churchill had been in and out of the British government for many years before becoming prime minister. He assumed that position at one of the lowest points of the Second World War (he took office on May 10, 1940—the day the Germans invaded France and the Low Countries). His indomitable courage as he led his nation through the crisis days that lay ahead has caused many to regard him as the greatest leader of the twentieth century.

Acts 27 opens with Paul as a prisoner, not in charge of anyone or anything. All that was altered, however, when a severe crisis hit the party he was traveling with. By the end of the chapter, Paul, the prisoner, had become the acknowledged leader over all. His ability to deal with a crisis elevated him to that role.

Among other emphases manifest through this unique chapter, it is helpful to note the issue of the greatness of Paul’s leadership. The story of his emerging leadership during a storm-filled journey across the Mediterranean Sea, and the resulting shipwreck, unfolds in four stages: the start, the stay, the storm, and the shipwreck.

THE START

Acts 27:1–8 ESV

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.

The use of the first person plural pronoun we indicates the return of Paul’s physician and beloved friend, Luke. Absent from the narrative since 21:18, he had probably been living in Caesarea, or nearby, during the two years of Paul’s imprisonment there. Now he was on hand to sail with Paul for Italy. They were accompanied by another of Paul’s beloved fellow workers, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica. Aristarchus first appeared in Acts when he was seized by the angry rioters at Ephesus (19:29). He accompanied the apostle on his journey to Jerusalem with the offering from the Gentile churches (20:4). He later ministered to Paul during the apostle’s imprisonment at Rome (Col. 4:10). According to tradition, Aristarchus, like Paul, suffered martyrdom under Nero. That he and Luke were willing to accompany Paul on a hazardous, uncomfortable voyage shows their love for the apostle and his ministry. In addition, some have speculated that they may have identified themselves as Paul’s slaves so that they could accompany him (cf. Sir William M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen [reprint; Grand Rapids: Baker, 1975], 316).

The journey began when Paul and some other prisoners bound for Rome from Caesarea were placed in the custody of a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius. There is evidence that such an Augustan cohort was stationed in Palestine during the reign of Agrippa II. It is possible that Julius represented the emperor by undertaking special duties, such as escorting important prisoners. Like other centurions mentioned in the New Testament (cf. Matt. 8:5ff., 27:54; Acts 10:1ff.), he was a man of integrity.

Julius put his party of soldiers, prisoners, and servants on board an Adramyttian ship, which was about to sail to the regions along the coast of Asia. Adramyttium, its home port, was located on the northwest coast of Asia Minor, near Troas. From Asia Minor they would have little trouble finding passage to Italy. They put out to sea, making port the next day at Sidon, seventy miles to the north.

In Sidon, Julius treated Paul with consideration and, surprisingly, allowed him to go to his friends and receive care. Paul was a very important prisoner to allow to run around loose. He was a Roman citizen, on his way to Rome to have his appeal heard by the emperor. More significant, he was hated by the Jewish leaders at Jerusalem. His presence could have sparked a riot among Sidon’s Jewish population, exacerbating the volatile relations between the Jews and Rome. Further, Paul’s life may have been at risk, and Julius would have paid with his own life if he lost such an important prisoner. Yet, Julius had grown to trust Paul and believed the apostle would not do anything to bring harm to him. How fast Paul developed this trust is a rich lesson in leadership. People will trust one whom they believe has others’ best interests at heart, not merely their own. Paul cared about people like Julius, and Julius knew it.

The church at Sidon, whose members Luke describes as Paul’s friends (cf. 3 John 14), was likely founded by Christians fleeing Jerusalem after Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 8:1–4). Paul undoubtedly spent time teaching the Sidonian believers and enjoying fellowship with them (which had been impossible during his imprisonment at Caesarea). Through their kindness and love, Paul was able to receive care, probably in the form of provisions for his journey.

Leaving Sidon, Paul and his traveling companions put out to sea and sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were contrary. They passed between Cyprus and the mainland, keeping to the lee side of the island for shelter from the prevailing westerly winds. Smaller coastal vessels (like theirs) avoided crossing long stretches of open ocean, preferring to stay as close to shore as possible.

