A Storm at Sea
TRANSLATION
(1) When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were entrusted to a centurion named Julius who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. (2) After boarding a ship from Adramyttium about to sail to ports on the coast of Asia, we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, accompanied us. (3) The next day we touched at Sidon, and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to visit his friends there so they might care for him. (4) From there we put out to sea, sailing under the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. (5) After sailing across the open sea off 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 landing off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete over against Salmone. (8) We continued with difficulty along the coast until we came to a place called Fair Havens near to the town of Lasea.
(9) Much time had been lost, and the voyage had now become perilous because it was already after the Day of Atonement. Paul warned them, (10) “Men, I perceive that our voyage will end in disaster and great loss, not only to the cargo and the ship, but to our lives as well.” (11) Instead of listening to Paul, the centurion followed the advice of the pilot and the owner of the ship. (12) Since the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there on the chance that they might reach Phoenix, a harbor in Crete that faces both northeast and southeast and winter there. (13) When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity, weighed anchor, and sailed along the shore of Crete. (14) Soon a wind of hurricane force called the Northeaster swept down from the island. (15) The ship was caught by the storm and could not face into the wind, so they gave way to it and were driven along. (16) As we passed under the lee of a small island called Cauda, they were hardly able to secure the lifeboat. (17) After they had hoisted it on board, they passed ropes under the ship to hold it together. Fearing that we might run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor, and let the ship be driven along. (18) The next day, we took such a violent battering from the storm that they began to throw cargo overboard. (19) On the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard. (20) When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued to rage, we finally lost all hope of being saved.
(21) After we had gone for a long time without food, Paul stood up and addressed everyone: “Men, you should have listened to me and not sailed from Crete. Then you would have been spared this injury and loss. (22) But now I tell you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. (23) For 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. God has given you all who sail with you.’ (25) Therefore, men, take heart, for I have faith in God that it will turn out just as I have been told. (26) Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”
OBSERVATIONS
Luke’s account of Paul’s journey by sea to Rome which included both a winter storm on the Mediterranean and a life-threatening shipwreck on the island of Malta is captivating reading. Many repetitions help us discern the significance of the narrative: “sail/sailed/sailing” nine times (vss. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 21, & 24), “centurion” (vss. 1, 6, & 11), “sea” four times (vss. 2, 4, 5, & 12), “ship” nine times (vss. 2, 6, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 19, & 22), “put/putting” (vss. 2, 4, & 12), wind(s) (vss. 4, 7, 13, 14, & 15), “voyage” (vss. 9 & 10), and “harbor” (twice in vs. 12). Repeated names included “Paul” (vss. 1, 3, 9, 21, & 24), “Julius” (vss. 1 & 3), “Crete” (vss. 7, 12, 13, & 21), “God” (vss. 23, 24, & 25). So historically accurate was Luke’s account that readers twenty centuries later can easily trace the route the ship followed across the Mediterranean.
OUTLINE
I. The first leg of Paul’s journey to Rome took the ship from Caesarea to Crete in fair weather. (1-8)
II. Ignoring Paul’s advice, the Roman centurion decided to proceed with the journey. (9-13)
III. Soon the ship encountered a storm that threatened to destroy them. (14-20)
IV. After being assured by an angel, Paul told the others that no lives would be lost while the ship would be destroyed. (21-26)
IDEA STATEMENT
Throughout the voyage which included a storm and shipwreck, God’s assurance to Paul of his presence and purpose gave him as well as his shipmates courage to endure.
APPLICATION
Twice on this troubled sea-voyage, Paul received messages from God both to warn and encourage his fellow-travelers. While the ship was moored at Fair Havens on the island of Crete, he first warned them about the perils which the Lord told him they would encounter, a storm that would destroy the ship and endanger the lives of all on board (vs. 10). During the storm with the crew jettisoning the cargo and desperately trying to save the ship, Paul encouraged them with another message from an angel that none of their lives would be lost (vs. 21-25).
We cannot help but think of another ship at the mercy of another storm on the Mediterranean, that one carrying the rebellious Jonah away from his mission to preach to the Ninevites. Like Paul, Jonah would speak to the crew to encourage them, but unlike Paul, Jonah told the sailors on his ship that the only way to save themselves was to throw him overboard. Each storm served as a powerful testimony of Yahweh’s sovereignty to those who were enduring the most terrifying event they had ever faced in their lives.