They Encounter a Massive Storm
When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale. We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us. Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.
The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone. No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”
About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near. They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep. At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight. Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship.
But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat— all 276 of us who were on board. After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.
Acts 27:13-38
Our remaining questions:
Are you going to dissect Paul’s speech from 27:21-26? Yes I will
Really? Paul led them in communion and then they were saved. I can’t get my head around that. How could Paul lead a bunch of non-Christian heathen in communion? It doesn’t see m right when he says not to take communion lightly in 1 Corinthians 11:27-31
Paul’s Words On Board to the Captain and Crew
“Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.”
[But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul.]
Acts 27:10-11
This was Paul’s first statement to the officer in charge. It is quite likely the captain of the ship and the owner’s representative heard Paul’s statement as well. There is no indication that this was a “word from the LORD” or a prophecy. Paul uses the word [thereo] which means “I perceive”, it’s my theory, my belief that we should not go on”. This is the utterance he is referring to when later he said to them “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete . . .”(verse 21)
No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”
Acts 27:21-26
This second speech, longer in the words used is more clearly a statement from Paul which shows that his God had spoken on the matter. He does not use the words he uses if he had been speaking to Jews or believers. Rather Paul backs it up with the words “last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said . . .
‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’
The angel’s message was for Paul, reassuring him that he would indeed stand trial before Caesar. But the implication is that he (Paul) will survive this current experience. God in his goodness has granted safety to all his travelling companions as well. Because they were travelling with Paul they will be saved too. In other words “stick close to me and you will survive this too”. It is not a “thus sayeth the Lord” prophecy but rather God has told me via the angel I will survive this and as a result you will survive it too if you stay on board with me.
This speech is unlike any other in the book of Acts. It is not long and contiguous. Rather they are utterances of Paul over a period of time on board. But clearly connected in time and logic but with some days, hours and minutes between each utterance. “You will all die unless the sailors stay on board” was spoken to the commanding officer and the soldiers. It was some of the sailors who were intending to abandon ship and take the one lifeboat. So Paul tells the Roman commander so he can assumedly stop them. If the sailors had left the ship “you will all die”. Notice the “you” used; not “we”. Paul assumedly will survive anyway. God has said so. But all need to stick with him in order for them to survive.
But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.”
So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.
Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat.“You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.”
Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat— all 276 of us who were on board. After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.
Acts 27:31-38
Now for this curly question:
- Really? Paul led them in communion and then they were saved. I can’t get my head around that. How could Paul lead a bunch of non-Christian heathen in communion? It doesn’t seem right when he says not to take communion lightly in 1 Corinthians 11:27-31
Was this indeed communion? Should we link the thoughts or not? The simple answer is “no”. Breaking bread does not necessarily signify communion. As the one who asked the question so rightly pointed out, leading non-Christians in communion would have been inappropriate at this point. This was simply a meal together as a result of urging his companions to eat. Paul’s prayer here was more akin to saying grace before the meal than leading them in communion. “Breaking bread” was also a term used for having a meal. In fact the bread was used as the sop for whatever else was eaten – i.e. the cutlery. It would have been right and natural to thank God for preserving their lives thus far.
What I am pondering at this point is God’s grace on unrighteous people by virtue of the fact that righteous people are with them. I am sure the unrighteous / ungodly have no idea how often and how much they are blessed and preserved by virtue of the presence of believers. Read the Lot story to gain more insight into this fact. (Gen 14 and 18). I think this would be an interesting side track to explore sometime. The effect on non-believers by association with believers, on a personal level, on a local level and on a national level. It certainly seems to be what this account on board with Paul is hinting at.
Let me know your thoughts on this. It may be something I explore at some stage in the future.
Here is our next portion to focus on:
Shipwrecked by Grounding the Ship
When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart. The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. The others held on to planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.
Acts 27:39-44
For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
Matthew 5:45
The quality of mercy . . . falls on the just and unjust alike.
William Shakespeare – The Merchant of Venice Act IV, Scene I
What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.
Acts 27:24
Don’t get bent out of shape when God blesses unbelievers through you, it is His nature to bless.
Ian Vail
And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed–all because you have obeyed me. God’s Word to Abraham
Genesis 22:18