The ship continued its voyage across the northeastern Mediterranean, sailing along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia. Those regions were very familiar to Paul; he was originally from Cilicia (Acts 22:3) and had traveled extensively in those areas on his missionary journeys. Helped by local offshore winds and a west-flowing current, the ship worked its way west along the southern shore of Asia Minor, making port at Myra in Lycia and disembarking.

Myra was a chief port for the Imperial grain fleet, whose ships made the circuit between Egypt and Rome. There the centurion, needing to find transportation for the rest of the way, found an Alexandrian grain ship sailing for Italy, and he put his party aboard it. Leaving Myra, the ship sailed slowly for a good many days against the strong northwest wind and with difficulty arrived off Cnidus. Located on a peninsula at the southwest tip of Asia Minor, Cnidus was another harbor frequented by Egyptian merchant ships. When the travelers arrived off Cnidus, they left the shelter of the mainland and the strong, contrary wind did not permit them to go farther west. The ship was forced to turn south toward the island of Crete.

Reaching the shelter of Crete off Salmone (a promontory on Crete’s northeast shore), the ship again with difficulty sailed along the coast. Rounding the southeast corner of the island, it finally arrived at a certain place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea. There, weary from fighting the weather, the travelers entered the bay. The first foreboding sign of what was to come had manifested itself.

THE STAY

Acts 27:9–12 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.” 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 ship was delayed for a considerable time in Fair Havens, apparently waiting for a change in the winds. To continue the voyage was now dangerous, since it was late in the sailing season. Luke notes that even the fast (the Day of Atonement) was already over. For ancient sailing vessels, travel was problematic and dangerous from mid-September to mid-November. All sailing in the open sea ceased from mid-November until at least February. Inasmuch as the Day of Atonement fell in late September or early October, Paul’s ship was already well into the danger period.

Apparently the sailors and Julius had a discussion to plan their course of action. Paul, an experienced traveler, was allowed to speak. At the meeting, Paul began to admonish them, and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be attended with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” The apostle wisely counseled them not to gamble; he had already experienced three shipwrecks (2 Cor. 11:25) and was not anxious for a fourth. Since it was late in the season, and they had already had problems with the winds, Paul warned that the ship should winter right there in Fair Havens. Here again is another feature of good leadership—wisdom and care in taking risks (in this case with the travelers’ lives and the ship’s valuable cargo).

Regrettably (but understandably), the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship, than by what was being said by Paul. (Because the ship belonged to the imperial grain fleet, the centurion—not the pilot or the captain—was the ranking officer on board.) Julius obviously had grown to respect Paul and value his experience as a traveler. The advice of the professional seamen, however, carried more weight with the centurion. Therefore, because the harbor at Fair Havens was not suitable for wintering, the majority involved in the discussion reached a decision to put out to sea from there. Their plan was to reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. Since the harbor at Fair Havens was exposed to winds from half the compass points (though small islands did provide some shelter), it was a less desirable place to spend the winter. Because the harbor at Phoenix (about forty miles away) faced southwest and northwest, it provided much better shelter from the winter storms.

The decision was made for comfort—one the sailors and Julius would soon regret. They would realize that Paul’s counsel had been wise—thus strengthening his place in their minds as a leader.

THE STORM

Acts 27:13–26 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. 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. 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.”

Not long afterward, when a moderate south wind came up, the sailors decided they had received the conditions they were looking for. They weighed anchor, left Fair Havens, and began sailing along the south shore of Crete, close inshore. With any luck, they hoped to reach Phoenix in a few hours.

But before very long, the disaster Paul had predicted struck. Roaring down from the mountains of Crete came the dreaded, violent, east-northeast wind, called Euraquilo (a hybrid word from the Greek word euros; “east wind,” and the Latin word aquilo; “north wind”). This powerful, dangerous windstorm was dreaded by all who sailed the Mediterranean. When the ship was caught in it, and could not face into the wind, the sailors had no choice but to give way to it, and let themselves be driven along. Out of control, the ship was just being pushed by the wind.

