Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Acts » Chapter 27

Acts 27:1-44 King James Version (KJV)

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.

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.

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.

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

5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

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

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;

8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

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.

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

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.

13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

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

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.

18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;

19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

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.

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.

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.

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

24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

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

26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

27 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;

28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.

29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

30 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,

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

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

33 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.

34 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.

35 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.

36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

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

38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

39 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.

40 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.

41 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.

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

43 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:

44 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.


Acts 27:1-44 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And G1161 when G5613 it was determined G2919 that we G2248 should sail G636 into G1519 Italy, G2482 they delivered G3860 G5037 Paul G3972 and G2532 certain G5100 other G2087 prisoners G1202 unto one named G3686 Julius, G2457 a centurion G1543 of Augustus' G4575 band. G4686

2 And G1161 entering G1910 into a ship G4143 of Adramyttium, G98 we launched, G321 meaning G3195 to sail G4126 by G2596 the coasts G5117 of Asia; G773 one Aristarchus, G708 a Macedonian G3110 of Thessalonica, G2331 being G5607 with G4862 us. G2254

3 And G5037 the next G2087 day we touched G2609 at G1519 Sidon. G4605 And G5037 Julius G2457 courteously G5364 entreated G5530 Paul, G3972 and gave him liberty G2010 to go G4198 unto G4314 his friends G5384 to refresh himself. G5177 G1958

4 And G2547 when we had launched G321 from thence, G2547 we sailed under G5284 Cyprus, G2954 because G1223 the winds G417 were G1511 contrary. G1727

5 And G5037 when we had sailed over G1277 the sea G3989 of G2596 Cilicia G2791 and G2532 Pamphylia, G3828 we came G2718 to G1519 Myra, G3460 a city of Lycia. G3073

6 And there G2546 the centurion G1543 found G2147 a ship G4143 of Alexandria G222 sailing G4126 into G1519 Italy; G2482 and he put G1688 us G2248 therein. G1519 G846

7 And G1161 when we had sailed slowly G1020 G1722 many G2425 days, G2250 and G2532 scarce G3433 were come G1096 over against G2596 Cnidus, G2834 the wind G417 not G3361 suffering G4330 us, G2248 we sailed under G5284 Crete, G2914 over against G2596 Salmone; G4534

8 And, G5037 hardly G3433 passing G3881 it, G846 came G2064 unto G1519 a G5100 place G5117 which is called G2564 The fair G2570 havens; G2568 G3040 nigh G1451 whereunto G3739 was G2258 the city G4172 of Lasea. G2996

9 Now G1161 when much G2425 time G5550 was spent, G1230 and G2532 when sailing G4144 was G5607 now G2235 dangerous, G2000 because G1223 the fast G3521 was G3928 now G2532 already G2235 past, G3928 Paul G3972 admonished G3867 them,

10 And said G3004 unto them, G846 Sirs, G435 I perceive G2334 that G3754 this voyage G4144 will be G3195 G1510 with G3326 hurt G5196 and G2532 much G4183 damage, G2209 not G3756 only G3440 of the lading G5414 and G2532 ship, G4143 but G235 also G2532 of our G2257 lives. G5590

11 Nevertheless G1161 the centurion G1543 believed G3982 the master G2942 and G2532 the owner of the ship, G3490 more G3123 than G2228 those things which were spoken G3004 by G5259 Paul. G3972

12 And G1161 because G5225 the haven G3040 was G5225 not commodious G428 to G4314 winter in, G3915 the more part G4119 advised G1012 G5087 to depart G321 thence also, G2547 if G1513 by any means G4458 they might G1410 attain G2658 to G1519 Phenice, G5405 and there to winter; G3914 which is an haven G3040 of Crete, G2914 and lieth G991 toward G2596 the south west G3047 and G2532 G2596 north west. G5566

13 And G1161 when the south wind G3558 blew softly, G5285 supposing G1380 that they had obtained G2902 their purpose, G4286 loosing G142 thence, they sailed G3881 close by G788 Crete. G2914

14 But G1161 not G3756 long G4183 after G3326 there arose G906 against G2596 it G846 a tempestuous G5189 wind, G417 called G2564 Euroclydon. G2148

15 And G1161 when the ship G4143 was caught, G4884 and G2532 could G1410 not G3361 bear up into G503 the wind, G417 we let her drive. G1929 G5342

16 And G1161 running under G5295 a certain G5100 island G3519 which is called G2564 Clauda, G2802 we had G2480 much G3433 work G2480 to come by G4031 G1096 the boat: G4627

17 Which G3739 when they had taken up, G142 they used G5530 helps, G996 undergirding G5269 the ship; G4143 and, G5037 fearing G5399 lest G3361 they should fall G1601 into G1519 the quicksands, G4950 strake G5465 sail, G4632 and so G3779 were driven. G5342

18 And G1161 we G2257 being exceedingly G4971 tossed with a tempest, G5492 the next G1836 day they lightened the ship; G1546 G4160

19 And G2532 the third G5154 day we cast out G4496 with our own hands G849 the tackling G4631 of the ship. G4143

20 And G1161 when neither G3383 sun G2246 nor G3383 stars G798 in G1909 many G4119 days G2250 appeared, G2014 and G5037 no G3756 small G3641 tempest G5494 lay on G1945 us, all G3956 hope G1680 that we G2248 should be saved G4982 was G4014 then G3063 taken away. G4014

21 But G1161 after G5225 long G4183 abstinence G776 G5119 Paul G3972 stood forth G2476 in G1722 the midst G3319 of them, G846 and said, G2036 Sirs, G5599 G435 ye should G1163 G3303 have hearkened G3980 unto me, G3427 and not G3361 have loosed G321 from G575 Crete, G2914 and G5037 to have gained G2770 this G5026 harm G5196 and G2532 loss. G2209

22 And G2532 now G3569 I exhort G3867 you G5209 to be of good cheer: G2114 for G1063 there shall be G2071 no G3762 loss G580 of any man's life G5590 among G1537 you, G5216 but G4133 of the ship. G4143

23 For G1063 there stood by G3936 me G3427 this G5026 night G3571 the angel G32 of God, G2316 whose G3739 I am, G1510 and G2532 whom G3739 I serve, G3000

24 Saying, G3004 Fear G5399 not, G3361 Paul; G3972 thou G4571 must G1163 be brought before G3936 Caesar: G2541 and, G2532 lo, G2400 God G2316 hath given G5483 thee G4671 all G3956 them that sail G4126 with G3326 thee. G4675

25 Wherefore, G1352 sirs, G435 be of good cheer: G2114 for G1063 I believe G4100 God, G2316 that G3754 it G3779 shall be G2071 even G2596 G3739 as G5158 it was told G2980 me. G3427

26 Howbeit G1161 we G2248 must G1163 be cast G1601 upon G1519 a certain G5100 island. G3520

27 But G1161 when G5613 the fourteenth G5065 night G3571 was come, G1096 as we G2257 were driven up and down G1308 in G1722 Adria, G99 about G2596 midnight G3319 G3571 the shipmen G3492 deemed G5282 that they G846 drew near G4317 to some G5100 country; G5561

28 And G2532 sounded, G1001 and found G2147 it twenty G1501 fathoms: G3712 and G1161 when they had gone G1339 a little further, G1024 they sounded G1001 again, G3825 and G2532 found G2147 it fifteen G1178 fathoms. G3712

29 Then G5037 fearing G5399 lest G3381 G4458 we should have fallen G1601 G1601 upon G1519 rocks, G5117 G5138 they cast G4496 four G5064 anchors G45 out of G1537 the stern, G4403 and wished G2172 G1096 for the day. G2250

30 And G1161 as the shipmen G3492 were about G2212 to flee G5343 out of G1537 the ship, G4143 when G2532 they had let down G5465 the boat G4627 into G1519 the sea, G2281 under colour G4392 as though G5613 they would G3195 have cast G1614 anchors G45 out of G1537 the foreship, G4408

31 Paul G3972 said G2036 to the centurion G1543 and G2532 to the soldiers, G4757 Except G3362 these G3778 abide G3306 in G1722 the ship, G4143 ye G5210 cannot G3756 G1410 be saved. G4982

32 Then G5119 the soldiers G4757 cut off G609 the ropes G4979 of the boat, G4627 and G2532 let G1439 her G846 fall off. G1601

33 And G1161 while G891 G3739 the day G2250 was coming G1096 on, G3195 Paul G3972 besought G3870 them all G537 to take G3335 meat, G5160 saying, G3004 This day G4594 is the fourteenth G5065 day G2250 that ye have tarried G4328 and continued G1300 fasting, G777 having taken G4355 nothing. G3367

34 Wherefore G1352 I pray G3870 you G5209 to take G4355 some meat: G5160 for G1063 this G5124 is G5225 for G4314 your G5212 health: G4991 for G1063 there shall G4098 not G3762 an hair G2359 fall G4098 from G1537 the head G2776 of any G3762 of you. G5216

35 And G1161 when he had thus G5023 spoken, G2036 G2532 he took G2983 bread, G740 and gave thanks G2168 to God G2316 in presence G1799 of them all: G3956 and G2532 when he had broken G2806 it, he began G756 to eat. G2068

