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The book of Acts

The shipwreck on the way to Rome

Chapter 27

This chapter deals with the first part of Paul's journey to Rome, in the custody of a centurion named Julius and his soldiers, along with other prisoners, and accompanied by Luke and Aristarchus. Here are nautical details. These account for the navigation of the time so much that they have served as the basis for a classic book on the subject, though Luke was not a sailor.

The ship they embarked on at Caesarea, coming from Adramyttium in Mysia, followed the coast north to Myra in Lycia, where they would have embark on another that would go to Italy. The centurion allowed Paul to disembark on the stop made at Sidon to see and receive care of his friends. He belonged to the distinguished Augustan Regiment, and was of good character like other centurions mentioned in the New Testament, having shown kindness, justice and respect for people.

Continuing on the journey, they met headwinds and had to sail under the shelter of northern Cyprus. Reaching Myra, they anchored, and the centurion found a ship just came in from Alexandria and going to Italy, so he put on board the soldiers, the prisoners including Paul, and his two companions, and sailed on.

They sailed slowly because of headwinds (Northwestern) and after many days, they had to turn to the southwest, eventually encircling with difficulty the island of Crete to the south. They stopped at Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea in the centre of the island.

Due to the long time that had elapsed, it was now early autumn. The Fast was already over, which was the great Day of Atonement for Jews and was celebrated in late September on our calendar. At that time, it was considered dangerous to navigate on the Mediterranean from the beginning of October until mid-March. Under normal weather conditions, they would already have arrived at their destination in Rome, but because of the wind, they had covered only about one third of the distance in their sailboat.

Paul warned the crew and insisted that if they continued the journey now, they would be at great risk of damage to the ship, damage to the cargo and even life threatening for everyone. It is curious that a prisoner like Paul ventured to give advice to the sailors insistently on a subject that was not of his remit. Evidently, he was respected by the centurion and officers and felt compelled to give this warning, which apparently they had not requested. He had already undergone three shipwrecks before (2 Corinthians 11:25).

However, the centurion, who was the highest authority in the ship, preferred to trust the helmsman and the owner (or captain) of the ship, and dismissed the warning of Paul. The place where they were was not suitable to spend the winter, and others thought it would be better to go out and continue their journey along the coast to a more suitable harbour called Phoenix, sixty miles away, leading to the southwest and northwest, and winter there.

A soft south wind began to blow, and the sailors thought that was what they wanted. They raised anchor and put out to sea, following the coastline. They were so confident that they did not even bother to lift aboard the skiff towed by the vessel because of the small distance. However, it was not long before a very strong typhoon unleashed on the island from east-northeast, called Euroclydon, which drove the ship. Not being able to sail against the wind, they drifted passing south of a small island called Clauda and were taken to the high seas to the west. With difficulty, they secured the skiff, used every means to strengthen the ship with cables, struck sail to avoid running aground on the Syrtis Sands, and so were driven.

The cargo was probably comprised of wheat and other cereals. The sudden and violent movement because of the waves meant that this load was thrown from one side to the other, damaging the ship and causing a dangerous list over the surface of the sea. Therefore, on the next day, they threw part of the load into the sea. On the third day, they also threw over furniture and expendable equipment. They continued for several days helpless in the great storm, without seeing the sun or the stars that could guide them, and began to despair, thinking that everyone would die. Men lost all their appetite and did not bother to eat, although not short of food. Undoubtedly, the seasickness, physical exhaustion due to stress and despair all contributed to this fasting.

Finally, an angel of God appeared to Paul in the night telling him not to be afraid, and that it was necessary for him to appear before Caesar; God, therefore, in His grace, granted him the life of all those who were sailing with him. Given this auspicious message, Paul stood solemnly in the middle of those men and made a little speech. First, he respectfully mentioned that they had done wrong in not accepting his advice not to leave Crete, because they would have avoided the damage and the loss suffered now.

However, they should have courage because no life would be lost among them, only the ship. Then he revealed what the angel of God to whom he belonged and worshipped had said, and assured them that he believed in God that what he had been told would happen. It was necessary now that they should come upon some island.

In fact, in the fourteenth night, while still being driven by the storm in the Adriatic sea, the sailors realized that the depth of the sea was diminishing, starting at 37 meters, then 27. They immediately cast anchors from the stern, afraid of colliding with rocks and sinking. Usually the anchors are released from the bow, but with the ship secured astern, the bow would hit the beach or rocks first, giving more safety to those who were on board.

They eagerly wished dawn to come soon but the sailors began to untie the skiff, with the intention of leaving the others on the sly. Paul saw and warned the centurion and the soldiers that without the sailors the others could not be saved. Therefore, the soldiers then cut the ropes that held the skiff and dropped it.

As dawn was coming, Paul implored everyone to eat, for they had spent two weeks in fasting and their safety was at stake. He assured them that all of them would come out unscathed. Then giving them his example, he took bread, gave thanks to God in the presence of them all, broke it and began to eat. Everyone then cheered and ate well: they were 276 in all.

To alleviate the ship they threw the rest of the wheat into the sea. At dawn, they knew not where they were but they saw a beach. They raised their anchors, hoisted the headsail and dropping the helm, let the wind take them there.

However, on the way, the ship ran aground in a place where there were two streams, the bow was stuck and the stern began to crumble with the force of the waves. The soldiers were ready to kill the prisoners, lest any escape: they were responsible for and had to pay with their life for prisoners escaping. However, the centurion stopped them and instructed that those who could swim must be the first to jump into the sea and reach land. The others must save themselves using planks and ship wreckage. Therefore, everyone came to land safely.

In summary, we see that Paul and his companions were subjugated in the first instance, to the will of the centurion. The centurion was duty bound to take Paul to Rome to be tried by Caesar, and he used the most convenient transportation he knew, over the sea. However, the journey was difficult, because of the weather, and they almost halted for months on the island of Crete, but the storm took them out to sea and they were adrift, exactly in the direction of their destination without knowing it, now landing on an island.

Paul intervened three times: first he tried to stop the ship in Crete, fearing for the safety of all. In the second, having received a divine message, he encouraged everyone and made them eat.  In the third, he prevented the sailors from absconding at the risk of the lives of those who remained. His care for others was a beautiful witness to his faith.

 

R David Jones

 

1 And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.
2 So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.
3 And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.
4 When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5 And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.
7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone.
8 Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,
10 saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives."
11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.
12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.
13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.
14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.
15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive.
16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty.
17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.
18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.
19 On the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands.
20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.
21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.
22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.'
25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
26 However, we must run aground on a certain island."
27 Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land.
28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.
29 Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.
30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow,
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 skiff and let it fall off.
33 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing.
34 Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you."
35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.
36 Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.
37 And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.
38 So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.
39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible.
40 And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore.
41 But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.
43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,
44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.

Acts chapter 27