The travelers gained a brief respite from the fierce storm under the shelter of a small island called Clauda, about twenty-three miles southwest of Crete. Making good use of the temporary shelter Clauda provided, the sailors took what steps they could to rig the ship to bear the storm. First, with difficulty they managed to get the ship’s boat under control. This lifeboat and tender, usually towed behind, was taken on board in bad weather. By now it undoubtedly was filled with water, which accounts for the difficulty in hauling it aboard. Luke’s use of the plural pronoun we may indicate that even the passengers helped secure the boat. Social distinctions began to disappear in the fight for survival.

After they had hoisted the dingy on board, the crew members used supporting cables in undergirding the ship. This procedure, known as frapping, involved wrapping cables around the ship’s hull and then winching them tight. Thus supported, the ship would be better able to withstand the severe pounding of wind and sea.

What the third precaution taken by the sailors was is not clear. The NASB reads, fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor, and so let themselves be driven along. The Syrtis was the dreaded graveyard of ships off the North African coast. Although the Syrtis was still far away, the sailors did not know how far, nor how far the storm might blow the ship. Lowering the sea anchor would act as a drag and help prevent the ship from drifting that far south. Alternatively, the phrase translated let down the sea anchor may be translated “lowered the gear.” In that case, the reference would be to lowering the mainsail, which otherwise would be torn to shreds by the violent wind. However the phrase is translated, the sailors obviously did both—it would have been self-defeating to put out an anchor with the mainsail still rigged.

During the following days, the crew took further steps to help the ship ride out the storm. On the next day, with the ship still being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo (though not all of it—cf. v. 38); and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. The ship’s tackle refers to miscellaneous equipment not crucial to sailing the ship. That probably included the massive spar to which the mainsail had been attached. Luke notes that they threw it overboard with their own hands (some Greek manuscripts read “we threw,” indicating again that the passengers helped); the crew would likely have had no equipment on board able to lift the heavy spar.

All the sailors’ efforts were to no avail, however. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days (thus rendering navigation impossible), it became apparent that no small storm was assailing them. From then on all hope of being saved was gradually abandoned. Only those who have been in a violent storm at sea can fully appreciate the terror the passengers and crew must have felt. The towering, white-capped seas; the roaring of the wind; the violent rocking of the ship as first the bow, then the stern rose high in the air, only to plunge quickly down again; the constant motion, inducing seasickness and making it difficult to stand, let alone walk; the wind-driven salt spray stinging and blinding those exposed on deck; and, worst of all, the looming reality of an awful death by drowning—all those factors combined to unnerve even the most experienced sailor.

It was at this dark moment that Paul’s leadership skills shone most brightly. And when they had gone a long time without food (due to seasickness, the difficulty of preparing food in the storm, and perhaps the spoilage of some of their provisions), then Paul stood up in their midst. They had not listened to him when they were safely anchored at Fair Havens. But these were no professional sailors and amateurs now, just a group of desperate men fighting for their lives. Firmly establishing his credibility, Paul reminded them, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete, and incurred this damage and loss.” Had they heeded his sound advice, they would not have been in this difficulty. The apostle’s purpose, however, was not only to chide them but to encourage them. “Therefore,” he urged them, “keep up your courage, for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.” That may have seemed wishful thinking and small comfort to passengers and crew, who certainly did not see any hope. But Paul had received divine revelation!

To confirm his words (and encourage the others on board), Paul confidently continued, “For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ ” The others were to benefit from the Lord’s protection of Paul (cf. Gen. 39:5, 23; 1 Cor. 7:14). Unbelievers have no idea how much they owe, in the mercy of God, to the presence of righteous men among them. “Therefore,” he urged them, “keep up your courage, men, for I believe God, that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.” Then, perhaps for the benefit of any skeptics who might have wondered how they were going to escape drowning if the ship were lost, the apostle added, “But we must run aground on a certain island.”

The stage was set for the dramatic conclusion to this ill-fated voyage and the fulfillment of God’s promises.

THE SHIPWRECK

Acts 27:27–44 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. 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. 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.

By now Paul had earned the leadership over all on the vessel. He alone remained calm, wise, and in control, because he had absolute trust in God’s promise (through the angel) to save all those on the ship.

