Lessons From Acts – Lesson 41
The Jews had pushed and pushed to get Paul killed. Both of the governors in charge did not know what to do with Paul. He was not guilty of any of their laws and Paul was not guilty of violating any of the Jews’ laws.
So between that and the fact that the governors wanted to please the Jews they kept Paul in prison for over 2 years. When it eventually got to the point where Paul was faced with judgment in Jerusalem, which meant death before the trial, or exercising his right to appeal to Caesar’s judgment seat in Rome Paul appealed to Rome.
That might make one wonder, then why did not Paul just do that right away. Well as we will see that was not a quick process. It was best to try to avoid it if possible.
And the Romans were known for being harsh. So I can see why Paul did not appeal to Caesar right away. He only did it when it was either death at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders or appeal to Caesar’s judgment seat.
And now it is time to get going to Rome.
Acts 27:1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band.
Acts 27:2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
Acts 27:3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
I have said it many times. God loves to use His almighty power in the circumstances of life. God sometimes uses large displays of power and huge things like parting the Red Sea. But far more often God will use His almighty power to do something we consider small in comparison.
Here God arranged the right centurion to be in the right place at the right time to be in charge of getting Paul to Rome.
Centurion means 100. Centurions were the backbone of the Roman army and were in charge of 100 men. They were known for their leadership, combat experience, and discipline.
And we see the first time that this centurion named Julius is mentioned that he is treating Paul well. It says Julius courteously entreated Paul.
We don’t know. It could be that Julius knew people who knew of Paul. Or it could be that Julius knew nothing of Paul. Either way God arranged it so the right man was on the job so that Paul would be treated right.
God does at times bring the right person that we need into our lives at just the right moment.
I can think back at my life and see that God worked to bring the right person into my life at the right time to be a help and blessing to me. God worked to bring Dr. Orrino into our lives.
And I can see that at times God put me into the life of someone else at just the right time.
I think of Paul the quadriplegic.
I was doing call backs from visitor cards and this lady answers the phone. I tell her my name and that I was calling on people who had visited our church.
And she started crying. Her husband got saved not long after he filled out that visitor card, but got in a wreck and was now paralyzed. She asked if I would go see him. So on Tuesday mornings before work I would drive to the care center and visit Paul.
He was in bad shape. No longer in a coma but he could not even move his finger. He was also in bad shape as far as depression. That man needed someone to come preach to him.
I went down there on Tuesday mornings every week for 7 years. I first carefully went thru salvation and found he was solid there. He really did understand and get saved before the wreck.
We prayed and prayed for some movement. He eventually gained just enough movement that he could move the stick to drive the wheel chair. I would stand over that bed and read and preach the Bible to him.
A few times he was under great conviction about something and he would hide from me. That took a lot. He had to make special arrangements to have them get him up early and in his chair.
I would find him and read more of the Bible to him. Paul needed it. And he grew spiritually. I think it was somewhere around year 4 that I always saw him with a smile on his face. Always. It did not matter the health issue at the time or the bed sores. He always had a smile. And the last few years Paul would drive that wheel chair around the care center and tell people about Jesus.
That man needed years of one on one preaching and so God arranged a nobody like me to come into his life. God does things like this.
And in our text God arranged that Julius and not someone else would be in charge of this trip. The why will become clear as we go thru it. However, it will not appear so right away but at the end.
Acts 27:4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
Acts 27:5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
Acts 27:6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
Acts 27:7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
Acts 27:8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
Acts 27:9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
The fast is referring to the Day of Atonement. What has that to do with it? Only the date on the calendar. The weather late in the season makes sailing more dangerous. When they left there was still time to make it to Rome safely.
However, the wind did not cooperate. The winds were contrary, so against them when they were around Cyprus. And then the winds died and they sailed slowly many days. And when much time was spent it says.
So time had slipped away and now they are past the safe sailing season and have entered the dangerous time of the year for sailing.
Acts 27:10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
Acts 27:11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
We have seen that in the first mention of the centurion that he was courteous to Paul. And he listened to what Paul had to say and then he listened to what the master and owner of the ship had to say.
It was not that the centurion did not believe Paul, it says that he just believed the owner of the ship more. The owner of the ship has a lot to lose if the ship goes down and the owner of the ship should have more experience in sailing.
So I understand the inclination to believe the master of the ship. It was the wrong choice but I do understand it.
The master of the ship is now looking at finding a place to stop and wait until winter is over. He understands the danger and understands the point Paul was making.
The problem is that they are not in a good place to spend the winter. And not all that far away is a nice place to park the ship for the winter.
Acts 27:12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
So now it is clear. Paul said let’s not move and winter here where we are. And the master of the ship said let’s only sail a ways to a better place to winter in. So that was the 2 choices that the centurion listened to. And he chose to believe the master of the ship who said they could make it that far.
Acts 27:13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
So they wait a bit for the wind to be right and start sailing. But it did not go well. The nice wind they needed did not last long.
