CHAPTER 27
Paul’s voyage to Rome, full of very many and very great dangers. In it Paul’s exhortation to those with him concerning the hope of salvation. Paul’s shipwreck, how they were saved to the island of Melita and the things Paul performed there that were wonderful.
Acts 27:1-20 When it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they handed Paul and some other prisoners over to a centurion named Julius of the Augustan cohort. Embarking on an Adramyttian ship intending to sail to the regions along Asia, we were taken aboard, Aristarchus of Macedonia, a Thessalonian, being with us. And when we had come down to Sidon, the centurion treated Paul kindly and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care. From there, getting underway, we sailed under Cyprus because the winds were contrary; and having crossed the sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and put us on board it. Sailing slowly many days and barely making progress off Cnidus because the wind did not permit us, we sailed under Crete off Salmone, and with difficulty doubled it and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. Much time having been spent and the voyage already dangerous because the fast was now over, Paul advised them, saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will be attended with great loss, not only of the cargo and ship but also of our lives." But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship than by what was said by Paul. Since the harbor was not suitable for spending the winter, most were of the opinion to put out to sea from there and seek a place called Phoenix and winter there, a harbor of Crete lying toward the southwest and northwest. When the south wind blew softly, supposing they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed close along the shore of Crete. But not long after there struck down upon it a tempestuous wind called Euroclydon; and when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way and were driven. Running under the shelter of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to get the boat under control; they lowered the small boat and brace up the ship, and fearing so as not to they should run aground on the Syrtis, they struck sail and so were driven. Being exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship; and on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. Neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm lay on us; all hope that we would be saved was finally abandoned.
" 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]
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. The marvel is greater, that in such a season they were saved from the dangers, both the Apostle himself and through him the rest. Therefore he was not proved false.
" But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship ." The centurion did not pay attention to what was said by Paul, being persuaded rather by those experienced in navigation, who were more inclined to prevail than by a passenger inexperienced in seamanship. And from this he teaches that the error is of judgment and not of chance. For that it is possible by nature to avoid danger, experience itself teaches not to plunge oneself down, since, as is beyond doubt, a thing carries danger, with fortune and fate lying asleep over what has gone before, or indeed awake yet unable to act against the deliberate choice of humans, by which they conduct and carry matters relating to themselves as they wish, as also those who traveled with Paul. For they acted according to choice, because immediately, having met a favorable wind, they gladly completed the voyage. [AMMONIUS]
It should be known that to say " face the wind " of a ship is not to be taken in the literal sense. For that expression applies only to a person. Therefore one must not constantly interpret Scripture literally. [AMMONIUS]
Acts 27:21-41 While there was great hunger then, Paul stood in their midst and said, “Men, it was necessary, when you obeyed me not to sail from Crete, that you should have gained relief from this upset and this loss. Now I encourage you to take heart, for none of your lives will be lost, only the ship. For last night there stood by me the angel of God who I am and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar, and behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men; for I believe God that it will be just as it has been spoken to me. We must run aground on some island.” But when the fourteenth night had come, while we were drifting in the Adriatic, at midnight the sailors supposed they could bring it to some land; and casting four anchors from the stern, they wished for day to come. But the sailors were seeking to escape out of the ship, and had let down the boat into the sea, pretending they would cast anchors from the bow. Then Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let it fall off. Until daybreak Paul was encouraging all to take food, saying, “This is the fourteenth day that you wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing. Therefore I insist you to take food; for this is for your survival, for not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” Having said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God before them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. Then they were all encouraged and themselves also took food. We were in all two hundred and seventy-six souls in the ship. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea. When day came they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay having a beach into which they planned, if they could, to run the ship ashore. So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, loosening the rudder ropes; and hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the front end stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.
" and behold, God has granted you all ." Therefore the idea that things are governed by fate or chance is shown to be false. For if they had not been saved through Paul, all would have been doomed to perish on the ship, this being a gift from God to honor the righteous man. And therefore sometimes the ungodly live because of the righteous, and there are occasions when the opposite happens, and before his time the ungodly man perishes because of his own wickedness, as is said: Do not be overly wicked, nor become hard, for fear that you die in your season. (Eccles. 7:17)
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. For if they had complied under the notion of fate, although they were Gentiles, having ignored the counsel of the holy man they would have permitted the sailors to depart. [AMMONIUS]
" Therefore I insist you to take food ." Paul urges them to partake of food, and he himself partakes first, persuading not by words but by deed.
“ For this ,” he says, “ is for your survival ,” that is, to eat, in case you perish through hunger. For they had no concern for food, since the danger was not about those present. From where then did it reveal to them that the number had increased among those sailing? It was fitting for them to ask the reason for which they sail, and to learn everything.