November 11 A READ ACTS 27–28
Paul’s Trip to Rome
OVERVIEW
During the perilous voyage by sea to Rome, God assures Paul in a dream that he will stand before Caesar to bear witness to the gospel. The account closes with Paul in Rome under house arrest for two years, “boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him” (28:31).
MY DAILY WALK
Even the best seeds germinate only in the proper soil.
Acts 28:24 is a summary of the response to Paul’s “seed sowing” in the city of Rome: “Some were persuaded . . . but others did not believe” It’s a reminder that even the apostle Paul couldn’t persuade a person to turn to God if that individual was not willing to “see . . . hear . . . understand, and . . . turn” (28:27).
You can expect the same response as you venture forth with the words of life. Some will believe, for God has promised that his Word will accomplish what he desires (Isaiah 55:11). And some will not believe—not because the message is deficient, but because they are unwilling to repent. Don’t be discouraged at the latter; and don’t be surprised at the former. Like Paul, keep praying, sharing, and looking up.
WE CONQUER NOT IN ANY BRILLIANT FASHION—WE CONQUER BY CONTINUING.
INSIGHT
Wise Advice Ignored | Acts 27:9
Paul had reason to be concerned about sailing at this point. Luke’s expression for “late in the fall” was literally “after the fast”—in other words, after the Day of Atonement (27:9). That important Jewish holiday fell sometime between September 14 and October 14. Romans considered sailing after mid-September to be very risky, and sailing after mid-November to be almost suicidal. The later it got in the fall, the greater the predicament for the ship and those sailing on it.
INSIGHT
Acts Beyond the Book | Acts 28:30
Chapter 28 concludes Luke’s account, but significant events continued to transpire in the life of Paul and the New Testament church. The following is a suggested chronology:
Paul’s first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30): (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon written)
Paul’s first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30): Paul’s freedom from imprisonment
a.d. 60–62: 62–67
Paul’s first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30): (1 Timothy and Titus written)
Paul’s first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30): Burning of Rome
a.d. 60–62: 64
Paul’s first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30): Second Roman imprisonment
a.d. 60–62: 67–68
Paul’s first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30): (2 Timothy written)
Paul’s first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30): Paul’s death
a.d. 60–62: 68
Paul’s first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30): Destruction of Jerusalem
a.d. 60–62: 70
Paul Sails for Rome
1When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer* named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. 2Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia;* it was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province.
3The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs. 4Putting out to sea from there, we encountered strong headwinds that made it difficult to keep the ship on course, so we sailed north of Cyprus between the island and the mainland. 5Keeping to the open sea, we passed along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, landing at Myra, in the province of Lycia. 6There the commanding officer found an Egyptian ship from Alexandria that was bound for Italy, and he put us on board.
7We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone. 8We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. 9We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall,* and Paul spoke to the ship’s officers about it.
10“Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” 11But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul. 12And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure.
The Storm at Sea
13When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. 14But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. 15The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.
16We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda,* where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us. 17Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.
18The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. 19The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. 20The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.
21No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. 22But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”
The Shipwreck
27About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria,* the sailors sensed land was near. 28They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep.* 29At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.
30Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. 31But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” 32So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.
33Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. 34“Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” 35Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. 36Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—37all 276 of us who were on board. 38After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.
39When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. 40So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. 41But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.
42The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. 43But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. 44The others held on to planks or debris from the broken ship.* So everyone escaped safely to shore.