Acts27

Paul, a prisoner, embarks on a perilous voyage to Rome. Despite his warning, the ship's crew sails into a violent tempest, the Euroclydon, losing all hope. An angel assures Paul that all lives will be saved, though the ship will be lost. After fourteen days, the ship wrecks on an island, but all 276 souls safely reach land as prophesied.
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Paul Begins the Voyage to Rome

1
And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. ​
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And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. ​
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And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. ​
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And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. ​
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And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
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And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein. ​
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And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
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And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

Paul Warns Against Sailing

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Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, ​
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And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. ​
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Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. ​
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And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. ​

The Voyage Encounters a Great Storm

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And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
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But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. ​
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And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
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And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
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Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. ​
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And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
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And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
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And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. ​

Paul’s Vision and Divine Assurance

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But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. ​
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And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
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For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, ​
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Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. ​
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Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
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Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

Preparing for Shipwreck

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But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; ​
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And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
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Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
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And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
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Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. ​
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Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
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And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. ​
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Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. ​
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And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. ​
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Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
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And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. ​
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And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

Shipwreck and Survival

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And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
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And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
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And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. ​
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And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. ​
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But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: ​
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And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. ​

Study Notes for Acts 27

Verse 1

Paul, along with other prisoners, was committed to Julius, a centurion (a commander of 100 men). The 'Augustus' band' refers to an elite cohort, likely stationed in Syria or Caesarea, suggesting Julius was an officer of some standing.

Verse 2

Luke, the author, uses the inclusive 'we,' confirming his presence on the journey. Aristarchus, a Macedonian companion, demonstrates great loyalty by traveling with Paul, even as a presumed fellow prisoner (cf. Col 4:10).

Verse 3

Julius’s courteous treatment of Paul suggests respect, perhaps influenced by the favorable reports Paul received from governors Festus and Felix, or recognition of Paul's status as a Roman citizen.

Verse 4

Sailing under Cyprus indicates they were using the island’s shelter for protection because prevailing winds (the westerly Etesian winds) were contrary to their intended course to Italy.

Verse 6

The centurion transferred them to a large grain ship from Alexandria, Egypt, which was the primary supplier of grain to Rome. Such ships were large and often carried hundreds of passengers and crew.

Verse 9

The 'fast' refers to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which occurred in late September or early October. This date marked the end of the safe sailing season in the Mediterranean, making further travel highly dangerous.

Verse 10

Paul, though a prisoner, offers expert advice, likely based on his extensive experience in maritime travel (cf. 2 Cor 11:25) combined with divine foresight, though the centurion chose to trust the ship’s professionals.

Verse 11

The centurion’s decision reflects the general ancient preference for trusting the technical expertise of the ship's master over the warning of an outsider or a prisoner.

Verse 12

Fair Havens was poorly suited for wintering. The crew’s desire to reach Phenice (Phoenix), a better harbor, led them to take a risk that proved catastrophic.

Verse 14

Euroclydon (often translated as Euraquilo, meaning 'northeast wind') was a sudden, violent, cyclonic wind known for rapidly changing direction and devastating ships in the eastern Mediterranean.

Verse 17

They used 'helps' (undergirding or frapping) by passing ropes or chains under the hull and tightening them to prevent the ship’s timbers from separating. The 'quicksands' refer to the dangerous sandbanks (Syrtis Major) off the coast of North Africa.

Verse 20

The inability to see the sun or stars meant they had lost all means of celestial navigation, leading to complete despair among the sailors.

Verse 21

Paul establishes his authority by reminding them of his ignored warning, but immediately pivots to offer hope, demonstrating leadership rooted in prophetic assurance.

Verse 23

Paul affirms his identity and mission: 'whose I am, and whom I serve.' He is secure in his relationship with God, even in the face of imminent death.

Verse 24

The promise that Paul 'must be brought before Caesar' guarantees his safety, demonstrating that God’s ultimate plan for the gospel’s spread overrides immediate physical dangers. God grants the safety of the entire ship’s company for Paul’s sake.

Verse 27

Adria here refers not narrowly to the Adriatic Sea, but to the central Mediterranean basin between Greece, Italy, and Malta, where they had been drifting for two weeks.

Verse 31

This verse presents a crucial theological principle: God’s guaranteed promises (V. 24) do not negate the necessity of human effort and practical obedience. Salvation requires both divine decree and responsible human action.

Verse 33

Paul takes command again, urging them to eat. This fasting was involuntary (due to the severity of the storm), and Paul recognized the need to restore physical strength before the final ordeal.

Verse 34

The assurance that 'there shall not an hair fall from the head' is a common biblical idiom (cf. 1 Sam 14:45; Luke 21:18) guaranteeing complete, divinely protected safety.

Verse 35

Paul publicly gives thanks for the bread. This action, mirroring the patterns of Jesus' meals, restores morale and establishes Paul as the spiritual and moral leader of the 276 people.

Verse 37

The number 276 is typical for large grain carriers (Alexandrian ships). Luke’s inclusion of this specific detail attests to his meticulous historical record-keeping.

Verse 41

Running the ship aground was a deliberate, desperate act to prevent the ship from sinking in deep water. The force of the waves immediately broke the stern, leaving the bow fixed.

Verse 42

Under Roman military law, a soldier was liable for the escape of his prisoner, often facing the same penalty (death). Killing the prisoners was standard protocol to avoid this liability.

Verse 43

The centurion’s desire to save Paul’s life, likely due to the respect Paul had earned and the assurance he provided, providentially overrides military protocol, ensuring the fulfillment of God’s promise.

Verse 44

The chapter concludes with a statement confirming the complete fulfillment of Paul’s prophecy (V. 22): all 276 people were saved, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His servant.

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