36 Then G1161 were G1096 they G846 G1096 all G3956 of good cheer, G2115 and they G4355 also G2532 took G4355 some meat. G5160

37 And G1161 we were G2258 in all G3956 in G1722 the ship G4143 two hundred G1250 threescore G1440 and sixteen G1803 souls. G5590

38 And G1161 when they had eaten G5160 enough, G2880 they lightened G2893 the ship, G4143 and cast out G1544 the wheat G4621 into G1519 the sea. G2281

39 And G1161 when G3753 it was G1096 day, G2250 they knew G1921 not G3756 the land: G1093 but G1161 they discovered G2657 a certain G5100 creek G2859 with G2192 a shore, G123 into G1519 the which G3739 they were minded, G1011 if G1487 it were possible, G1410 to thrust in G1856 the ship. G4143

40 And G2532 when they had taken up G4014 the anchors, G45 they committed G1439 themselves unto G1519 the sea, G2281 and G260 loosed G447 the rudder G4079 bands, G2202 and G2532 hoised up G1869 the mainsail G736 to the wind, G4154 and made G2722 toward G1519 shore. G123

41 And G1161 falling G4045 into G1519 a place G5117 where two seas met, G1337 they ran G2027 the ship G3491 aground; G2027 and G2532 the forepart G4408 G3303 stuck fast, G2043 and remained G3306 unmoveable, G761 but G1161 the hinder part G4403 was broken G3089 with G5259 the violence G970 of the waves. G2949

42 And G1161 the soldiers' G4757 counsel G1012 was G1096 to G2443 kill G615 the prisoners, G1202 lest G3361 any of them G5100 should swim out, G1579 and escape. G1309

43 But G1161 the centurion, G1543 willing G1014 to save G1295 Paul, G3972 kept G2967 them G846 from their purpose; G1013 and G5037 commanded G2753 that they which could G1410 swim G2860 should cast G641 themselves first G4413 into the sea, and get G1826 to G1909 land: G1093

44 And G2532 the rest, G3062 some G3739 G3303 on G1909 boards, G4548 and G1161 some G3739 on G1909 broken pieces of G575 the ship. G4143 G5100 And G2532 so G3779 it came to pass, G1096 that they escaped G1295 all G3956 safe G1295 to G1909 land. G1093


Acts 27:1-44 American Standard (ASV)

1 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.

2 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.

3 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.

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

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

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

7 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;

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

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

10 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.

11 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.

12 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 northeast and south-east.

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

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

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

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

17 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.

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

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

20 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.

21 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.

22 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.

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

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

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

26 But we must be cast upon a certain island.

27 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:

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

29 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.

30 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,

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

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

33 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.

34 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.

35 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.

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

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

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

39 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.

40 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.

41 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'.

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

43 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;

44 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.


Acts 27:1-44 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And when our sailing to Italy was determined, they were delivering up both Paul and certain others, prisoners, to a centurion, by name Julius, of the band of Sebastus,

2 and having embarked in a ship of Adramyttium, we, being about to sail by the coasts of Asia, did set sail, there being with us Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica,

3 on the next `day' also we touched at Sidon, and Julius, courteously treating Paul, did permit `him', having gone on unto friends, to receive `their' care.

4 And thence, having set sail, we sailed under Cyprus, because of the winds being contrary,

5 and having sailed over the sea over-against Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myria of Lycia,

6 and there the centurion having found a ship of Alexandria, sailing to Italy, did put us into it,

7 and having sailed slowly many days, and with difficulty coming over-against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over-against Salmone,

8 and hardly passing it, we came to a certain place called `Fair Havens,' nigh to which was the city `of' Lasaea.

9 And much time being spent, and the sailing being now dangerous -- because of the fast also being already past -- Paul was admonishing,

10 saying to them, `Men, I perceive that with hurt, and much damage, not only of the lading and of the ship, but also of our lives -- the voyage is about to be;'

11 but the centurion to the pilot and to the shipowner gave credence more than to the things spoken by Paul;

12 and the haven being incommodious to winter in, the more part gave counsel to sail thence also, if by any means they might be able, having attained to Phenice, `there' to winter, `which is' a haven of Crete, looking to the south-west and north-west,

13 and a south wind blowing softly, having thought they had obtained `their' purpose, having lifted anchor, they sailed close by Crete,

14 and not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, that is called Euroclydon,

15 and the ship being caught, and not being able to bear up against the wind, having given `her' up, we were borne on,

16 and having run under a certain little isle, called Clauda, we were hardly able to become masters of the boat,

17 which having taken up, they were using helps, undergirding the ship, and fearing lest they may fall on the quicksand, having let down the mast -- so were borne on.

18 And we, being exceedingly tempest-tossed, the succeeding `day' they were making a clearing,

19 and on the third `day' with our own hands the tackling of the ship we cast out,

20 and neither sun nor stars appearing for more days, and not a little tempest lying upon us, thenceforth all hope was taken away of our being saved.

21 And there having been long fasting, then Paul having stood in the midst of them, said, `It behoved `you', indeed, O men -- having hearkened to me -- not to set sail from Crete, and to save this hurt and damage;

22 and now I exhort you to be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of life among you -- but of the ship;

23 for there stood by me this night a messenger of God -- whose I am, and whom I serve --

24 saying, Be not afraid Paul; before Caesar it behoveth thee to stand; and, lo, God hath granted to thee all those sailing with thee;

25 wherefore be of good cheer, men! for I believe God, that so it shall be, even as it hath been spoken to me,

26 and on a certain island it behoveth us to be cast.'

27 And when the fourteenth night came -- we being borne up and down in the Adria -- toward the middle of the night the sailors were supposing that some country drew nigh to them;

28 and having sounded they found twenty fathoms, and having gone a little farther, and again having sounded, they found fifteen fathoms,

29 and fearing lest on rough places we may fall, out of the stern having cast four anchors, they were wishing day to come.

30 And the sailors seeking to flee out of the ship, and having let down the boat to the sea, in pretence as `if' out of the foreship they are about to cast anchors,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, `If these do not remain in the ship -- ye are not able to be saved;'

32 then the soldiers did cut off the ropes of the boat, and suffered it to fall off.

33 And till the day was about to be, Paul was calling upon all to partake of nourishment, saying, `Fourteen days to-day, waiting, ye continue fasting, having taken nothing,

34 wherefore I call upon you to take nourishment, for this is for your safety, for of not one of you shall a hair from the head fall;'

35 and having said these things, and having taken bread, he gave thanks to God before all, and having broken `it', he began to eat;

36 and all having become of good cheer, themselves also took food,

37 (and we were -- all the souls in the ship -- two hundred, seventy and six),

38 and having eaten sufficient nourishment, they were lightening the ship, casting forth the wheat into the sea.

39 And when the day came, they were not discerning the land, but a certain creek were perceiving having a beach, into which they took counsel, if possible, to thrust forward the ship,

40 and the anchors having taken up, they were committing `it' to the sea, at the same time -- having loosed the bands of the rudders, and having hoisted up the mainsail to the wind -- they were making for the shore,

41 and having fallen into a place of two seas, they ran the ship aground, and the fore-part, indeed, having stuck fast, did remain immoveable, but the hinder-part was broken by the violence of the waves.

42 And the soldiers' counsel was that they should kill the prisoners, lest any one having swam out should escape,

43 but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, hindered them from the counsel, and did command those able to swim, having cast themselves out first -- to get unto the land,

44 and the rest, some indeed upon boards, and some upon certain things of the ship; and thus it came to pass that all came safe unto the land.


Acts 27:1-44 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 But when it had been determined that we should sail to Italy, they delivered up Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion, by name Julius, of Augustus' company.

2 And going on board a ship of Adramyttium about to navigate by the places along Asia, we set sail, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

3 And the next day we arrived at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and suffered him to go to his friends and refresh himself.

4 And setting sail thence we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

5 And having sailed over the waters of Cilicia and Pamphylia we came to Myra in Lycia:

6 and there the centurion having found a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy, he made us go on board her.

7 And sailing slowly for many days, and having with difficulty got abreast of Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete abreast of Salmone;

8 and coasting it with difficulty we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near to which was [the] city of Lasaea.

9 And much time having now been spent, and navigation being already dangerous, because the fast also was already past, Paul counselled them,

10 saying, Men, I perceive that the navigation will be with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.

11 But the centurion believed rather the helmsman and the shipowner than what was said by Paul.

12 And the harbour being ill adapted to winter in, the most counselled to set sail thence, if perhaps they might reach Phoenice to winter in, a port of Crete looking north-east and south-east.

13 And [the] south wind blowing gently, supposing that they had gained their object, having weighed anchor they sailed close in shore along Crete.

14 But not long after there came down it a hurricane called Euroclydon.

15 And the ship being caught and driven, and not able to bring her head to the wind, letting her go we were driven [before it].

16 But running under the lee of a certain island called Clauda, we were with difficulty able to make ourselves masters of the boat;

17 which having hoisted up, they used helps, frapping the ship; and fearing lest they should run into Syrtis and run aground, and having lowered the gear they were so driven.

18 But the storm being extremely violent on us, on the next day they threw cargo overboard,

19 and on the third day with their own hands they cast away the ship furniture.

