Acts 27 · The Lantern

Paul Sails for Rome

Now when it was determined that we should sail to Italy, they were delivering both Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the cohort of Augustus.

But after Paul, in consequence of his appeal to Caesar, had been sent to Rome by Festus, the Jews, being frustrated in their hope of entrapping him by the snares that they had laid for him, turned against James, the brother of the Lord, to whom the episcopal seat at Jerusalem had been entrusted by the apostles. The following daring measures were undertaken by them against him.

See how far Aristarchus also accompanies Paul. To good and useful purpose is Aristarchus present, as he would take back the report of all to Macedonia.

When it was decided that he should sail to Italy, Paul, along with the rest of the prisoners, was handed over to a centurion. More accurately read in Greek: "When it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion."

And having boarded a ship of Adramyttium being about to sail to the places along Asia, we set sail — Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

And on the next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, treating Paul considerately, allowed him to go to his friends to receive care.

And from there, having set sail, we sailed under Cyprus because of the winds being contrary;

and having sailed across the sea along Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra of Lycia.

And there the centurion, having found a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy, placed us into it.

And for many days sailing slowly and having arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us, we sailed under Crete off Salmone;

and coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a certain place being called Fair Havens, near to which was the city of Lasea.

Now when much time had passed and the voyage was already dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul was admonishing them,

By "the fast" here, I suppose he means that of the Jews. For they departed thence a long time after the Pentecost, so that it was much about midwinter that they arrived at the coasts of Crete. And this too was no slight miracle, that they also should be saved on his account.

"because the fast was now over." Here the fast means that of the Jews. For after Pentecost he departed from there after a long time, as if to come to the parts of Crete almost in the winter itself. Behold, Paul now prophesies again, telling them that they would be shipwrecked. [AMMONIUS]

I think Paul is speaking here of the Jewish fast, since he had departed a long time after Pentecost, so that he arrived at the borders of Crete almost by winter.

saying to them, “Men, I understand that the voyage is about to be with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and of the ship but also of our lives.”

And observe how unassuming the expression is. That he may not seem to prophesy, but to speak as of conjecture, "I perceive," says he. For they would not have received it, had he said this at the outset. In fact he does prophesy on this former occasion, as he does afterward, and says there, "The God whom I serve," leading them on.

Even if the shipwreck did not occur to them with loss of lives according to his word. For this would have happened as far as the nature of the thing was concerned, if God had not preserved them. For through him he also caused those men to be saved. The shipwreck that took place, then, occurred because the season was bad, since the storm was great.

But to show that he is not prophesying, but speaking by conjecture, he expresses himself thus: "I perceive," – because they would not have immediately believed him even if he had said this as a prophet.

But the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the ship owner rather than by the things spoken by Paul.

And the harbour being unsuitable to winter in, the majority reached a decision to set sail from there, if somehow they would be able, having arrived at Phoenix, to winter there — a harbour of Crete looking toward the southwest and toward the northwest.

The Storm at Sea

And when a south wind was blowing gently, having thought to have obtained their purpose, having weighed anchor, they were coasting along Crete very near.

But after not long, a tempestuous wind, which is called the Northeaster, threw down from it;

and when the ship was seized and not being able to face the wind, having given way, we were driven along.

And having run under a certain island being called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to gain control of the lifeboat;

which having taken up, they were using supports, undergirding the ship. And fearing lest they should fall into the sandbars of Syrtis, having lowered the gear, thus they were driven along.

And as we were being violently storm-tossed, on the next day they were making a jettison of cargo;

and on the third day, with their own hands they cast away the tackle of the ship.

And with neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no small tempest afflicting us, from then on all hope of our being saved was abandoned.

And there being much time without food, then Paul, having stood up in the midst of them, said: “It was necessary for you, O men, having been obedient to me, not to have set sail from Crete, and to have incurred this disaster and loss.

And yet now I exhort you to keep up your courage; for there will be no loss of life from among you, only of the ship.

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

That both good angels are present to men and adverse ones; that it was surely not by chance and without judgment that that angel was allotted to be the guardian of that soul, for example of Peter, and another of Paul, or another of one infant of the Church, concerning whose angels the Lord says that they "always behold the face of their Father who is in heaven." Concerning whom…

"For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo God hath given thee all them that sail with thee." So that righteous men, though they may be in a tempest, or on the sea, or in the deep, suffer nothing dreadful, but even save others together with themselves.

For an angel of God stood by me this night. He was not boasting of himself by saying this but was provoking them to faith. For the sea was allowed to be stormy so that by what was heard and by what was not heard, the spiritual grace in Paul might be revealed.

saying, ‘Do not fear, Paul; it behooves you to stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those sailing with you.’