The fourteenth night since their departure from Fair Havens found Paul and his fellow travelers still being driven about in the Adriatic Sea. The Adriatic Sea mentioned here is not to be confused with the modern Adriatic Sea, located between Italy and Croatia. In Paul’s day, that body of water was known as the Gulf of Adria. The Sea of Adria (Adriatic Sea) referred to the central Mediterranean. With storm clouds obscuring the sun by day and the stars by night, the sailors could not navigate. Thus, they could only guess that they were somewhere in the central Mediterranean.

Finally, after two weeks of effort and terror, their ordeal showed signs of ending. About midnight on that fourteenth night, the sailors began to surmise that they were approaching some land, presumably because they heard the crashing of surf on a shore. Though they did not recognize it in the dark, they were approaching the island of Malta, south of Sicily. In fact, they were only about three miles from the entrance of what is known today (for obvious reasons) as St. Paul’s Bay. Remarkably, in the providence of God, the storm had driven them across the Mediterranean to a small dot of land in the middle of the sea.

The nineteenth-century British yachtsman James Smith made a detailed study of the voyage recorded in this chapter. His research, published in his classic book The Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul, confirms the remarkable accuracy of Luke’s account. F. F. Bruce relates Smith’s findings:

Smith relates how he made careful enquiries of experienced Mediterranean navigators in order to ascertain the mean rate of drift of a ship of this kind laid-to in such a gale. The conclusion which he reached was a mean drift of about thirty-six miles in twenty-four hours. The soundings recorded in v. 28 indicate that the ship was passing Koura, a point on the east coast of Malta, on her way into St. Paul’s Bay. “But the distance from Clauda to the point of Koura … is 476.6 miles, which, at the rate as deduced from the information …, would take exactly thirteen days, one hour, and twenty-one minutes.” And not only so: “The coincidence of the actual bearing of St. Paul’s Bay from Clauda, and the direction in which a ship must have driven in order to avoid the Syrtis, is if possible still more striking than that of the time actually consumed, and the calculated time.” Then, after carefully reckoning the direction of the ship’s course from the direction of the wind, from the angle of the ship’s head with the wind, and from the lee-way, he goes on: “Hence according to these calculations, a ship starting late in the evening from Clauda would, by midnight on the 14th [day], be less than three miles from the entrance of St. Paul’s Bay. I admit that a coincidence so very close as this, is to a certain extent accidental, but it is an accident which could not have happened had there been any inaccuracy on the part of the author of the narrative with regard to the numerous incidents upon which the calculations are founded, or had the ship been wrecked anywhere but at Malta, for there is no other place agreeing, either in name or description, within the limits to which we are tied down by calculations founded upon the narrative.” (The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971], 514–15)

Scripture is accurate, and God is true to His word.

To confirm their suspicions, the sailors took soundings (using a weight attached to a length of rope) and found the water’s depth to be twenty fathoms (120 feet); and a little farther on they took another sounding and found it to be fifteen fathoms (ninety feet). The decreasing depth of the water showed that they were, in fact, approaching land.

Since hitting a strange shore in the dark in a violent storm was not what the sailors had in mind, they cast four anchors from the stern (to hold the ship in place and keep the bow pointed toward the shore) and wished for daybreak. It soon became evident, however, that the sailors were not content with mere wishing. Panicking and shirking their responsibilities, they foolishly abandoned the relative safety of the larger vessel and were trying to escape from the ship. They actually let down the ship’s boat into the stormy sea, while on the pretense of intending to lay out anchors from the bow, intending to try to escape to shore.

Ever alert, Paul noticed what they were doing. He again exercised leadership by warning the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.” God’s promise that all would be saved (v. 24) assumed they would stay together; the sailors’ treachery threatened that unity. Nor did God’s promise negate human responsibility. God uses natural means, and He was there using Paul, the centurion and his soldiers, as well as those wicked sailors. The sailors’ skills would be sorely needed the next day (cf. vv. 39–41), when escape from the ship actually took place. Not about to repeat their earlier mistake of failing to listen to Paul (which by now they deeply regretted), the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat, and let it fall away. That probably was not what the apostle intended; the dingy could have been useful the next day in bringing some ashore. Getting rid of the dingy did, however, prevent any further escape attempts.

