The End of the Voyage
TRANSLATION
(27) On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. At about midnight the sailors sensed that we were approaching land, (28) so they took a sounding and found the depth to be twenty fathoms. A little later, they took another sounding and found the depth to be fifteen fathoms. (29) Fearing that we might be dashed on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. (30) Attempting to escape the ship, the sailors lowered the lifeboat into the sea under the pretense of dropping anchors from the bow. (31) Paul warned the centurion and his soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.” (32) Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the lifeboat and let it drift away.
(33) Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. He said, “This now the fourteenth day that you have been in constant suspense without eating much of anything. (34) I urge you to eat something to strengthen you, for none of you will lose a single hair of your heads.” (35) After saying this, he took bread and, after giving thanks to God in front of everyone, he broke it and began to eat. (36) Then they were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. (37) Altogether there were 276 of us on board. (38) After they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
(39) When day dawned, they did not recognize the country but saw a bay with a sandy beach where they decided, if possible, to drive the ship aground. (40) Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea and, at the same time, untied the ropes that held the rudders. Hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. (41) Striking a sandbar, they ran the vessel aground. When the bow stuck and would not move, the stern began to break up because of the pounding of the waves. (42) The soldiers were about to kill the prisoners to prevent them from swimming away and escaping, (43) but the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard and make for the shore. (44) The rest had to get there by holding on to planks or items from the ship. So it was that everyone managed to make it safely to land.
OBSERVATIONS
The shipwreck and grounding of the vessel intended to transport Paul to Rome was carefully described for us in this second half of Acts 27. So vivid was Luke’s account that we feel as if we’re experiencing this not as spectators but as participants. Repeated words help us determine the progress of the narrative: “fourteenth” (vss. 27 & 33), “the sailors” (vss. 27 & 30), “land” (vss. 27, 39, 43, & 44), “took a sounding” and “fathoms” twice (both in vs. 28), “anchors” (vss. 29, 30, & 40), “ship” (six times in vss. 30, 31, 32, 39, & 44), “food” (four times in vss. 33, 34, & 36), “eat/ate/eaten” (vss. 35, 36, 37, & 38), and finally “plan” and “swim” (both in vss. 42 & 43).
OUTLINE
I. As the boat carrying Paul finally approached land after two weeks in the storm, the apostle persuaded the soldiers to prevent the sailors from abandoning ship. (27-32)
II. Paul encouraged everyone to eat before leaving the boat. (33-38)
III. Because of his regard for Paul, the centurion prevented the soldiers from executing the prisoners so that everyone managed to make it to land. (39-44)
IDEA STATEMENT
Throughout the horrific weeks at sea and the shipwreck that followed, Paul functioned as God’s spokesman to ensure that all 276 of the ship’s company safely made it to shore.
APPLICATION
Paul, while being conducted as a prisoner to Rome, played a central role as God’s representative. He acted as an advisor to the centurion responsible for his safe conduct, functioned as a nutritionist, and served as the one who essentially saved the lives of all the others on board. It was quite an achievement for a prisoner in chains, providing an impactful testimony to the power and wisdom of God. In today’s terminology, we would have to single him out as the MVP (most valuable player) of this ill-fated voyage.
Paul used two important designations in 2 Corinthians for followers of Jesus. First, we are to be triumphant victors as he wrote in Chapter 2, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Cor. 2:14). Then in Chapter 5, he added, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20). Wherever we are and in whatever condition we find ourselves, we are to function as victorious ambassadors, bearing an effective witness to to the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.