Paul Sails to Rome
Introduction:
When Paul first appeared before
Festus, the new governor of Judea, he appealed to Caesar. Festus
agreed and said, “To Caesar you shall go!” Paul’s journey to Rome
was an eventful one, to say the least. It was filled with dangers
on every hand. The physical storms he experienced can be compared
with storms that we experience throughout life. Much can be
learned from this comparison.
Text:
Acts
27:1-20
Body:
I.
Casting Off
Acts 27:1-3
“And when it was
decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other
prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.
2
So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along
the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with
us. 3
And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and
gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.”
NKJV
Verse 1
“Paul and some other prisoners” The word in the original means others
of a different kind. They were probably condemned criminals being taken
to Rome in order to be executed! Paul’s guard was Julius, a centurion
of Augustan cohort [associated with August I – the emperor].
Verse 2 “We” put to sea. They probably left in August.
Luke, one of Paul’s traveling companions, boards the ship along with
another of Paul’s friends, Aristarchus. These two probably just paid
for their passage to Rome. This was a great sacrifice for these two.
It was a very dangerous trip. Quote: (John
15:13)
“Greater love
has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
NKJV
They must have thought highly of their friend Paul. If you were in
Paul’s shoes, wouldn’t you want friends like these? Verse 3
They landed at Sidon, seventy miles north of Caesarea. Most of the
prisoners would be required to stay below deck in chains, but Julius
treated Paul kindly. He allowed Paul to go with soldiers no doubt, to
see friends and “receive care.” Possibly this was medical attention.
It is wonderful to see fellow Christians being so concerned for Paul’s
welfare. (Proverbs
17:17a)
“A friend loves at all times,”
not just when convenient. They knew what brotherly kindness really was.
II.
Encounters Contrary Winds
Acts 27:4-8
“When we had
put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because
the winds were contrary. And when we had sailed over the sea which is
off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. There the
centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on
board. When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty
off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed we sailed under the
shelter of Crete off Salmone. Passing it with difficulty, we came to a
place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.”
NKJV
Prevailing winds in summer were from the west, the direction they were
headed. So they headed north to sail around the island of Cyprus where
they could be at least partially protected from the wind. Even though
Paul was going to Rome as part of God’s will, he still encountered
“contrary winds.” [The fact that you have dedicated your life to God’s
will does not mean that your days will always be sunny with the wind at
your back. As all experienced life-travelers have learned, “contrary
winds blow from time to time.] The best of people experience hard
times. (James
5:10-11)
“My brethren,
take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as example of
suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You
have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the
Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”
NKJV
About two weeks of sailing lands them at Myra where they change ships.
They boarded a large cargo ship heading for Rome. Sailing conditions
worsened. It took ten to fifteen days to reach Cnidus. Very little was
working out on this trip; plans were going astray. They had to change
course and sailed “under” Crete. They passed with difficulty and
arrived at Fair Havens. Fair havens are good to find! They had to
anchor ship and wait for better sailing conditions. Have you ever had
to put your plans on hold and wait for better circumstances?
III.
Sailing Becomes Dangerous
Acts 27: 9-13
“Now when much time
had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was
already over, Paul advised them, saying, ‘Men, I perceive that
this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo
and ship, but also our lives.’ Nevertheless the centurion was more
persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things
spoken by Paul. And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in,
the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they
could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and
northwest, and winter there. When the south wind blew softly, supposing
that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed
close by Crete.”
NKJV
The
dangerous season was the middle
of September to around November 11. After November 11, sailing would
cease until spring. The “Fast,” the Jewish Day of Atonement, was
probably sometime during the first week of October. Reaching Rome by
late October wasn’t looking good. Those in charge decided to not stay
in Fair Havens for the winter because it was open to the sea and the
ship would be exposed to bad weather. They decided on Phoenix which was
forty miles west. But Paul advised them not to leave. If they do,
voyage would end with loss of both cargo and lives. Was this an
inspired prediction from God, or one based on Paul’s sailing
experiences? Luke recorded eleven voyages that Paul had made on this
sea. [He doubtless had others.] Read
II Corinthians 11:25.