20 And neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no small storm lying on us, in the end all hope of our being saved was taken away.

21 And when they had been a long while without taking food, Paul then standing up in the midst of them said, Ye ought, O men, to have hearkened to me, and not have made sail from Crete and have gained this disaster and loss.

22 And now I exhort you to be of good courage, for there shall be no loss at all of life of [any] of you, only of the ship.

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

24 saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted to thee all those that sail with thee.

25 Wherefore be of good courage, men, for I believe God that thus it shall be, as it has been said to me.

26 But we must be cast ashore on a certain island.

27 And when the fourteenth night was come, we being driven about in Adria, towards the middle of the night the sailors supposed that some land neared them,

28 and having sounded found twenty fathoms, and having gone a little farther and having again sounded they found fifteen fathoms;

29 and fearing lest we should be cast on rocky places, casting four anchors out of the stern, they wished that day were come.

30 But the sailors wishing to flee out of the ship, and having let down the boat into the sea under pretext of being about to carry out anchors from the prow,

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

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

33 And while it was drawing on to daylight, Paul exhorted them all to partake of food, saying, Ye have passed the fourteenth day watching in expectation without taking food.

34 Wherefore I exhort you to partake of food, for this has to do with your safety; for not a hair from the head of any one of you shall perish.

35 And, having said these things and taken a loaf, he gave thanks to God before all, and having broken it began to eat.

36 And all taking courage, themselves also took food.

37 And we were in the ship, all the souls, two hundred and seventy-six.

38 And having satisfied themselves with food, they lightened the ship, casting out the wheat into the sea.

39 And when it was day they did not recognise the land; but they perceived a certain bay having a strand, on which they were minded, if they should be able, to run the ship ashore;

40 and, having cast off the anchors, they left [them] in the sea, at the same time loosening the lashings of the rudders, and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the strand.

41 And falling into a place where two seas met they ran the ship aground, and the prow having stuck itself fast remained unmoved, but the stern was broken by the force of the waves.

42 And [the] counsel of the soldiers was that they should kill the prisoners, lest any one should swim off and escape.

43 But the centurion, desirous of saving Paul, hindered them of their purpose, and commanded those who were able to swim, casting themselves first [into the sea], to get out on land;

44 and the rest, some on boards, some on some of the things [that came] from the ship; and thus it came to pass that all got safe to land.


Acts 27:1-44 World English Bible (WEB)

1 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.

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

3 The next day, we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself.

4 Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

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

6 There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us on board.

7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.

8 With difficulty sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

9 When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them,

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

11 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.

12 Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking northeast and southeast.

13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore.

14 But before long, a tempestuous wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon.{Or, "a northeaster."}

15 When the ship was caught, and couldn't face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven along.

16 Running under the lee of a small island called Clauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat.

17 After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered the sea anchor, and so were driven along.

18 As we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw things overboard.

19 On the third day, they threw out the ship's tackle with their own hands.

20 When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days, and no small tempest pressed on us, all hope that we would be saved was now taken away.

21 When they had been long without food, Paul stood up in the middle of them, and said, "Sirs, you should have listened to me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.

22 Now I exhort you to cheer up, 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, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve,

24 saying, 'Don't be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'

25 Therefore, sirs, cheer up! For I believe God, that it will be just as it has been spoken to me.

26 But we must run aground on a certain island."

27 But when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven back and forth in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some land.

28 They took soundings, and found twenty fathoms.{20 fathoms = 120 feet = 36.6 meters} After a little while, they took soundings again, and found fifteen fathoms.{15 fathoms = 90 feet = 27.4 meters}.

29 Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight.

30 As the sailors were trying to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they would lay out anchors from the bow,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these stay in the ship, you can't be saved."

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

33 While the day was coming on, Paul begged them all to take some food, saying, "This day is the fourteenth day that you wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.

34 Therefore I beg you to take some food, for this is for your safety; for not a hair will perish from any of your heads."

35 When he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it, and began to eat.

36 Then they all cheered up, and they also took food.

37 In all, we were two hundred seventy-six souls on the ship.

38 When they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

39 When it was day, they didn't recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay with a beach, and they decided to try to drive the ship onto it.

40 Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time untying the rudder ropes. Hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

41 But coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.

42 The soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim out and escape.

43 But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go toward the land;

44 and the rest should follow, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. So it happened that they all escaped safely to the land.


Acts 27:1-44 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And when the decision had been made that we were to go by sea to Italy, they gave Paul and certain other prisoners into the care of a captain named Julius, of the Augustan band.

2 And we went to sea in a ship of Adramyttium which was sailing to the sea towns of Asia, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

3 And on the day after, we came to Sidon; and Julius was kind to Paul, and let him go to see his friends and take a rest.

4 And sailing again from there, we went on under cover of Cyprus, because the wind was against us.

5 And having gone across the sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia we came to Myra, in Lycia.

6 And there the captain came across a ship of Alexandria, sailing for Italy, and put us in it.

7 And when we had gone on slowly for a long time, and had had hard work getting across to Cnidus, for the wind was against us, we went under cover of Crete, in the direction of Salmone;

8 And sailing down the side of it, as well as we were able, we came to a certain place named Fair Havens, near which was the town of Lasea.

9 And as a long time had gone by, and the journey was now full of danger, because it was late in the year, Paul put the position before them,

10 Saying, Friends, I see that this journey will be one of great damage and loss, not only to the goods and the ship, but to ourselves.

11 But the captain gave more attention to the master and the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.

12 And as the harbour was not a good one in which to be for the winter, the greater number of them were for going out to sea, in order, if possible, to put in for the winter at Phoenix, a harbour of Crete, looking to the north-east and south-east.

13 And when the south wind came softly, being of the opinion that their purpose might be effected, they let the ship go and went sailing down the side of Crete, very near to the land.

14 But after a little time, a very violent wind, named Euraquilo, came down from it with great force.

15 And when the ship got into the grip of it, and was not able to make headway into the wind, we gave way, and went before it.

16 And, sailing near the side of a small island named Cauda, we were able, though it was hard work, to make the ship's boat safe:

17 And having got it up, they put cords under and round the ship; but fearing that they might be pushed on to the Syrtis, they let down the sails and so went running before the wind.

18 And, still fighting the storm with all our strength, the day after they made a start at getting the goods out of the ship;

19 And on the third day, they let all the sailing apparatus go over the side.

20 And as we had not seen the sun or stars for a long time, and a great storm was on us, all hope of salvation was gone.

21 And when they had been without food for a long time, Paul got up among them and said, Friends, it would have been better if you had given attention to me and not gone sailing out from Crete, to undergo this damage and loss.

22 But now, I say to you, be of good heart, for there will be no loss of life, but only of the ship.

23 For this night there came to my side an angel of the God who is my Master and whose servant I am,

24 Saying, Have no fear, Paul, for you will come before Caesar, and God has given to you all those who are sailing with you.

25 And so, O men, be of good heart, for I have faith in God that it will be as he said to me.

26 But we will be sent on to a certain island.

27 But when the fourteenth day came, while we were going here and there in the Adriatic sea, about the middle of the night the sailors had an idea that they were getting near land;

28 And they let down the lead, and saw that the sea was a hundred and twenty feet deep; and after a little time they did it again and it was ninety feet.

29 Then, fearing that by chance we might come on to the rocks, they let down four hooks from the back of the ship, and made prayers for the coming of day.

30 Then the sailors made attempts secretly to get away from the ship, letting down a boat as if they were about to put down hooks from the front of the ship;

31 But Paul said to the captain and his men, If you do not keep these men in the ship, you will not be safe.

32 Then the armed men, cutting the cords of the boat, let her go.

33 And when dawn was near, Paul gave them all orders to take food, saying, This is the fourteenth day you have been waiting and taking no food.

34 So I make request to you to take food; for this is for your salvation: not a hair from the head of any of you will come to destruction.

35 And when he had said this and had taken bread, he gave praise to God before them all, and took a meal of the broken bread.

36 Then they all took heart and did the same.

37 And we were, in the ship, two hundred and seventy-six persons.

38 And when they had had enough food, they made the weight of the ship less, turning the grain out into the sea.

39 And when it was day, they had no knowledge of the land, but they saw an inlet of the sea with a floor of sand, and they had the idea of driving the ship up on to it if possible.

40 So cutting away the hooks, and letting them go into the sea, and freeing the cords of the guiding-blades, and lifting up the sail to the wind, they went in the direction of the inlet.

41 And coming to a point between two seas, they got the ship to land; and the front part was fixed in the sand and not able to be moved, but the back part was broken by the force of the waves.

42 Then the armed men were for putting the prisoners to death, so that no one would get away by swimming.

43 But the captain, desiring to keep Paul safe, kept them from their purpose, and gave orders that those who had knowledge of swimming were to go off the ship and get first to land:

44 And the rest, some on boards and some on things from the ship. And so it came about that they all got safe to land.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Acts 27

Commentary on Acts 27 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 27

This whole chapter is taken up with an account of Paul's voyage towards Rome, when he was sent thither a prisoner by Festus the governor, upon his appeal to Caesar.

