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

And when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.

And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

And the next day we touched at Sidon: and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go unto his friends and refresh himself.

And putting to sea from thence, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy; and he put us therein.

And when we had sailed slowly many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not further suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone;

and with difficulty coasting along it we came unto a certain place called Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

Paul Warns Against Sailing

And when much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already gone by, Paul admonished them,

and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the lading and the ship, but also of our lives.

But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul.

And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there; which is a haven of Crete, looking north-east and south-east.

The Voyage Encounters a Great Storm

And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore.

But after no long time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called Euraquilo:

and when the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven.

And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat:

and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven.

And as we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw the freight overboard;

and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship.

And when neither sun nor stars shone upon us for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was now taken away.

Paul’s Vision and Divine Assurance

And when they had been long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.

And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

For there stood by me this night an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve,

saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Cæsar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee.

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me.

But we must be cast upon a certain island.

Preparing for Shipwreck

But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven to and fro in the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some country:

and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms.

And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.

And as the sailors were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under color as though they would lay out anchors from the foreship,

Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.

Wherefore I beseech you to take some food: for this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you.

And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he brake it, and began to eat.

Then were they all of good cheer, and themselves also took food.

And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

Shipwreck and Survival

And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it.

And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.

And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stayed them from their purpose; and commanded that they who could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first to the land;

and the rest, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to the 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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Acts27

Paul Begins the Voyage to Rome

Paul Warns Against Sailing

The Voyage Encounters a Great Storm

Paul’s Vision and Divine Assurance

Preparing for Shipwreck

Shipwreck and Survival

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