“Three times I was
beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a
night and a day I have been in the deep;”
NKJV
We
don’t know for sure. Paul does not say it was of divine origin. Also
events don’t happen exactly as he predicted. But Julius chooses to
listen to the pilot, ship’s captain, and “the majority.” So they put
out to sea. Note that, usually, the majority is wrong. (Matthew
7:13)
“Enter by the
narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to
destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”
NKJV
We
should follow the advice of the godly instead. (Proverbs
1:5)
“A wise man
will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain
wise counsel,”
NKJV
Even though the disaster which would soon fall on the ship was not
Paul’s fault, he still suffered because of it!
IV.
All Hope Is Given Up
Acts
27:14-20
“But not
long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.
So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the
wind, we let her drive. And running under the shelter
of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with
difficulty. When they had taken it on board, they used
cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should
run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so
were driven. And because we were exceedingly
tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. On
the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our
own hands. Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many
days, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.”
NKJV
Soon after leaving, disaster strikes. They encounter
violent wind – typhoon-like in magnitude. The ship was
caught in it. They couldn’t control it; so they just let
the ship be driven along at the mercy of wind and waves.
The ship was driven southwest and finally received some
relief by running under shelter of an island called Clauda.
The crew took advantage of a momentary lull and tried to
make the boat more seaworthy. They secured the “skiff”, a
lifeboat. They used ropes or chains around the hull and
tightened them with winches to help hold the vessel
together. The Syrtis Sands were the shallows of Syrtis.
These sandbars off the coast of North Africa were a
graveyard for ships. These sailors were “battening down the
hatches” and preparing to ride out the storm. We have to do
that in our lives sometimes as well. The next day was
not any better. Actually it was much worse. They were
“violently storm-tossed” by howling winds, black clouds,
angry waves. It got so bad they began to throw some of the
valuable cargo over board. Their safety was more
important. The next day they even threw tackle overboard
and got rid of everything that was not absolutely
essential. When storms come into our lives, we often need
to get rid of things not absolutely essential. Too much
stuff can capsize us! (Psalms
49:6-7)
“Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude
of their riches, None of them can by any means redeem his
brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him “–
NKJV
The storm continued. Clouds kept the crew from
navigating because they could not see the sun by day or
stars by night. They had no idea where they were; this
went on for many days. They gave up all hope! This
apparently included Luke also. Many in this audience may
have experienced an occasion when they felt that all hope
was gone. Marriage – physical health – mental suffering
During these times, it’s very hard to see how any good can
come of these times. But what should we do? Pray with
every ounce of your being; trust in the Lord with all of
your heart; do everything you personally can. (II
Corinthians 1:8-10)
“For we
do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble
which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond
measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we
should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the
dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does
deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,”
NKJV
“Let
me close with a story about a man who learned to trust the
Lord:
In
1873, a businessman from Chicago, Horatio G. Spafford,
decided to take his family on a vacation to Europe. He
booked passage on a French liner, but at the last minute
business prevented him from going. He put his wife and four
daughters on the ship, planning to join them later in
Europe. On November 22, the liner was rammed by another
vessel. In twelve minutes, the ship sank to the bottom of
the ocean, killing 226 people, including Spafford’s four
daughters. Nine days later, when the survivors reached
England, his wife sent him a two-word cable: ‘Saved alone.’
1He immediately booked passage on another ship to go to
England to be with his wife. One night the captain called
him to his cabin. ‘As nearly as I can tell,’ the captain
said, ‘we are over the spot where the ship sank with your
daughters.’ Spafford returned to his cabin. There, in ‘the
valley of the shadow of death,’ he wrote a song that has
comforted us for decades:
When
peace like a river attendeth my way,
When
sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever
my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
“It is
well, it is well with my soul.”
Whatever
your lot, when ‘sorrows like sea billows roll,’ I pray that
you will be able to say, ‘It is well with my soul.’ ”
Source Unknown
Invitation:
Bobby Stafford
December 11, 2016
Acts: Lesson 55
Acts
27:1-20 |
