Acts 27
Held by God in the Storm
Paul’s journey to Rome becomes a fight for survival when a fierce storm drives the ship off course. In the middle of fear and loss, God promises to preserve every life, and Paul helps those around him face the danger with courage.
Walking Through Acts 27
A Hard Journey Begins (Acts 27:1-8)
1 When it was decided we would sail to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. 2 We went on board a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to various ports along the coast of the province of Asia and put out to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him to go to his friends so they could provide him with what he needed. 4 From there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 After we had sailed across the open sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we put in at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found a ship from Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 7 We sailed slowly for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus. Because the wind prevented us from going any farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 8 With difficulty we sailed along the coast of Crete and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea.Acts 27:1-8 · NET Bible
Paul and other prisoners are placed under Julius, a Roman army officer. Luke and Aristarchus travel with Paul. Their first ship sails along the coast, and at Sidon, Julius allows Paul to visit friends who can care for him. Even as a prisoner, Paul receives kindness and support.
The winds soon make travel difficult. They sail along the sheltered side of Cyprus and reach Myra, where Julius finds an Alexandrian ship headed for Italy. Such ships carried grain from Egypt. Progress remains slow. Unable to follow their planned course, they sail along the sheltered side of Crete and reach Fair Havens, near Lasea.
I notice that trouble begins long before the great storm. Nothing here suggests that slow progress means God has lost control. Paul is moving toward Rome, but the path is neither quick nor easy.
When Good Conditions Turn Bad (Acts 27:9-20)
9 Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 “Men, I can see the voyage is going to end in disaster and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion was more convinced by the captain and the ship’s owner than by what Paul said. 12 Because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there. They hoped that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. 13 When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought they could carry out their purpose, so they weighed anchor and sailed close along the coast of Crete. 14 Not long after this, a hurricane-force wind called the northeaster blew down from the island. 15 When the ship was caught in it and could not head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we ran under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat under control. 17 After the crew had hoisted it aboard, they used supports to undergird the ship. Fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor, thus letting themselves be driven along. 18 The next day, because we were violently battered by the storm, they began throwing the cargo overboard, 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s gear overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and a violent storm continued to batter us, we finally abandoned all hope of being saved.Acts 27:9-20 · NET Bible
Much time has passed, and even the Jewish Day of Atonement is over. That places the voyage in the dangerous fall sailing season. Paul warns that continuing could bring great loss, including loss of life. Julius trusts the ship’s pilot and owner instead. Since Fair Havens is not suitable for winter, most favor reaching Phoenix, another harbor on Crete.
A gentle south wind makes their choice look wise. Then a violent northeaster strikes. The ship cannot face it and is driven along. Near the shelter of Cauda, the crew secures the small boat, braces the ship with ropes, and lowers equipment to slow their drift. They fear being driven onto the Syrtis sandbanks off North Africa.
They throw cargo overboard, then ship’s equipment. For days, neither sun nor stars appear, leaving them without their usual guides. Hope fades. A promising start did not guarantee a safe course. These verses show how quickly human skill and planning can reach their limits.
A Promise Stronger Than the Wind (Acts 27:21-26)
21 Since many of them had no desire to eat, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not put out to sea from Crete, thus avoiding this damage and loss. 22 And now I advise you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship will be lost. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve came to me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar, and God has graciously granted you the safety of all who are sailing with you.’ 25 Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be just as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.”Acts 27:21-26 · NET Bible
After a long time without food, Paul stands before everyone. He reminds them of his earlier warning, but he does not leave them with blame. He brings new hope: the ship will be lost, but every person will survive.
An angel from the God Paul belongs to and serves has told him that he must stand before Caesar. God has also graciously granted the lives of everyone sailing with him. Paul trusts that God will do exactly what he has promised, though they must run aground on an island.
This promise is specific to this voyage. It does not mean every believer will escape every danger. But it shows God’s faithfulness to his purpose and his mercy toward people in danger. Paul’s confidence rests on God’s word, not on improving weather.
Trust That Takes Practical Steps (Acts 27:27-38)
27 When the fourteenth night had come, while we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected they were approaching some land. 28 They took soundings and found the water was twenty fathoms deep; when they had sailed a little farther they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms deep. 29 Because they were afraid that we would run aground on the rocky coast, they threw out four anchors from the stern and wished for day to appear. 30 Then when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending that they were going to put out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it drift away. 33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense and have gone without food; you have eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is important for your survival. For not one of you will lose a hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke it, and began to eat. 36 So all of them were encouraged and took food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276 persons on the ship.) 38 When they had eaten enough to be satisfied, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.Acts 27:27-38 · NET Bible
On the fourteenth night, while drifting in the Adriatic Sea region, the sailors sense that land is near. Depth checks confirm shallower water. They drop four anchors from the stern and wait for daylight. Some sailors try to escape in the small boat while pretending to set more anchors. Paul warns Julius that the sailors must stay for everyone to be saved. The soldiers cut the boat loose.
God’s promise does not make wise action useless. The sailors still have work to do. Trusting God is not the same as refusing help or ignoring danger.
Before dawn, Paul urges everyone to eat. Their long strain has left them without regular meals. He thanks God openly, breaks bread, and begins eating. All 276 people take courage and eat too. Then they throw the remaining grain into the sea to lighten the ship. I love the plain care here: Paul offers hope, but he also recognizes that frightened, tired people need food.
Every Life Brought Safely Through (Acts 27:39-44)
39 When day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 So they slipped the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the linkage that bound the steering oars together. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and steered toward the beach. 41 But they encountered a patch of crosscurrents and ran the ship aground; the bow stuck fast and could not be moved, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves. 42 Now the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that none of them would escape by swimming away. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul’s life, prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest were to follow, some on planks and some on pieces of the ship. And in this way all were brought safely to land.Acts 27:39-44 · NET Bible
At daylight, the crew sees a bay with a beach, though they do not recognize the land. They release the anchors, loosen the steering oars, raise the foresail, and aim for shore. But the ship strikes a sandbar. The bow sticks fast while the waves begin breaking the stern apart.
The soldiers plan to kill the prisoners so none can swim away. Roman guards could face severe punishment if prisoners escaped. Julius wants to save Paul, so he stops their plan. He orders those who can swim to go first. The others follow on planks and pieces of the ship.
Everyone reaches land safely, just as God promised. Some arrive swimming; others arrive holding broken wood. Their different ways of reaching shore do not change the shared mercy: not one life is lost.
- Promise — God’s sure word about what he will do.
- Providence — God’s wise care as he works through events and people.
Where might you be treating a familiar plan as though it were the same thing as God’s promise?
Father, thank you for your faithful care when life feels out of control. Help us trust your word, receive wise help, and care for others in the storm. Keep our hope rooted in Jesus rather than in our circumstances.