READING THE BOOK OF ACTS: CHAPTER 27
READING THE BOOK OF ACTS: CHAPTER 27
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
INTRODUCING ACTS, CHAPTER 27
Paul is finally on his way to Rome. He has wanted to go for some time (Romans 1:11), but a short visit to Jerusalem to check in with the apostles turned into a two-year house arrest in Caesarea Maritima. He was falsely accused by the Sanhedrin. Roman governors wouldn't release him—because that would irritate the Jewish leaders—but wouldn't hand him over to the council because of his Roman citizenship. Ultimately, Paul appealed his case to Caesar. The text of the chapter alternates between Luke's detailed description of the sea voyage and Paul encouraging the people on board to make choices that won't kill them all. (https://www.bibleref.com/Acts/27/Acts-chapter-27.html)
1) Paul Sails for Rome Verses 1-12, JEANNIE
When it was decided that
we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed
over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 2 We boarded a
ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province
of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from
Thessalonica, was with us. 3 The next day we
landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go
to his friends so they might provide for his needs. 4 From
there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds
were against us. 5 When we had sailed across the
open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in
Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian
ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We
made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When
the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of
Crete, opposite Salmone. 8 We moved along
the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town
of Lasea. 9 Much time had been lost, and sailing
had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement.[a] So Paul warned them, 10 “Men, I can
see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and
cargo, and to our own lives also.” 11 But the
centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the
pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12 Since the
harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail
on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in
Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.
NOTATIONS:
This section records the part of the trip that happens before the storm. According to commentary Luke actually recorded this incident. They sail north from Caesarea to Sidon where Julius allows Paul to visit friends. After that they sail on to the southern coast of Crete.
Paul warns the captain and leaders to stop for the winter. Paul is an experienced ship captain. The Bible records other times that he has been in shipwrecks. Unfortunately, they didn’t take Paul’s advice and decided to sail on because they feared the harbor they were currently at was not the safest place to shelter for the harsh winter months. There was a bigger port, Phoenix, in Crete where they decided to sail to for the winter.- The Day of Atonement - The Day of Atonement is Yom Kippur, a Jewish holiday devoted to atoning for sins. It's considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Observation
of the day is marked by fasting and prayers of repentance during a daylong
service in the synagogue. The high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifices in key places in order to “atone” or
“cover” for Israel's sins, like he's washing them away from the tent.
As observed by the Living Church of God and United Church of God: The Christian
Day of Atonement is based on the English translation of the Jewish Holy day Yom
Kippur. The day is commemorated with a 25-hour fast by Jews, but normally a 24-hour fast by Christians who observe it. The Day
of Atonement or Yom Kippur falls on different dates and will occur on Sept. 24-25
this year.
SECTION QUESTIONS:
1. Why was Paul going to Rome?
2. What was Paul's warning concerning the trip? (V.10)
3. Many Christians do not celebrate the Day of Atonement, why is this?
2) The Storm, Verses 13-26, DESTINY
13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, 17 so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor[b] and let the ship be driven along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. 21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.
1. How did Paul encourage the crew? (V.22)
2. What did the angel tell Paul? )V.23-24)
3) The Shipwreck, Verses 27-44, MRS. ELNORA
27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[c] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[d] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[e] deep. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away. 33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. 39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf. 42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.
SECTION QUESTIONS:
1. How did the crew sense that they were close to land? (V.28)
2. What did the sailors do in an attempt to survive? How did the soldiers respond? (V.30)
3. What was the only way the crew could be saved in the storm? (V.31)
4. How was Paul's and the other prinsoners' lives spared after the ship struck a sandbar and became stuck? (V.42-43)
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Journal Entry/Share:
(1) What do you think will happen when Paul goes before Caesar in Rome? (2)
Prayer Confession:
Father, thank you for the reminder that life is intended to be filled with difficulties and even shipwrecks at times and that it's through these that we learn great lessons along the way. Thank you that no one or nothing can take us from this world until you give permission, and until our mission that you've assigned us is finished. Thank you, Lord, that we have assurance through your Word. Thank you for hearing our prayer. In your son, Jesus' name...Amen.
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