Preparation for the Storm

And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein. And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone; Crete...: Or, Candy And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea. Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, the fast: the fast was on the tenth day of the seventh month And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. hurt...: Or, inuirie Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. arose...: Or, beat And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. taken...: Or, cut the ankers, they left them in the sea, &c And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. - Acts 27:1-44

    After being a prisoner at Cresarea for more than two years, Paul was finally sent to Rome. There he would make his personal appeal to Caesar. While he was en route for Rome, travelling by sea, a terrible storm arose from the north-east which placed the whole company in great danger. Acts 27 is a detailed account of that storm. We need no more than an atlas and common sense to understand the literal, historical events recorded in this chapter. But the chapter is recorded to give us more than historical data. It is recorded in the Scriptures to give us practical, spiritual, gospel instruction (2 Tim. 3:16).

    In Paul's day the sea could be a terrible thing. The sailor had no compass, so when the sun and the stars were blotted out, he had no idea where he was, or where he was going. He had no engine to propel his ship through the mighty winds and raging waters. His sails and oars were helpless before the force of a hurricane. The imagery of the sea's terror is used throughout the Word of God. Jonah was thrown into the sea to appease its wrath (Jonah 1:12-15). The disciples were terribly frightened on the Sea of Galilee and cried out to the Master to save them (Mark 4:38). In 2 Corinthians 11:25 Paul tells us he was shipwrecked three times and spent a night and a day in the deep. Jude compares the influence of false religion to the 'raging waves of the sea' (Jude 13). John saw the 'beast rise up out of the sea' (Rev. 13:1). In Revelation 21:1 he says in the new creation there swill be 'no more sea', as if to indicate that the sea is a symbol of terrible calamity and evil.

    In literature, poetry and Scripture, our life in this world is compared to a voyage across a vast sea (Job 9:26). As we sail across the vast sea of life in this world we must all pass through many storms. God's book shows us how to prepare for and survive those storms. 'He that hath ears to hear, let him hear' the spiritual lessons of this chapter.

    1. Things seldom happen according to our desires, plans and expectations (27:1-8)

    'The best-laid plans of mice and men are soon destroyed.' Paul had planned to go to Rome on his way to Spain. This band of soldiers took their prisoners on board the ship and 'launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia' (27:2). They mapped out their course, prepared for their voyage and expected to have smooth sailing to Rome by the Asian coasts. But divine providence interfered with their well-laid plans. A storm arose and 'The winds were contrary' (27:4)-contrary to their plans! When we are making our plans, we will be wise to consider the storms ahead and submit our will to God's will, even in our plans (James 4:13-15). Life is full of storms and contrary winds (Job 5:7; 14:1). They usually arise suddenly and without warning.

    Without question, the greatest storm anyone will ever face is that of his own sin. When a person comes face to face with his sin, the mighty wind of conviction and judgement is overwhelming. He feels the storm of God's wrath in his soul (Nahum 1:2-3). But, blessed be God, in Christ Jesus there is a refuge for sinners and a hiding-place for the guilty (Isa. 4:6; 32:2).

    2. Our storms are often the fruit of disobedience to the will of God (27:9-14)

    I do not mean to suggest that all trials are the result of some particular sin. But many of our trials and sorrows could be avoided by simple obedience to our God. If these men had just given heed to the word of God, they would not have suffered the terrible shipwreck re corded in this chapter. Read these verses carefully and learn their obvious lessons. The will of God is usually contrary to the opinion of the majority (27:11). The will of God is always contrary to the pleasures and accommodations of the flesh (27:12). The path of least resistance is always most appealing to the flesh, but usually it is the path to destruction (27:13-14). That which God plainly reveals is his will, and disobedience to his revealed will is disastrous. No matter how unreasonable, unpleasant, or costly it seems to be to obey God, 'Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it' (John 2:5). Obedience may be costly; but disobedience is always more costly. Faith in Christ evidences itself by obedience to Christ (Prov. 3:5-6).

    3. When the storm comes, the only course of safety is surrender (27:15-20)

    Luke says, 'When the ship was caught, and could not bear up into [against] the wind, we let her drive' (27:15). That is all we can do: just hold on and 'let her drive'. This was not an act of fatalism. They had done all they could. They worked hard. They used all the help they could get. They lightened their load. They even threw all the tacklings overboard. But all hope of deliverance by their hands was gone. So they hoisted their sails and 'let her drive'.

    The men in command of the ship had no fear of God. But for Luke, Paul and Aristarchus, this was an act of faith. Luke says, 'We let her drive.' They knew who was really in command of the ship! They realized who had sent the storm (Ps. 107:25; Isa. 45:7; Amos 3:6; Jonah 1:4; Nahum 1:3). Like Eli of old, they humbled them selves under the hand of God, saying, 'It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good' (1Sam 3:18; James 4:7,10). Turning to the Lord in submission and faith, they found peace (Isa. 26:3-4; Ps. 42:11). Bow to the will of Christ. Slip your neck into his yoke, and you will find peace (Matt. 11:29). Trust the wisdom, grace and promise of God. Hoist the sails of your little ship into the wind of divine providence and 'let her drive' (Rom. 8:28).

    4. When the storm comes, seek a word from God to comfort, instruct and direct you through it (27:21-25)

    If you would find comfort in trouble, bury yourself in the book of consolation (Rom. 15:4). Paul found a word from God, believed it and faithfully delivered it, even in the midst of the storm. It was a word of stem reproof (27:21) and of cheering assurance (27:22-24).

    5. No matter how severe the storm is, stay in the ship (27:26-38)

    Some of the sailors were about to forsake the ship. They let down the lifeboat and were about to leave when Paul said, 'Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.' Immediately, the soldiers cut the ropes and let the boat fall. They did not stand around arguing about divine predestination and human responsibility. They cut the ropes! They cut off every other source of hope and cast themselves upon the Word of God. They took only what they needed and threw everything else overboard (27:19,38). Storms have a way of changing values and making all the things of this world appear to be what they really are—vanity!

    They stayed in the ship and were saved (27:37). When storms arise, cling to Christ. Stay in the good ship grace. Only those who endure the trials and storms of life, only those who persevere in faith, are saved (Matt. 10:22; John 8:31; 15:9; Acts 13:43; 14:22; Col. 1:23; Heb. 3:6,14; James 1:12).

    6. Set your heart upon Christ alone (27:39-40). Seek him and nothing else. Throw everything else to the wind. Ask for nothing, care for nothing and pursue nothing but Christ, and make 'toward shore' (Col. 3:1-3). If Christ is all your desire, you will have all your desire and the storms of life will do you no harm.

    7. Our God will graciously bring us through the storm into our desired haven of rest (27:41-44)

    Some swam to safety. Some floated on boards. Some rode on broken pieces of the ship. But when they came to that place where two seas met, they all came to shore safely. 'And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.' So it will be with all God's elect (1 Peter 5:10-11; Jude 24-25; Rom. 8:35-39).