Acts 27:14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
Acts 27:15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
That means that the wind was so strong that they could not use the sails to control their direction. If you have wind going the wrong way you can sail into the wind by angling the sails and zig zagging. It is slow but can be done but only if the wind is not too strong.
The wind in this storm was so strong that all they could do is just let the ship go where the wind pushed them.
Acts 27:16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
Acts 27:17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
Acts 27:18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
Acts 27:19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
This went on for days. On day 2 they cast out anything that was not needed and maybe even some of the cargo. On day 3 they cast out the tackling of the ship.
And the storm kept going. They were helpless and things looked bleak.
Acts 27:20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
This was a huge storm. The clouds so thick you could not even see the sun. Luke is writing this and he says all hope that we should be saved was taken away.
Acts 27:21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
It says after long abstinence Paul. So Paul had been fasting and praying. Biblically those 2 always go together. Prayer can stand alone, but biblically fasting is always with prayer. Paul had been praying to God about this most likely almost the entire time.
And Paul did get an answer. So he addresses the men and I guess just could not help himself and did the I told you so.
But I do not think he did it out of pride. I like to think it was more, since I was correct before about what I told you, you should listen to what I have to say now.
Listening to me then would have been good and listening to me now will be good. And it is very good news that I have.
Acts 27:22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.
And Paul then tells them how he knows this.
Acts 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
Acts 27:24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Acts 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
Acts 27:26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
So the good news is we are all going to live. However, we will lose the ship it will be crashed upon an island. A certain island. So the implication here is we have to ride out the storm and stay strong until we get to the exact island that God wants us to go to.
To get out of this storm with our lives we must go thru the storm. There are no shortcuts.
Acts 27:27 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;
Acts 27:28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
Acts 27:29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
So the sea is getting shallower. A sign that land is getting closer.
And so some want to only think of themselves and bail on everyone else. And they try to do it real sneaky like and just run off without anyone knowing.
Acts 27:30 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,
Paul sees what is going on and tells the centurion.
The right centurion that God arranged to be in charge of getting Paul to Rome. The right centurion who respected Paul, was courteous to Paul and listened to what Paul had to say.
Acts 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
The centurion did not tell Paul you are a prisoner so shut up. We are in charge that is our business; keep your nose out of it. Some leaders of soldiers are like that. But God had arranged so Paul did not have one of those type of centurions.
This centurion listed and believed Paul and ordered his soldiers to cut the ropes of the life boat.
Acts 27:32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
Acts 27:33 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.
Acts 27:34 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.
Acts 27:35 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.
Acts 27:36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
Acts 27:37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
That is 276 people. So this was a good size ship. 276 people plus cargo.
Acts 27:38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
The weight of the wheat in deep water would help ballast the ship and help keep it from flipping over in the waves. Now that they are close to shore you do not want the extra weight. You want the ship higher in the water so that they can avoid hitting bottom and get closer to land.
Acts 27:39 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.
Acts 27:40 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.
Acts 27:41 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.
And here it comes. Here is where it becomes so clear that God sent the right centurion at the right time to be in the right place at a critical moment.
They tell us that in those days if a Roman soldier let a prisoner escape then his life is forfeit.
So look at the situation now. The boat has crashed. The back of the boat is broken with the violence of the waves. The only way to shore is to swim. Everyone. That means that the prisoners would have to be let go temporarily as they all made it to shore.
They also have no idea of where they are. What land is it? How big is it? They have no idea. It could be a place where it would be easy for a prisoner to disappear. And if that happens those Roman soldiers will be held accountable.
So what do you think the soldiers counsel is?
Acts 27:42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
The soldiers said let’s protect our own lives and kill the prisoners right now while they are still on the ship. Most centurions would think the same way. If Paul had one of those, then they would have all been killed.
But God did not send one of those. God in his perfect foreknowledge sent just the right man into Paul’s life at just the right time for just this crisis.
Acts 27:43 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:
Acts 27:44 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.
The centurion it says had to keep those soldiers from their purpose. He had to be strong and make a stand and take some kind of action to stop it.
And he ordered everyone off the ship. If you could swim well, great get swimming. If you could not then grab a piece of the ship that would float and use that to help you get to shore.
This is not what most centurions would have done.
God knew all about this storm way before Paul left on this trip. God set things in motion in this centurion’s life so that he would be the man for the job. His personality and his way of thinking and all of that.
And then God brought this man into Paul’s life ahead of time for this crisis.
Once again we see from the Bible that God cares and God knows the beginning and the end and that God is always working ahead. And that God does in fact bring people into our lives at certain times that we need.
1 thing we should get out of this is to be thankful. Be thankful that God cares and be thankful that God is working on your behalf.
2 It works both ways. God will bring people into your life for a purpose, but God will also sometimes put you in someone else’s life to be a help and a blessing to them.
So if God does that, then be willing to be used in that way and be a help to another one of God’s children.