Study From the Book of Acts,27

Study From the Book of Acts,27

Today we study the twenty-seventh chapter of the Book of Acts and we choose two biblical principles and their lessons which are useful in Biblical Counselling.

The voyage to Rome began, however that was not a good time for sailing. It was just before the winter months when sailing became difficult because of storms. Because of headwinds, the ship had to sail north of the island of Cyprus, using it and the mainland to break the force of the gale. Eventually the travellers reached the port of Myra where a large ship was found to sail to Italy.

Paul and his shipmates neared Cnidus on the south west tip of Asia Minor, some 130 miles from Myra, which would have been their last port of call before sailing across Aegean Sea to the coast of Greece. However, the wind was so strong that the ship was forced southward. The ship sailed along the southern coast of the island of Crete, again using the island to break force of the wind. Finally, the ship docked at a small port called Fair Havens The season for sailing was over, and continuing the journey would have been dangerous.

Paul had been at sea many times before. He had been shipwrecked at least two other times, so he had some basis for what he was saying not to continue and to stop there. However, his counsel was rejected. Because Fair Havens was a little town, the Sailers decided to try to reach Phoenix, the major port on the west side of Crete, some 60 miles away. It could be that the owner of the ship wanted to get his grain to a larger port so that he could sell it. Furthermore. Julius the centurion in charge, probably wanted a better place to winter his men. In other words, greed and the desire of comfort may have gotten in the way of good sense.

In the morning there was a calm over the sea and a breeze blowing from the south, so that travellers quickly set sail, hugging the shoreline for protection. Suddenly a violent northeasterly storm called Euroclydon hit the ship, preventing the crew from sailing into the wind and drove the ship south of a small island named Clauda, which broke the force of the gale along enough for the crew to take measures to save the ship.

Because the ship’s timbers could come apart, the sailors passed strong ropes under the ship, pulling up tight to hold the ship together.

Paul had been given absolute assurance by the all-powerful and all-knowing God that no one would be lost on the ship. Paul warned that if the sailors were successful in escaping from the ship, the Roman soldiers would lose their lives. Because of Paul’s comments, the soldiers stopped the sailors from leaving the ship and everyone made it ashore alive. God fulfilled His purpose and promise through the warnings of Paul and the choices of the soldiers.

Structure:

Verses 1-18: the voyage to Rome begins.

Verses 9-12: Paul’s warning ignored.

Verses 13-38: in the tempest.

Verses 39-44: shipwrecked on Malta.

Principle 53: verse 27:20 ----"Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.”

Lesson 53: Hardship and trials can last for so long that we begin to despair that God will ever rescue us from our difficulties. Yet God remains faithful, and difficult circumstances never indicate that He has lost interest in us.

Principle 54: verse 27: 43-44----” But the centurion ---commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land---And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.”

Lesson 54: God had promised that everyone on board would be saved, and so it happened. Some swam. Som floated on boards or pieces of the ship, but everyone made it to shore safely. We never wrong by trusting God’s Word! 17/8/2025.