  • I. The beginning of the voyage was well enough, it was calm and prosperous (v. 1-8).
  • II. Paul gave them notice of a storm coming, but could not prevail with them to lie by (v. 9-11).
  • III. As they pursued their voyage, they met with a great deal of tempestuous weather, which reduced them to such extremity that they counted upon nothing but being cast away (v. 12-20).
  • IV. Paul assured them that though they would not be advised by him to prevent their coming into this danger, yet, by the good providence of God, they should be brought safely through it, and none of them should be lost (v. 21-26).
  • V. At length they were at midnight thrown upon an island, which proved to be Malta, and then they were in the utmost danger imaginable, but were assisted by Paul's counsel to keep the mariners in the ship, and encouraged by his comforts to eat their meat, and have a good heart on it (v. 27-36).
  • VI. Their narrow escape with their lives, when they came to shore, when the ship was wrecked, but all the persons wonderfully preserved (v. 37-44).

Act 27:1-11

It does not appear how long it was after Paul's conference with Agrippa that he was sent away for Rome, pursuant to his appeal to Caesar; but it is likely they took the first convenience they could hear of to do it; in the mean time Paul is in the midst of his friends at Caesarea-they comforts to him, and he a blessing to them. But here we are told,

  • I. How Paul was shipped off for Italy: a long voyage, but there is no remedy. He has appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar he must go: It was determined that we should sail into Italy, for to Rome they must go by sea; it would have been a vast way about to go by land. Hence, when the Roman conquest of the Jewish nation is foretold, it is said (Num. 24:24), Ships shall come from Chittim, that is, Italy, and shall afflict Eber, that is, the Hebrews. It was determined by the counsel of God, before it was determined by the counsel of Festus, that Paul should go to Rome; for, whatever man intended, God had work for him to do there. Now here we are told,
    • 1. Whose custody he was committed to-to one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus's band, as Cornelius was of the Italian band, or legion, ch. 10:1. He had soldiers under him, who were a guard upon Paul, that he might not make his escape, and likewise to protect him, that he might have no mischief done him.
    • 2. What bottom he embarked in: they went on board a ship of Adramyttium (v. 2), a sea-port of Africa, whence this ship brought African goods, and, as it should seem, made a coasting voyage for Syria, where those goods came to a good market.
    • 3. What company he had in this voyage, there were some prisoners who were committed to the custody of the same centurion, and who probably had appealed to Caesar too, or were upon some other account removed to Rome, to be tried there, or to be examined as witnesses against some prisoners there; perhaps some notorious offenders, like Barabbas, who were therefore ordered to be brought before the emperor himself. Paul was linked with these, as Christ with the thieves that were crucified with him, and was obliged to take his lot with them in this voyage; and we find in this chapter (v. 42) that for their sakes he had like to have been killed, but for his sake they were preserved. Note, It is no new thing for the innocent to be numbered among the transgressors. But he had also some of his friends with him, Luke particularly, the penman of this book, for he puts himself in all along, We sailed into Italy, and, We launched, v. 2. Aristarchus a Thessalonian is particularly named, as being now in his company. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that Trophimus the Ephesian went off with him, but that he left him sick at Miletum (2 Tim. 4:20), when he passed by those coasts of Asia mentioned here (v. 2), and that there likewise he left Timothy. It was a comfort to Paul to have the society of some of his friends in this tedious voyage, with whom he might converse freely, though he had so much loose profane company about him. Those that go long voyages at sea are commonly necessitated to sojourn, as it were, in Mesech and Kedar, and have need of wisdom, that they may do good to the bad company they are in, may make them better, or at lest be made never the worse by them.
  • II. What course they steered, and what places they touched at, which are particularly recorded for the confirming of the truth of the history to those who lived at that time, and could by their own knowledge tell of their being at such and such a place.
    • 1. They touched at Sidon, not far off from where they went on board; thither they came the next day. And that which is observable here is, that Julius the centurion was extraordinarily civil to Paul. It is probable that he knew his case, and was one of the chief captains, or principal men, that heard him plead his own cause before Agrippa (ch. 25:23), and was convinced of his innocency, and the injury done him; and therefore, though Paul was committed to him as a prisoner, he treated him as a friend, as a scholar, as a gentleman, and as a man that had an interest in heaven: He gave him liberty, while the business of the ship detained it at Sidon, to go among his friends there, to refresh himself; and it would be a great refreshment to him. Julius herein gives an example to those in power to be respectful to those whom they find worthy of their respect, and in using their power to make a difference. A Joseph, a Paul, are not to be used as common prisoners. God herein encourages those that suffer for him to trust in him; for he can put it into the hearts of those to befriend them from whom they least expect it-can cause them to be pitied, nay, can cause them to be prized and valued, even in the eyes of those that carry them captive, Ps. 106:46. And it is likewise an instance of Paul's fidelity. He did not go about to make his escape, which he might have easily done; but, being out upon his parole of honour, he faithfully returns to his imprisonment. If the centurion is so civil as to take his word, he is so just and honest as to keep his word.
    • 2. They thence sailed under Cyprus, v. 4. If the wind had been fair, they had gone forward by direct sailing, and had left Cyprus on the right hand; but, the wind not favouring them, they were driven to oblique sailing with a side wind, and so compassed the island, in a manner, and left it on the left hand. Sailors must do as they can, when they cannot do as they would, and make the best of their wind, whatever point it is in; so must we all in our passage over the ocean of this world. When the winds are contrary yet we must be getting forward as well as we can.
    • 3. At a port called Myra they changed their ship; that which they were in, it is probable, having business no further, they went on board a vessel of Alexandria bound for Italy, v. 5, 6. Alexandria was now the chief city of Egypt, and great trading there was between that city and Italy; from Alexandria they carried corn to Rome, and the East-India goods and Persian which they imported at the Red Sea they exported again to all parts of the Mediterranean, and especially to Italy. And it was a particular favour shown to the Alexandrian ships in the ports of Italy that they were not obliged to strike sail, as other ships were, when they came into port.
    • 4. With much ado they made The Fair Havens, a port of the island of Crete, v. 7, 8. They sailed slowly many days, being becalmed, or having the wind against them. It was a great while before they made the point of Cnidus, a port of Caria, and were forced to sail under Crete, as before under Cyprus; much difficulty they met with in passing by Salmone, a promontory on the eastern shore of the island of Crete. Though the voyage hitherto was not tempestuous, yet it was very tedious. They many that are not driven backward in their affairs by cross providences, yet sail slowly, and do not get forward by favourable providences. And many good Christians make this complaint in the concerns of their souls, that they do not rid ground in their way of heaven, but have much ado to keep their ground; they move with many stops and pauses, and lie a great while wind-bound. Observe, The place they came to was called The Fair Havens. Travellers say that it is known to this day by the same name, and that it answers the name from the pleasantness of its situation and prospect. And yet,
      • (1.) It was not the harbour they were bound for; it was a fair haven, but it was not their haven. Whatever agreeable circumstances we may be in in this world, we must remember we are not at home, and therefore we must arise and depart; for, though it be a fair haven, it is not the desired haven, Ps. 107:30.
      • (2.) It was not a commodious haven to winter in, so it is said, v. 12. It had a fine prospect, but it lay exposed to the weather. Note, Every fair haven is not a safe haven; nay, there may be most danger where there is most pleasure.
  • III. What advice Paul gave them with reference to that part of their voyage they had before them-it was to be content to winter where they were, and not to think of stirring till a better season of the year.
    • 1. It was now a bad time for sailing; they had lost a deal of time while they were struggling with contrary winds. Sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was already past, that is, the famous yearly fast of the Jews, the day of atonement, which was on the tenth day of the seventh month, a day to afflict the soul with fasting; it was about the 20th of our September. That yearly fast was very religiously observed; but (which is strange) we never have any mention made in all the scripture history of the observance of it, unless it be meant here, where it serves only to describe the season of the year. Michaelmas is reckoned by mariners as a bad time of the year to be at sea as any other; they complain of their Michaelmas-blasts; it was that time now with these distressed voyagers. The harvest was past, the summer was ended; they had not only lost time, but lost the opportunity.
    • 2. Paul put them in mind of it, and gave them notice of their danger (v. 10): "I perceive' (either by notice from God, or by observing their wilful resolution to prosecute the voyage notwithstanding the peril of the season) "that this voyage will be with hurt and damage; you that have effects on board are likely to lose them, and it will be a miracle of mercy if our lives be given us for a prey.' There were some good men in the ship, and many more bad men: but in things of this nature all things come alike to all, and there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked. If both be in the same ship, they both are in the same danger.
    • 3. They would not be advised by Paul in this matter, v. 11. They thought him impertinent in interposing in an affair of this nature, who did not understand navigation; and the centurion to whom it was referred to determine it, though himself a passenger, yet, being a man in authority, takes upon him to overrule, though he had not been oftener at sea perhaps than Paul, nor was better acquainted with these seas, for Paul had planted the gospel in Crete (Tit. 1:5), and knew the several parts of the island well enough. But the centurion gave more regard to the opinion of the master and owner of the ship than to Paul's; for every man is to be credited in his own profession ordinarily: but such a man as Paul, who was so intimate with Heaven, was rather to be regarded in seafaring matters than the most celebrated sailors. Note, Those know not what dangers they run themselves into who will be governed more by human prudence than by divine revelation. The centurion was very civil to Paul (v. 3), and yet would not be governed by his advice. Note, Many will show respect to good ministers that will not take their advice, Eze. 33:31.

