Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

A. Driven by Winds (15) – The ship was seized, driven, and redirected by the wind. The word translated “was caught” is the Greek word sunarpazō and means to “seize” (Luk 8:29) or “drag” (Act 19:29). The crew was forced to let the ship be “driven” (pherō cf. 2Pe 1:21) by the wind.

B. Sheltered by Clauda (16) – The ship managed to come on the lee side of a small island called “Clauda,” modern Gozo. Though Luke may have been speaking figuratively, it most likely that Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus (“we”) helped in any way they could to control the ship.

C. Fear of Shallows of Syrtis (17) – The reason the crew hoisted up and undergirded the ship was because they feared that the timbers or frame of the ship would break apart. They used rope cables to wrap around the frame and help secure it. This process was known as “frapping.”

D. They were also concerned that Euraquilo would drive the ship into the shallows of Syrtis. There the waters were full of shoals, which are submerged ridges or sandbars (not “quicksand” KJV). Navigators dreaded these waters, for many became hopelessly stuck. The area was known as a sailor’s graveyard (Pliny, Natural History 5.26).

E. They let down the “sea anchor” (skeuos – equipment, mainsail, or anchor) or possibly the mainsail, though most likely the sails had been let down earlier when they gave way to Euraquilo (cf. Act 27:15).

F. Jettisoned the Cargo (18) – The ship was violently (sphodrōs – extreme, excessive) storm-tossed (pres. pass. part. of cheimazō – “exceedingly tossed with a tempest” KJV, “violently battered” NET) and helpless to the will of the winds.

G. Still in danger the ship breaking apart or even capsizing, the ship was lightened by jettisoning (ekbolê – throw out or overboard) the cargo.

H. Ships Tackle Thrown Overboard (19) – Three days of this violent battering led to the desperate measure of throwing the ship’s tackle overboard. They began breaking and tearing everything down with their own hands.

I. Hope Abandoned (20) – It is not uncommon for an Euraquilo (Levanter, Northeaster) to bring dark clouds keeping the crew from seeing their location through the position of the sun and stars.

J. Emphatically, this was no small storm that was assailing them. The storm had won and had taken its toll on the crew and perhaps even Julius the centurion and all hope was abandoned.

III. ADMONISHMENT BY PAUL (21-26)

A. Paul’s Appeal (21) – The crew had little if any strength left, they had gone without food for a longtime, perhaps the better part of a week. Hardly did a soul move to eat what little remained dry and unspoiled.

B. All hope was abandoned by all except one, the apostle Paul. Paul was an amazing leader who trusted in the God of all hope (Jer 14:8; Rom 15:5, 13; 1Ti 1:1). When everyone had given up, the man of God stood up in their midst as the spokesmen of God.

C. Paul did not spitefully taunt the centurion and the crew for their bad judgment to set sail from Crete. Instead, his desire was to inspire them with confidence in God for the future. Paul was also establishing his own counsel and authority. Good leaders do not demand respect; they earn it.

D. Be of Good courage (22) – Paul urged this defeated group to keep up your courage. Good leaders should always have a message of courage and hope, especially when they know that God is sovereign.

E. But Paul’s confidence was more than a mustered positive stance regardless of the circumstances. Rather it was based upon God, His character, and His promises. Paul promised them at least no loss of life if indeed they listened to him this time. But how could Paul say that?

F. An Angel had Visited by Night (23) – Paul the apostle, is the one aboard the ship to whom God sent an angel. Not the centurion, not the crew, but to God’s selected spokesman with the true message of the gospel.

G. Paul’s confidence was in the fact that He belonged to the God whom also angelic beings serve (Heb 1:14 cf. Act 1:10; 10:3; 12:7; 16:9).

H. Paul must Stand Before Caesar (24) – The message of God brought by an angel, another spokesman of God, was a reiterated message of God’s plan for Paul. Paul would indeed survive the storm, shipwreck, and journey to be a witness of the resurrected Christ before Caesar in Rome.

I. In addition, in answer to Paul’s prayers, God would grant the lives of those sailing with him. If they did not know before, they certainly knew now that Paul was a man of God who prayed for those whom he served. He was also a man with a direct divine association

J. Keep up Courage (25) – Paul admonished the men to keep up their courage because though Paul himself feared, he now had taken courage by taking God at His word (cf. Act 18:9).

K. It would happen exactly as Paul had been told. How could it happen any other way than how the sovereign God of the universe decreed it and is working it out according to His good pleasure (Eph 1:11).

L. Run Aground on an Island (26) – Paul did not simply make a suggestion about running aground on a certain island. This was no doubt revealed to him by the angel so that no skeptic could say the island of Malta was by chance. The particular island may not have been certain to Paul, but it was certain to God that they would land on Malta by His divine providence.

IV. ALERTNESS OF PAUL (27-32)

A. Approaching Land (27) – Paul may have persuaded the centurion and the crew temporarily, but such persuasion would be tested by a total of fourteen days from leaving Fair Havens (cf. Act 27:12, 19).

B. They continued to be driven about (diapherō – carried through) in the Adriatic Sea. To the unbelieving, they were driven by chance. To the believing, the ship was being driven by God.

C. The seasoned sailors were not able to see at midnight, but they did surmise that they were approaching land, perhaps by hearing breakers on the shore.

D. Soundings were Taken (28) – “Soundings” (bolizō – to heave lead) were taken to measure depth of the water by lead on the end of marked line (rope). Usually more than one sounding was taken to determine the speed of the ship’s drift toward shore.

E. These sailors knew as much and determined that at the first sounding they were 20 “fathoms” (orguia – length of two outstretched arms, aprox. 6 ft, i.e. 120ft). A short time later they were at 15 fathoms (90 ft) and rapidly drifting toward shore, rocks, and reefs.

F. Anchors were Cast (29) – To prevent striking rocks and reefs, four anchors were cast to slow the ship’s drift as they waited for daybreak. The anchors from the position of the stern (back) is logical for a forward drifting ship.

G. Sailors Attempt to Escape (30) – Some sailors were attempting to escape. They went under the pretense of letting down the ship’s boat (i.e. lifeboat) for the purpose of anchoring the bow (front).

H. Paul Warns Centurion (31) – Paul had either heard their whispers or had noticed their suspicious action of anchoring the bow in this situation. Paul alerted the centurion because all men would be needed for the all the passengers to be saved, including the centurion and soldiers.

I. Soldiers Cut the Ropes (32) – Wisely, the centurion listened to Paul’s counsel and gave orders to cut the ropes holding the ship’s boat. It drifted away in the raging water. Now everyone must come together to save all passengers.

V. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. Theological Principles:

1. God’s will is not always smooth sailing.

2. Just because there are storms does not mean you are out of God’s will.

3. Just because those in authority made bad decisions, does not mean you are out of God’s will.

B. Leadership Principles

1. Good leaders do not demand their authority, they establish it.

2. Good leaders inspire others. A disheartened leader dooms himself and his followers.

3. Good leaders have a message of courage and hope. Not a false hope, not a hope built on lies but on the Word of God.

4. Good leaders pray for those around them.

5. Good leaders take courage by trusting in the promises of God.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516