Finally, the long night of anxious waiting ended. As day was about to dawn, Paul began encouraging them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly watching and going without eating, having taken nothing. Therefore I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your preservation; for not a hair from the head of any of you shall perish.” For the reasons noted earlier, the passengers and crew had eaten little or nothing since leaving Fair Havens. Now they needed to strengthen themselves for the last hurdle, getting from the ship to the beach. Using a familiar Jewish proverb (cf. 1 Sam. 14:45; 2 Sam. 14:11; 1 Kings 1:52; Luke 21:18), Paul again reminded them of God’s promise to deliver them, declaring “not a hair from the head of any of you shall perish.”

Then, leading by example, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he broke it and began to eat. Inspired by Paul’s calm, reassuring attitude, the rest were encouraged, and they themselves also took food—all two hundred and seventy-six persons on board.

After they had eaten enough, they began to make preparations to beach the vessel. The first step was to lighten the ship (so it would ride higher in the water and go farther up the beach) by throwing out the remaining wheat into the sea. The next step was to find a spot to run the ship on shore. But when day came, they could not recognize the land. However, they did observe a certain bay with a beach, and they resolved to drive the ship onto it if they could. Having chosen their spot, the sailors began making preparations to beach the ship. They began by casting off the anchors, leaving them in the sea. They were no longer needed, and the sailors did not want their extra weight on board. At the same time they were loosening the ropes that bound the rudders to the sides of the ship. Then, hoisting the foresail to the wind, they headed for the beach. The crew intended to beach the ship much like a modern landing craft.

But then the final disaster of this ill-fated voyage took place. Striking a reef where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern began to be broken up by the force of the waves. The ship was hopelessly caught; the bow could not be freed from the reef, and the stern was being battered to pieces by the thunderous breakers.

Clearly, the end had come, and it was time to abandon ship. Fearing the punishment they would face if the prisoners escaped (cf. Acts 12:19; 16:27), the soldiers’ plan was to kill them, so that none of them should swim away and escape in the confusion. However, the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from their intention. Paul had repeatedly proved his value, and Julius had grown to respect him as the voyage progressed. Instead of allowing his men to slaughter the prisoners, he ordered all soldiers, prisoners, crew, and passengers to abandon ship. Julius commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, and the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. And thus it happened that all 276 people on board were brought safely to land—just as God had promised. God’s power and providence had triumphed, and His glory had been displayed.

Looking back over this dramatic episode in Paul’s life, several key principles of true biblical leadership can be clearly seen.

First

A leader is trusted. Paul was an important prisoner, whose escape or death would have meant serious trouble for Julius. Yet somehow during the brief journey from Caesarea to Sidon, Paul convinced the centurion that he could be trusted. Julius therefore let him leave the ship to be ministered to by the Christians there.

Second

A leader takes the initiative. At the council at Fair Havens, Paul, although a prisoner, did not hesitate to give his advice.

Third

A leader uses good judgment. Had the centurion and sailors heeded Paul’s sound advice, they would have been spared a terrible ordeal—and the loss of the ship.

Fourth

A leader speaks with authority. In the midst of the raging storm, Paul’s confident assertion that all on board would be saved must have seemed like madness. But his unshakable confidence in God’s Word caused him to speak out boldly. Paul also called others to obedience; he was the one who prevented the sailors from abandoning the rest of the passengers (v. 31).

Fifth

A leader strengthens others. Paul three times encouraged the terrified passengers and crew—twice not to lose hope and once to eat. His calmness, confidence, and optimistic trust in God also reassured the others.

Sixth

A leader never compromises his absolutes. Paul prevented the crew from prematurely abandoning the ship. God had said that all would be saved, but all must remain together, and Paul refused to compromise on that instruction.

Seventh

And most important, a leader leads by example. Believing God would do exactly as He said, Paul set an example for the others by remaining calm and confident. Realizing they needed to eat before attempting to get ashore, Paul “took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he broke it and began to eat” (v. 35). His example motivated the others, “and they themselves also took food” (v. 36). Leaders do not push people from behind; they lead them from the front.

These timeless principles of leadership, manifested in the midst of appalling circumstances, reveal Paul as the godly leader he was. They must characterize every leader who wishes to effectively lead God’s people.