Act 27:12-20

In these verses we have,

  • I. The ship putting to sea again, and pursuing her voyage at first with a promising gale. Observe,
    • 1. What induced them to leave the fair havens: it was because they thought the harbour not commodious to winter in; it was pleasant enough in summer but in the winter they lay bleak. Or perhaps it was upon some other account incommodious; provisions perhaps were scarce and dear there; and they ran upon a mischief to avoid an inconvenience, as we often do. Some of the ship's crew, or of the council that was called to advise in this matter, were for staying there, rather than venturing to sea now that the weather was so uncertain: it is better to be safe in an incommodious harbour than to be lost in a tempestuous sea. But they were outvoted when it was put to the question, and the greater part advised to depart thence also; yet they aimed not to go far, but only to another port of the same island, here called Phenice, and some think it was so called because the Phenicians frequented it much, the merchants of Tyre and Sidon. It is here described to lie towards the south-west and north-west. Probably the haven was between the two promontories or juttings-out of land into the sea, one of which pointed to the north-west and the other to the south-west, by which it was guarded against the east winds. Thus hath the wisdom of the Creator provided for the relief and safety of those who go down to the sea in ships, and do business in great waters. In vain had nature provided for us the waters to sail on, if it had not likewise provided for us natural harbours to take shelter in.
    • 2. What encouragement they had at first to pursue their voyage. They set out with a fair wind (v. 13), the south wind blew softly, upon which they should gain their point, and so they sailed close by the coast of Crete and were not afraid of running upon the rocks or quicksands, because the wind blew so gently. Those who put to sea with ever so fair a gale know not what storms they may yet meet with, and therefore must not be secure, nor take it for granted that they have obtained their purpose, when so many accidents may happen to cross their purpose. Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast as though he had put it off.
  • II. The ship in a storm presently, a dreadful storm. They looked at second causes, and took their measures from the favourable hints they gave, and imagined that because the south wind now blew softly it would always blow so; in confidence of this, they ventured to sea, but were soon made sensible of their folly in giving more credit to a smiling wind than to the word of God in Paul's mouth, by which they had fair warning given them of a storm. Observe,
    • 1. What their danger and distress was,
      • (1.) There arose against them a tempestuous wind, which was not only contrary to them, and directly in their teeth, so that they could not get forward, but a violent wind, which raised the waves, like that which was sent forth in pursuit of Jonah, though Paul was following God, and going on in his duty, and not as Jonah running away from God and his duty. This wind the sailors called Euroclydon, a north-east wind, which upon those seas perhaps was observed to be in a particular manner troublesome and dangerous. It was a sort of whirlwind, for the ship is said to be caught by it, v. 15. It was God that commanded this wind to rise, designing to bring glory to himself, and reputation to Paul, out of it; stormy winds being brought out of his treasuries (Ps. 135:7), they fulfil his word, Ps. 148:8.
      • (2.) The ship was exceedingly tossed (v. 18); it was kicked like a football from wave to wave; its passengers (as it is elegantly described, Ps. 107:26, 27) mount up to the heavens, go down again to the depths, reel to and fro, stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. The ship could not possibly bear up into the wind, could not make her way in opposition to the wind; and therefore they folded up their sails, which in such a storm would endanger them rather than to them any service, and so let the ship drive, Not whither it would, but whither it was impelled by the impetuous wave-on quo voluit, sed quo rapit impetus undae. Ovid. Trist. It is probable that they were very near the heaven of Phenice when this tempest arose, and thought they should presently be in a quiet haven, and were pleasing themselves with the thought of it, and wintering there, and lo, of a sudden, they are in this distress. Let us therefore always rejoice with trembling, and never expect a perfect security, nor a perpetual security, till we come to heaven.
      • (3.) They saw neither sun nor stars for many days. This made the tempest the more terrible, that they were all in the dark; and the use of the loadstone for the direction of sailors not being then found out (so that they had no guide at all, when they could see neither sun nor stars) made the case the more hazardous. Thus melancholy sometimes is the condition of the people of God upon a spiritual account. They walk in darkness and have no light. Neither sun nor stars appear; they cannot dwell, nay, they cannot fasten, upon any thing comfortable or encouraging; thus it may be with them, and yet light is sown for them.
      • (4.) They had abundance of winter-weather: No small tempest-cheimoµn ouk oligos, cold rain, and snow, and all the rigours of that season of the year, so that they were ready to perish for cold; and all this continued many days. See what hardships those often undergo who are much at sea, besides the hazards of life they run; and yet to get gain there are still those who make nothing of all this; and it is an instance of divine Providence that it disposes some to this employment, notwithstanding the difficulties that attend it, for the keeping up of commerce among the nations, and the isles of the Gentiles particularly; and Zebulun can as heartily rejoice in his going out as Issachar in his tents. Perhaps Christ therefore chose ministers from among seafaring men, because they had been used to endure hardness.
    • 2. What means they used for their own relief: they betook themselves to all the poor shifts (for I can call them no better) that sailors in distress have recourse to.
      • (1.) When they could not make head against the wind, they let the ship run adrift, finding it was to no purpose to ply either the oar or the sail. When it is fruitless to struggle, it is wisdom to yield.
      • (2.) They nevertheless did what they could to avoid the present danger; there was a little island called Clauda, and when they were near that, though they could not pursue their voyage, they took care to prevent their shipwreck, and therefore so ordered their matters that they did not run against the island, but quietly ran under it, v. 16.
      • (3.) When they were afraid they should scarcely save the ship, they were busy to save the boat, which they did with much ado. They had much work to come by the boat (v. 16), but at last they took it up, v. 17. This might be of use in any exigence, and therefore they made hard shift to get it into the ship to them.
      • (4.) They used means which were proper enough in those times, when the art of navigation was far short of the perfection it is now come to; they undergirded the ship, v. 17. They bound the ship under the bottom of it with strong cables, to keep it from bulging in the extremity of the tempest.
      • (5.) For fear of falling into the quicksands they struck sail, and then let the ship go as it would. It is strange how a ship will live at sea (so they express it), even in very stormy weather, if it have but sea-room; and, when the sailors cannot make the shore, it is their interest to keep as far off it as they can.
      • (6.) The next day they lightened the ship of its cargo, threw the goods and the merchandises overboard (as Jonah's mariners did, ch. 1:5), being willing rather to be poor without them than to perish with them. Skin for skin, and all that a man has, will he give for his life. See what the wealth of this world is; how much soever it is courted as a blessing, the time may come when it will be a burden, not only too heavy to be carried safe of itself, but heavy enough to sink him that has it. Riches are often kept by the owners thereof to their hurt (Eccl. 5:13); and parted with to their good. But see the folly of the children of this world, they can be thus prodigal of their goods when it is for the saving of their lives, and yet how sparing of them in works of piety and charity, and in suffering for Christ, though they are told by eternal Truth itself that those shall be recompensed more than a thousand fold in the resurrection of the just. Those went upon a principle of faith who took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing in themselves that they had in heaven a better and a more enduring substance, Heb. 10:34. Any man will rather make shipwreck of his goods than of his life; but many will rather make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience than of their goods.
      • (7.) The third day they cast out the tacklings of the ship-the utensils of it, Armamenta (so some render it), as if it were a ship of force. With us it is common to heave the guns over-board in the extremity of a storm; but what heavy artillery they had then which it was necessary to lighten the ship of I do not know; and I question whether it was not then a vulgar error among seamen thus to throw every thing into the sea, even that which would be of great use in a storm, and no great weight.
    • 3. The despair which at last they were brought to (v. 20): All hope that we should be saved was then taken away. The storm continued, and they saw no symptoms of its abatement; we have known very blustering weather to continue for some weeks. The means they had used were ineffectual, so that they were at their wits' end; and such was the consternation that this melancholy prospect put them into that they had no heart either to eat or drink. They had provision enough on board (v. 38), but such bondage were they under, through fear of death, that they could not admit the supports of life. Why did not Paul, by the power of Christ, and in his name, lay this storm? Why did he not say to the winds and waves, Peace, be still, as his Master had done? Surely it was because the apostles wrought miracles for the confirmation of their doctrine, not for the serving of a turn for themselves or their friends.