"God has granted safety to all," so that what Homer says appears to be false: "I say that no one can avoid his fate, neither good man nor bad, even though he be noble." And this means that it is impossible to escape the death that Fate establishes at the moment of birth.

You cannot deny that the prisoner and the jailers were of unequal merit. And what were the circumstances of that shipwreck involving the apostle and the soldiers? The apostle Paul described a vision afterwards and said that those who were on the ship had been given to him by the Lord.

"Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you." Behold, if it were not for Paul, all who were in the ship would have had to perish. Thus, what was said by Homer is false: Homer says that it is impossible to escape the mortal fate that determines the hour of a person's death together with their birth.

Therefore take courage, men; for I believe in God, that it will be thus, according to the way it has been said to me.

But it behooves us to fall upon a certain island.”

The Shipwreck

And when the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic, toward the middle of the night the sailors were sensing some land to be drawing near to them;

and having taken soundings, they found twenty fathoms. And having gone a little farther and having taken soundings again, they found fifteen fathoms.

And fearing lest perhaps we should fall on rocky places, having cast four anchors out of the stern, they were praying for day to come.

And when the sailors were seeking to flee out of the ship and had let down the lifeboat into the sea, under pretence as being about to cast out anchors from the bow,

Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.”

Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved": so saying, not on this account, but that he might restrain them, and the prophecy might not fall to the ground. Accordingly observe how the centurion does as he bids him, insomuch that he even let the boat go, and destroyed it.

But when he said, "Unless these stay in the ship, you cannot be saved," Paul spoke wisely, so as to hold them and not let the prophecy fail. Therefore when they saw that their lack of resolve had put them in danger, then they began to obey him.

"Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved," etc. Because in the danger of shipwreck, the knowledge of sailors who were experienced in the sea was more beneficial than the weapons of soldiers, they were therefore more likely to control the boat than to let the sailors be cast away.

Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the lifeboat and allowed it to fall away.

And until day was about to come, Paul was encouraging all to partake of food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you continue watching without eating, having taken nothing.

And how, say you, did they go without food, having taken nothing? How did they bear it? Their fear possessed them, and did not let them fall into a desire of food, being, as they were, at the point of extreme jeopardy; but they had no care for food. Moreover, the place is a trying one, for it was in the Adriatic, and then their long abstinence. They were in the midst of death.

"And when it began to be light, Paul besought," etc. After fourteen days of storm, Paul besought them to take food, since it was clear that, of two hundred seventy-six men, not even a hair of their heads had been lost. To encourage others by his own example, he broke bread and himself began to eat.

And as the day was about to dawn, Paul urged everyone to take some food. In this passage, the most beautiful sense of allegory is laid open, as Paul urged those he promised would be saved from the wreck to take food.

Therefore I exhort you to partake of food; for this is indeed for your preservation. For not a hair of the head of any of you will perish.”

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

But how" in every place," since we are prohibited (from praying) in public? In every place, he means, which opportunity or even necessity, may have rendered suitable: for that which was done by the apostles (who, in gaol, in the audience of the prisoners, "began praying and singing to God") is not considered to have been done contrary to the precept; nor yet that which was done…

And he exhorts them again to take some meat, and they do as he bids them, and he takes some first, to persuade them not by word, but also by act, that the storm did them no harm, but rather was a benefit to their souls. Observe, his giving thanks after all that had happened strengthened them. For this showed an assured mind that they would be saved.

That Paul began to eat was so that he would not die of hunger. "Having taken bread, he gave thanks to God" for what had happened. The order of the Eucharist also teaches us to say the same thing: "We thank Thee, O God, that Thou hast vouchsafed us…"

And having been encouraged, they all also themselves took food;

and we were altogether two hundred seventy-six souls in the boat.

And having been filled with food, they were lightening the ship, casting out the wheat into the sea.

And when it was day, they were not recognizing the land; but they were noticing a certain bay having a shore, on which they were determining, if they would be able, to drive the ship aground.

And having cut away the anchors, they were leaving them in the sea, at the same time having loosened the ropes of the rudders; and having hoisted the foresail to the blowing wind, they were making for the shore.

But having fallen into a place between two seas, they ran the vessel aground; and the bow, having stuck fast, remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.

Now the plan of the soldiers was that they should kill the prisoners, lest anyone, having swum away, should escape.

But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, hindered them from the purpose; and he commanded those being able to swim, having cast themselves off first, to go out onto the land,

and the rest, some on boards and some on things from the ship. And thus it came to pass that all were saved to the land.

Acts27

Paul Sails for Rome

The Storm at Sea

The Shipwreck