ACTS LESSON 57


    We will begin this lesson in Acts 27:1 "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."

    In the last lesson, we saw Paul actually being found not guilty by
all who examined him, but he had appealed to a higher court, and now
he must be tried in Rome. We pick up here in chapter 27, where he is
finally being sent to Rome by ship after being imprisoned for more
than two years. The "we" above lets us know that Luke is with Paul.

    Acts 27:2 "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."

    This Adramyttium was a ship-building city in Asia Minor.  This
Aristarchus is the same one mentioned in chapter 19 verse 29, and is
part of Paul's party. He was saved on Paul's first missionary journey
to Thessalonica. Aristarchus never lost contact with Paul while he was
imprisoned and neither did Luke.

    Acts 27:3 "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."

    It does not tell us here, but I am sure that Festus and Agrippa
had told Paul's jailor and this centurion, that Paul was really an
innocent man caught in circumstances beyond his control. He actually
lets Paul go ashore and visit with friends here at Sidon. Refresh,
here, is used in medical terms, and, perhaps, Paul needed some type of
care that Luke could not give him aboard ship. Of course, he came back
to the ship and did not betray the centurion's confidence.

    Acts 27:4 "And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under
Cyprus, because the winds were contrary."

    The ship had intended to sail to the west, but because of the
strong winds wound up sailing north instead.

    Acts 27:5 "And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and
Pamphylia, we came to Myra, [a city] of Lycia."  Acts 27:6 "And there
the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he
put us therein."

    This was a port they had not intended to enter, but other ships
which ran from Rome to this area came, and brought needed goods, and
took back things needed in Rome. These cargo ships could carry a few
passengers, also, and this is the type of ship Paul and the others
found passage on.

    Acts 27:7 "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;" Acts 27:8 "And, hardly passing it,
came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was
the city [of] Lasea."

    The winds were blowing the wrong direction for them, and they were
not able to go the way they wanted to. This was a sailing ship and the
wind was their only power to move. It appears right along here, that
the wind did not cooperate at all. Since the wind would carry them no
further along the route they intended to go, they landed at Fair
havens.

    Acts 27:9 "Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now
dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished
[them]," Acts 27:10 "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."

    Notice, Paul had been fasting. God has shown Paul, perhaps, a
vision or, perhaps, just put these words in his mouth, but he has
shown Paul that this ship is in trouble. This ship going down could
cost many lives. Paul has told this to the centurion. This centurion
knows that Paul is a man of God and should listen.

    Acts 27:11 "Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the
owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul."

    This was a natural thing to do, because the captain of the ship
knew these waters better than Paul did. Paul was not speaking in the
natural, however, he was speaking in the spirit. He had brought the
warning that God had given him, that is all he can do.

    Acts 27:12 "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."

    Commodius means inconvenient or not favorable.  Against Paul's
advice, they take up anchor and try to sail to a more favorable port
to winter in.

    Acts 27:13 "And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that
they had obtained [their] purpose, loosing [thence], they sailed close
by Crete."  Acts 27:14 "But not long after there arose against it a
tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon."

    This Euroclydon was a terrible storm from the east. This bad
weather had to do with the oncoming winter. It seemed they hung to the
coastline for safety.

    Acts 27:15 "And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up
into the wind, we let [her] drive."

    This is just saying there was no way of going the direction the
captain wanted to go without capsizing the ship, so he just let the
wind carry them where it would. They were moving, if not in the right
direction.

    Acts 27:16 "And running under a certain island which is called
Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:" Acts 27:17 "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."

    Going wherever the wind would take them, they soon found out was
no good at all either. It took them near this island Clauda where
there was dangerous quicksand. The captain must get out of here, so he
puts the sails up and sails out fast. All of this time, the captain
has lost his plan for this trip. Now all he is trying to do is to save
the ship, its cargo, and its passengers.

    Acts 27:18 "And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the
next [day] they lightened the ship;"

    Here, we see the captain having the cargo thrown overboard to try
to save the lives of his passengers and himself.

    Acts 27:19 "And the third [day] we cast out with our own hands the
tackling of the ship."

    This is a desperation move of the captain, when even the tackling
must go overboard.

    Acts 27:20 "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."

    It appears that things have gotten so bad, that the captain, and
all the passengers, and crew have decided there is no use.  The ship
is going to sink and they will lose their lives.

    Acts 27:21 "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."

    We see here, that Paul told them before they left Crete, that this
trip would be extremely dangerous. They ignored him and went on
anyway.

    Acts 27:22 "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."

    This was a relief in itself, but how did they know that they could
believe what Paul said? We see in the next verse why.

    Acts 27:23 "For there stood by me this night the angel of God,
whose I am, and whom I serve," Acts 27:24 "Saying, Fear not, Paul;
thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all
them that sail with thee."
    Many of these people on this ship are not even believers in God,
but Paul has brought a glimmer of hope. To those who know God, this is
like a pardon from the death chamber. They all thought certain death
lay ahead. Paul's God has sent a message of hope. I am sure that some
on board wondered, what kind of a man was going on this boat, that the
very Angel of God would come and talk with him? If he didn't have a
reputation for being a man of God before this trip, he now does.

    Acts 27:25 "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God,
that it shall be even as it was told me."

    Paul expresses his complete faith in what God has told him, here.
Paul's faith will encourage others aboard, especially Luke, and
Aristarchus.

                                 Notes






































                           Acts 57 Questions


1.  Whose hands was Paul delivered into for the trip to Rome?
2.  How do we know Luke went along?
3.  Where was the ship from that they went on?
4.  Besides Luke, who was another disciple who went with Paul?
5.  At Sidon what courtesy did Julius show Paul?
6.  Why did they sail into Cyprus?
7.  After they had sailed over the sea of Cilicia, what did the
    centurion do at Lycia?
8.  Where was the ship from?
9.  Where did the ship land near Crete?
10. In verse 9, we find Paul had been doing what?
11. What had God shown Paul, that he warned them of?
12. Why should this centurion have listened to Paul?
13. Who did the centurion believe instead?
14. What very foolish thing did they do?
15. What port were they trying to make to winter in (V-12)?
16. What does commodius mean?
17. What was the name of this terrible east wind?
18. When they could not steer the ship, what did they do?
19. What did they fear near the island called Clauda?
20. What was the first thing they did, thinking they were about to
    lose the ship?
21. On the third day of the storm, what did they throw overboard?
22. In verse 20, what despaired them so that they thought there was no
    hope?
23. In verse 21, what does Paul tell them?
24. Why did Paul tell them to be of good cheer?
25. Who had stood by Paul in the night and told him he must be brought
    before Caesar?
26. What else had he told Paul that was good news to all aboard?
27. What act of faith did Paul show in verse 25?


                                 Notes