Act 27:21-44

We have here the issue of the distress of Paul and his fellow-travellers; they escaped with their lives and that was all, and that was for Paul's sake. We are here told (v. 37) what number there were on board-mariners, merchants, soldiers, prisoners, and other passengers, in all two hundred and seventy-six souls; this is taken notice of to make us the more concerned for them in reading the story, that they were such a considerable number, whose lives were now in the utmost jeopardy, and one Paul among them worth more than all the rest. We left them in despair, giving up themselves for gone. Whether they called every man on his God, as Jonah's mariners did, we are not told; it is well if this laudable practice in a storm was not gone out of fashion and made a jest of. However, Paul among these seamen was not, like Jonah among his, the cause of the storm, but the comforter in the storm, and as much a credit to the profession of an apostle as Jonah was a blemish to the character of a prophet. Now here we have,

  • I. The encouragement Paul gave them, by assuring them, in the name of God, that their lives should all be saved, even when, in human appearance, all hope that they should be saved was taken away. Paul rescued them from their despair first, that they might not die of that, and starve themselves in that, and then they were in a fair way to be rescued from their distress. After long abstinence, as if they were resolved not to eat till they knew whether they should live or die, Paul stood forth in the midst of them. During the distress hitherto Paul hid himself among them, was one of the crowd, helped with the rest to throw out the tackling (v. 19), but now he distinguished himself, and, though a prisoner, undertook to be their counsellor and comforter.
    • 1. He reproves them for not taking his advice, which was to stay where they were, in the road of Lasea (v. 8): "You should have hearkened to me and not have loosed from Crete, where we might have made a shift to winter well enough, and then we should not have gained this harm and loss, that is, we should have escaped them.' Harm and loss in the world, if sanctified to us, may be truly said to be gain; for if they wean us from present things, and awaken us to think of a future state, we are truly gainers by them. Observe, They did not hearken to Paul when he warned them of their danger, and yet if they will but acknowledge their folly, and repent of it, he will speak comfort and relief to them now that they are in danger, so compassionate is God to those that are in misery, though they bring themselves into it by their own incogitancy, nay, by their own wilfulness, and contempt of admonition. Paul, before administering comfort, will first make them sensible of their sin in not hearkening to him, by upbraiding them with their rashness, and probably, when he tells them of their gaining harm and loss, he reflects upon what they promised themselves by proceeding on their voyage, that they should gain so much time, gain this and the other point: "But,' says he, "you have gained nothing but harm and loss; how will you answer it?' That which they are blamed for is their loosing from Crete, where they were safe. Note, Most people bring themselves into inconvenience, because they do not know when they are well off, but gain harm and loss by aiming against advice to better themselves.
    • 2. He assures them that though they should lose the ship yet they should none of them lose their lives: "You see your folly in not being ruled by me:' he does not say, "Now therefore expect to fare accordingly, you may thank yourselves if you be all lost, those that will not be counselled cannot be helped.' No, "Yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing; your case is sad, but it is not desperate, now, I exhort you to be of good cheer.' Thus we say to sinners that are convinced of their sin and folly, and begin to see and bewail their error, "You should have hearkened unto us, and should have had nothing to do with sin; yet now we exhort you to be of good cheer: though you would not take our advice when we said, Do not presume, yet take it now when we say, Do not despair.' They had given up the cause, and would use no further means, because all hope that they should be saved was taken away. Now Paul quickens them to bestir themselves yet in working for their own safety, by telling them that if they would resume their vigour they should secure their lives. He gives them this assurance when they were brought to the last extremity, for now it would be doubly welcome to them to be told that not a life should be lost when they were ready to conclude they must inevitably be all lost. He tells them,
      • (1.) That they must count upon the loss of the ship. Those who were interested in that and the goods were probably those greater part that were for pushing forward the voyage and running the venture, notwithstanding Paul's admonition, and they are made to pay for their rashness. Their ship shall be wrecked. Many a stately, strong, rich, gallant ship is lost in the mighty waters in a little time; for vanity of vanities, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. But,
      • (2.) Not a life shall be lost. This would be good news to those that were ready to die for fear of dying, and whose guilty consciences made death look very terrible to them.
    • 3. He tells them what ground he had for this assurance, that it is not a banter upon them, to put them into humour, nor a human conjecture, he has a divine revelation for it, and is as confident of it as that God is true, being fully satisfied that he has his word for it. An angel of the Lord appeared to him in the night, and told him that for his sake they should all be preserved (v. 23-25), which would double the mercy of their preservation, that they should have it not only by providence, but by promise, and as a particular favour to Paul. Now observe here,
      • (1.) The solemn profession Paul makes of relation to God, the God from whom he had this favourable intelligence: It is he whose I am, and whom I serve. He looks upon God,
        • [1.] As his rightful owner, who has a sovereign incontestable title to him, and dominion over him: Who I am. Because God made us and not we ourselves, therefore we are not our own but his. His we are by creation, for he made us; by preservation, for he maintains us; by redemption, for he bought us. We are more his than our own.
        • [2.] As his sovereign ruler and master, who, having given him being, has right to give him law: Whom I serve. Because his we are, therefore we are bound to serve him, to devote ourselves to his honour and employ ourselves in his work. It is Christ that Paul here has an eye to; he is God, and the angels are his and go on his errands. Paul often calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ; he is his, and him he serves, both as a Christian and as an apostle; he does not say, "Whose we are, and whom we serve,' for most that were present were strangers to him, but, "Whose I am, and whom I serve, whatever others do; nay, whom I am now in the actual service of, going to Rome, not as you are, upon worldly business, but to appear as a witness for Christ.' Now this he tells the company, that, seeing their relief coming from his God whose he was and whom he served, they might thereby be drawn in to take him for their God, and to serve him likewise; for the same reason Jonah said to his mariners, I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land, Jonah 1:9.
      • (2.) The account he gives of the vision he had: There stood by me this night an angel of God, a divine messenger who used formerly to bring him messages from heaven; he stood by him, visibly appeared to him, probably when he was awake upon his bed. Though he was afar off upon the sea (Ps. 65:5), on the uttermost parts of the sea (Ps. 139:9), yet this could not intercept his communion with God, nor deprive him of the benefit of divine visits. Thence he can direct a prayer to God, and thither God can direct an angel to him. He knows not where he is himself, yet God's angel knows where to find him out. The ship is tossed with winds and waves, hurried to and fro with the utmost violence, and yet the angel finds a way into it. No storms nor tempests can hinder the communications of God's favour to his people, for he is a very present help, a help at hand, even when the sea roars and is troubled, Ps. 46:1, 3. We may suppose that Paul, being a prisoner, had not a cabin of his own in the ship, much less a bed in the captain's cabin, but was put down into the hold (any dark or dirty place was thought good enough for him in common with the rest of the prisoners), and yet there the angel of God stood by him. Meanness and poverty set none at a distance from God and his favour. Jacob, when he has no pillow but a stone, no curtains but the clouds, yet has a vision of angels. Paul had this vision but this last night. He had himself been assured by a former vision that he should go to Rome (ch. 23:11), from which he might infer that he himself should be safe; but he has this fresh vision to assure him of the safety of those with him.
      • (3.) The encouragements that were given him in the vision, v. 14.
        • [1.] He is forbidden to fear. Though all about him are at their wits' end, and lost in despair, yet, Fear not, Paul; fear not their fear, nor be afraid, Isa. 8:12. Let the sinners in Zion be afraid, but let not the saints be afraid, no, not at sea, in a storm; for the Lord of hosts is with them, and their place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks, Isa. 33:14-16.
        • [2.] He is assured that for his part he shall come safely to Rome: Thou must be brought before Caesar. As the rage of the most potent enemies, so the rage of the most stormy sea, cannot prevail against God's witnesses till they have finished their testimony. Paul must be preserved in this danger, for he is reserved for further service. This is comfortable for the faithful servants of God in straits and difficulties, that as long as God has any work for them to do their lives shall be prolonged.
        • [3.] That for his sake all that were in the ship with him should be delivered too from perishing in this storm: God hath given thee all those that sail with thee. The angel that was ordered to bring him this message could have singled him out from this wretched crew, and those that were his friends too, and have carried them safely to shore, and have left the rest to perish, because they would not take Paul's counsel. But God chooses rather, by preserving them all for his sake, to show what great blessings good men are to the world, than by delivering him only to show how good men are distinguished from the world. God has given thee all those that sail with thee, that is, spares them in answer to thy prayers, or for thy sake. Sometimes good men deliver neither sons nor daughters, but their own souls only, Eze. 14:18. But Paul here delivers a whole ship's crew, almost three hundred souls. Note, God often spares wicked people for the sake of the godly; as Zoar for Lot's sake, and as Sodom might have been, if there had been ten righteous persons in it. The good people are hated and persecuted in the world as if they were not worthy to live in it, yet really it is for their sakes that the world stands. If Paul had thrust himself needlessly into bad company, he might justly have been cast away with them, but, God calling him into it, they are preserved with him. And it is intimated that it was a great favour to Paul, and he looked upon it to be so, that others were saved for his sake: They are given thee. There is no greater satisfaction to a good man than to know that he is a public blessing.
    • 4. He comforts them with the same comforts wherewith he himself was comforted (v. 25): "Wherefore, Sirs, be of good cheer, you shall see even this will end well; for I believe God, and depend upon his word, that it shall be even as it was told me.' He would not require them to give credit to that to which he did not himself give credit; and therefore solemnly professes that he believes it himself, and the belief of it makes him easy: "I doubt not but it shall be as it was told me.' Thus he staggers not at the promise of God through unbelief. Hath God spoken, and shall he not make it good? No doubt he can, no doubt he will; for he is not a man that he should lie. And shall it be as God hath said? Then be of good cheer, be of good courage. God is ever faithful, and therefore let all that have an interest in his promise be ever cheerful. if with God saying and doing are not two things, then with us believing and enjoying should not.
    • 5. He gives them a sign, telling them particularly what this tempestuous voyage would issue in (v. 26): "We must be cast upon a certain island, and that will both break the ship and save the passengers; and so the prediction in both respects will be fulfilled.' The pilot had quitted his post, the ship was left to run at random, they knew not what latitude they were in, much less how to steer their course; and yet Providence undertakes to bring them to an island that shall be a refuge for them. When the church of God, like this ship, is tossed with tempests, and not comforted, when there is none to guide her of all her sons, yet God can bring her safely to shore, and will do it.
  • II. Their coming at length to an anchor upon an unknown shore, v. 27-29.
    • 1. They had been a full fortnight in the storm, continually expecting death: The fourteenth night, and not sooner, they came near land; they were that night driven up and down in Adria, not in the Adriatic Gulf on which Venice stands, but in the Adriatic Sea, a part of the Mediterranean, containing both the Sicilian and Ionian seas, and extending to the African shore; in this sea they were tossed, and knew not whereabouts they were.
    • 2. About midnight the mariners apprehended that they drew near to some shore, which confirmed what Paul had told them, that they must be driven upon some island. To try whether it was so or no, they sounded, in order to their finding the depth of the water, for the water would be shallower as they drew nearer to shore; by the first experiment they found they drew twenty fathoms deep of water, and by the next fifteen fathoms, which was a demonstration that they were near some shore; God has wisely ordered such a natural notice to sailors in the dark, that they may be cautious.
    • 3. They took the hint, and, fearing rocks near the shore, they cast anchor, and wished for the day; they durst not go forward for fear of rocks, and yet would not go back in hope of shelter, but they would wait for the morning, and heartily wished for it; who can blame them when the affair came to a crisis? When they had light, there was no land to be seen; now that there was land near them, they had no light to see it by; no marvel then they wished for day. When those that fear God walk in darkness, and have no light, yet let them not say, The Lord has forsaken us, or, Our God has forgotten us; but let them do as these mariners did, cast anchor, and wish for the day, and be assured that the day will dawn. Hope is an anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast, entering into that within the veil. Hold fast by that, think not of putting to sea again, but abide by Christ, and wait till the day break, and the shadows flee away.
  • III. The defeating of the sailors' attempt to quit the ship; here was a new danger added to their distress, which they narrowly escaped. Observe,
    • 1. The treacherous design of the seamen, and that was to leave the sinking ship, which, though a piece of wisdom in others, yet in those that were entrusted with the care of it was the basest fraud that could be (v. 30): They were about to flee out of the ship, concluding no other than that when it ran ashore it must be broken all to pieces; having the command of the boat, the project was to get all of them into that, and so save themselves, and leave all the rest to perish. To cover this vile design, they pretended they would cast anchors out of the fore-ship, or carry them further off, and in order to this they let down the boat, which they had taken in (v. 16, 17), and were going into it, having agreed among themselves, when they were in to make straight for the shore. The treacherous seamen are like the treacherous shepherd, who flees when he sees the danger coming, and there is most need of his help, Jn. 10:12. Thus true is that of Solomon, Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint. Let us therefore cease from man. Paul had, in God's name, assured them that they should come safely to land, but they will rather trust their own refuge of lies than God's word and truth.
    • 2. Paul's discovery of it, and protestation against it, v. 31. They all saw them preparing to go into the boat, but were deceived by the pretence they made; only Paul saw through it, and gave notice to the centurion and the soldiers concerning it, and told them plainly, Except these abide in the ship, you cannot be saved. The skill of a mariner is seen in a storm, and, in the distress of the ship, then is the proper time for him to exert himself. Now the greatest difficulty of all was before them, and therefore the seamen were now more necessary than ever yet; it was indeed not by any skill of theirs that they were brought to land, for it was quite beyond their skill, but, now that they are near land, they must use their art to bring the ship to it. When God has done that for us which we could not, we must then in his strength help ourselves. Paul speaks humanly, when he says, You cannot be saved except these abide in the ship; and he does not at all weaken the assurances he had divinely given that they should infallibly be saved. God, who appointed the end, that they should be saved, appointed the means, that they should be saved by the help of these seamen; though, if they had gone off, no doubt God would have made his word good some other way. Paul speaks as a prudent man, not as a prophet, when he says, These are necessary to your preservation. Duty is ours, events are God's; and we do not trust God, but tempt him, when we say, "We put ourselves under his protection,' and do not use proper means, such as are within our power, for our own preservation.
    • 3. The effectual defeat of it by the soldiers, v. 32. It was not time to stand arguing the case with the seamen, and therefore they made no more ado, but cut the ropes of the boat, and though it might otherwise have done them service in their present distress, they chose rather to let it fall off, and lose it, than suffer it to do them this disservice. And now the seamen, being forced to stay in the ship whether they would or no, are forced likewise to work for the safety of the ship as hard as they could, because if the rest perish they must perish with them.
  • IV. The new life which Paul put into the company, by cheerfully inviting them to take some refreshment, and by the repeated assurances he gave them that they should all of them have their lives given them for a prey. Happy they who had such a one as Paul in their company, who not only had correspondence with Heaven, but was of a hearty lively spirit with those about him, that sharpened the countenance of his friend, as iron sharpens iron. Such a friend in distress, when without are fightings and within are fears, is a friend indeed. Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel, Prov. 27:9. Such was Paul's here to his companions in tribulation. The day was coming on: those that wish for the day, let them wait awhile, and they shall have what they wish for. The dawning of the day revived them a little, and then Paul got them together.
    • 1. He chid them for their neglect of themselves, that they had so far given way to fear and despair as to forget or not to mind their food: This is the fourteenth day that you have tarried, and continued fasting, having taken nothing; and that is not well, v. 33. Not that they had all, or any of them, continued fourteen days without any food, but they had not had any set meal, as they used to have, all that time; they ate very little, next to nothing. Or, "You have continued fasting, that is, you have lost your stomach; you have had no appetite at all to your food, nor any relish of it, through prevailing fear and despair.' A very disconsolate state is thus expressed (Ps. 102:4), I forget to eat my bread. It is a sin to starve the body, and to deny it its necessary supports; he is an unnatural man indeed that hateth his own flesh, and does not nourish and cherish it; and it is a sore evil under the sun to have a sufficiency of the good things of this life, and not to have power to use them, Eccl. 6:2. If this arise from the sorrow of the world, and from any inordinate fear or trouble, it is so far from excusing it that it is another sin, it is discontent, it is distrust of God, it is all wrong. What folly is it to die for fear of dying! But thus the sorrow of the world works death, while joy in God is life and peace in the greatest distresses and dangers.
    • 2. He courts them to their food (v. 34): "Wherefore I pray you to take some meat. We have a hard struggle before us, must get to shore as well as we can; if our bodies be weak through fasting, we shall not be able to help ourselves.' The angel bade Elijah, Arise and eat, for otherwise he would find the journey too great for him, 1 Ki. 19:7. So Paul will have these people eat, or otherwise the waves will be too hard for them: I pray you, parakaloµ, "I exhort you, if you will be ruled by me, take some nourishment; though you have no appetite to it, though you have fasted away your stomach, yet let reason bring you to it, for this is for your health, or rather your preservation, or safety, at this time; it is for your salvation, you cannot without nourishment have strength to shift for your lives.' As he that will not labour, let him not eat; so he that means to labour must eat. Weak and trembling Christians, that give way to doubts and fears about their spiritual state, continue fasting from the Lord's supper, and fasting from divine consolations, and then complain they cannot go on in their spiritual work and warfare; and it is owing to themselves. If they would feed and feast as they ought, upon the provision Christ has made for them, they would be strengthened, and it would be for their souls' health and salvation.
    • 3. He assures them of their preservation: There shall not a hair fall from the head of any of you. It is a proverbial expression, denoting a complete indemnity. It is used 1 Ki. 1:52; Lu. 21:18. "You cannot eat for fear of dying; I tell you, you are sure of living, and therefore eat. You will come to shore wet and cold, but sound wind and limb; your hair wet, but not a hair lost.'
    • 4. He himself spread their table for them; for none of them had any heart to do it, they were all so dispirited: When he had thus spoken, he took bread, fetched it from the ship's stores, to which every one might safely have access when none of them had an appetite. They were not reduced to short allowance, as sailors sometimes are when they are kept longer at sea than they expected by distress of weather; they had plenty, but what good did that do them, when they had no stomach? We have reason to be thankful to God that we have not only food to our appetite, but appetite to our food; that our soul abhors not even dainty meat (Job 33:20), through sickness or sorrow.
    • 5. He was chaplain to the ship, and they had reason to be proud of their chaplain. He gave thanks to God in presence of them all. We have reason to think he had often prayed with Luke and Arisatarchus, and what others there were among them that were Christians, that they prayed daily together; but whether he had before this prayed with the whole company promiscuously is not certain. Now he gave thanks to God, in presence of them all, that they were alive, and had been preserved hitherto, and that they had a promise that their lives should be preserved in the imminent peril now before them; he gave thanks for the provision they had, and begged a blessing upon it. We must in every thing give thanks; and must particularly have an eye to God in receiving our food, for it is sanctified to us by the word of God and prayer, and is to be received with thanksgiving. Thus the curse is taken off from it, and we obtain a covenant-right to it and a covenant-blessing upon it, 1 Tim. 4:3-5. And it is not by bread alone that man lives, but by the word of God, which must be met with prayer. He gave thanks in presence of them all, not only to show that he served a Master he was not ashamed of, but to invite them into his service too. If we crave a blessing upon our meat, and give thanks for it in a right manner, we shall not only keep up a comfortable communion with God ourselves, but credit our profession, and recommend it to the good opinion of others.
    • 6. He set them a good example: When he had given thanks, he broke the bread (it was sea-biscuit) and he began to eat. Whether they would be encouraged or no, he would; if they would be sullen, and, like froward children, refuse their victuals because they had not every thing to their mind, he would eat his meat, and be thankful. Those that teach others are inexcusable if they do not themselves do as they teach, and the most effectual way of preaching is by example.
    • 7. It had a happy influence upon them all (v. 36): Then were they all of good cheer. They then ventured to believe the message God sent them by Paul when they plainly perceived that Paul believed it himself, who was in the same common danger with them. Thus God sends good tidings to the perishing world of mankind by those who are of themselves, and in the same common danger with themselves, who are sinners too, and must be saved, if ever they be saved, in the same way in which they persuade others to venture; for it is a common salvation which they bring the tidings of; and it is an encouragement to people to commit themselves to Christ as their Saviour when those who invite them to do so make it to appear that they do so themselves. It is here upon this occasion that the number of the persons is set down, which we took notice of before: they were in all two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. See how many may be influenced by the good example of one. They did all eat, nay, they did all eat enough (v. 38), they were satiated with food, or filled with it; they made a hearty meal. This explains the meaning of their fasting before for fourteen days; not that they did not eat during all that time, but they never had enough all that time, as they had now.
    • 8. They once more lightened the ship, that it might escape the better in the shock it was now to have. They had before thrown the wares and the tackle overboard, and now the wheat, the victuals and provisions they had; better they should sink the food than that it should sink them. See what good reason our Saviour had to call our bodily food meat that perishes. We may ourselves be under a necessity of throwing that away to save our lives which we had gathered and laid up for the support of our lives. It is probable that the ship was overloaded with the multitude of the passengers (for this comes in just after the account of the number of them) and that this obliged them so often to lighten the ship.
  • V. Their putting to shore, and the staving of the ship in the adventure. It was about break of day when they ate their meat, and when it was quite day they began to look about them; and here we are told,
    • 1. That they knew not where they were; they could not tell what country it was they were now upon the coast of, whether it was Europe, Asia, or Africa, for each had shores washed by the Adriatic Sea. It is probable that these seamen had often sailed this way, and thought they knew every country they came near perfectly well, and yet here they were at a loss. Let not the wise man then glory in his wisdom, since it may perhaps fail him thus egregiously even in his own profession.
    • 2. They observed a creek with a level shore, into which they hoped to thrust the ship, v. 39. Though they knew not what country it was, nor whether the inhabitants were friends or foes, civil or barbarous, they determined to cast themselves upon their mercy; it was dry land, which would be very welcome to those that had been so long at sea. It was a pity but they had had some help from the shore, a pilot sent them, that knew the coast, who might steer their ship in, or another second ship, to take some of the men on board. Those who live on the sea-coast have often opportunity of succouring those who are in distress at sea, and of saving precious lives, and they ought to do their utmost in order to it, with all readiness and cheerfulness; for it is a great sin, and very provoking to God, to forbear to deliver those that are driven unto death, and are ready to be slain; and it will not serve for an excuse to say, Behold, we knew it not, when either we did, or might, and should, have known it, Prov. 24:11, 12. I have been told there are some, and in our own nation too, who when from the sea-coast they see a ship in distress and at a loss will, by misguiding fires or otherwise, purposely lead them into danger, that the lives may be lost, and they may have the plunder of the ship. One can scarcely believe that any of the human species can possibly be so wicked, so barbarously inhuman, and can have so much of the devil in them; if there be, let them know of a truth that they shall have judgment without mercy who have shown no mercy.
    • 3. They made straight to the shore with wind and tide (v. 40): They took up the anchors, the four anchors which they cast out of the stern, v. 29. Some think that they took pains to weigh them up, hoping they should have use for them again at the shore; others that they did it with such precipitation that they were forced to cut the cables and leave them; the original will admit either. They then committed themselves to the sea, the wind standing fair to carry them into the port, and they loosed the rudder-bands, which were fastened during the storm for the greater steadiness of the ship, but, now that they were putting into the port, were loosed, that the pilot might steer with the greater freedom; they then hoisted up the main-sail to the wind, and made towards shore. The original words here used for the rudder-bands and the main-sail find the critics a great deal of work to accommodate them to the modern terms; but they need not give us any difficulty who are content to know that when they saw the shore they hastened to it as fast as they could, and perhaps made more haste than good speed. And should not a poor soul that has long been struggling with winds and tempests in this world long to put into the safe and quiet haven of everlasting rest? Should it not get clear from all that which fastens it to this earth, and straitens the out-goings of its pious and devout affections heavenward? And should it not hoist up the main-sail of faith to the wind of the Spirit, and so with longing desires make to shore?
    • 4. They made a shift among them to run the ship aground, in a shelf or bed of sand, as it should seem, or an isthmus, or neck of land, washed with the sea on both sides, and therefore two seas are said to meet upon it, and there the forepart stuck fast; and then, when it had no liberty to play, as a ship has when it rides at anchor, but remained immovable, the hinder part would soon be broken of course by the violence of the waves. Whether the seamen did not do their part, being angry that they were disappointed in their design to escape, and therefore wilfully ran the ship aground, or whether we may suppose that they did their utmost to save it, but God in his providence overruled, for the fulfilling of Paul's word, that the ship must be lost (v. 22), I cannot say; but this we are sure of that God will confirm the word of his servants, and perform the counsel of his messengers, Isa. 44:26. The ship, that had strangely weathered the storm in the vast ocean, where it had room to roll, is dashed to pieces when it sticks fast. Thus if the heart fixes in the world, in love and affection, and adherence to it, it is lost. Satan's temptations beat against it, and it is gone; but, as long as it keeps above the world, though it be tossed with its cares and tumults, there is hope of it. They had the shore in view, and yet suffered shipwreck in the harbour, to teach us never to be secure.
  • VI. A particular danger that Paul and the rest of the prisoners were in, besides their share in the common calamity, and their deliverance from it.
    • 1. In this critical moment, when every man hung in doubt of his life, the soldiers advised the killing of the prisoners that were committed to their custody, and whom they were to give an account of, lest any of them should swim out and escape, v. 42. There was no great danger of that, for they could not escape far, weak and weary as they were; and, under the eye of so many soldiers that had the charge of them, it was not likely they should attempt it; and if it should so happen, though they might be obnoxious to the law for a permissive escape, yet in such a case as this equity would certainly relieve them. But it was a brutish barbarous motion, and so much the worse that they were thus prodigal of other people's lives when without a miracle of mercy they must lose their own.
    • 2. The centurion, for Paul's sake, quashed this motion presently. Paul, who was his prisoner, had found favour with him, as Joseph with the captain of the guard. Julius, though he despised Paul's advice (v. 11), yet afterwards saw a great deal of cause to respect him, and therefore, being willing to save Paul, he prevented the execution of that bloody project, and in favorem vita-rom a regard to his life, he kept them from their purpose. It does not appear that they were any of them malefactors convicted, but only suspected, and waiting their trial, and in such a case as this better ten guilty ones should escape than one that was innocent be slain. As God had saved all in the ship for Paul's sake, so here the centurion saves all the prisoners for his sake; such a diffusive good is a good man.
  • VII. The saving of the lives of all the persons in the ship, by the wonderful providence of God. When the ship broke under them, surely there was but a step between them and death; and yet infinite mercy interposed, and that step was not stepped.
    • 1. Some were saved by swimming: The centurion commanded his soldiers in the first place, as many of them as could swim, to get to land first, and to be ready to receive the prisoners, and prevent their escape. The Romans trained up their youth, among other exercises, to that of swimming, and it was often of service to them in their wars: Julius Cæsar was a famous swimmer. It may be very useful to those who deal much at sea, but otherwise perhaps more lives have been lost by swimming in sport, and learning to swim, than have been saved by swimming for need.
    • 2. The rest with much ado scrambled to the shore, some on boards that they had loose with them in the ship, and others on the broken pieces of the ship, every one making the best shift he could for himself and his friends, and the more busy because they were assured their labour should not be in vain; but so it came to pass that through the good providence of God none of them miscarried, none of them were by accident turned off, but they escaped all safely to land. See here an instance of the special providence of God in the preservation of people's lives, and particularly in the deliverance of many from perils by water, ready to sink, and yet kept from sinking, the deep from swallowing them up and the water-floods from overflowing them, the storm turned into a calm. They were rescued from the dreaded sea, and brought to the desired haven. O that men could praise the Lord for his goodness! Psa. 107:30, 31. Here was an instance of the performance of a particular word of promise which God gave, that all the persons in this ship should be saved for Paul's sake. Though there be great difficulty in the way of the promised salvation, yet it shall without fail be accomplished; and even the wreck of the ship may furnish out means for the saving of the lives, and, when all seems to be gone, all proves to be safe, though it be on boards, and broken pieces of the ship.