In Acts 26 king Agrippa was almost persuaded to be a Christian. More importantly he did not come up with a good excuse for Festus to tell Ceasar why Paul was still in bonds. Now Paul is on his way to Rome, Acts 27 and verse 1 reads.
Acts 27:1] 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.
This centurion is directly from Ceasar.
Acts 27:2] 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.
[3] 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.
Julius knows Paul is innocent of the charges against him. He will give him a lot of freedoms that a bonded man would not generally be given. So Paul was able to see his friends, and get cleaned up a little for traveling, on ship was a little dirty.
Acts 27:4] And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
[5] And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
[6] And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
Italy is Rome.
Acts 27:7] 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;
[8] And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
[9] Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
[10] 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.
[11] Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
Julius trusted the captain of the ship more than Paul on this matter.
Acts 27:12] 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.
[13] And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
[14] But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
This would be a hurricane.
Acts 27:15] And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
[16] And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
A very dangerous situation, they are fighting it every step of the way.
Acts 27:17] 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.
[18] And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
[19] And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
First, they under girded the ship with rope, trying to hold it together. Then they started to lighten the load.
Acts 27:20] 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.
Let me remind you of Acts 23:11.
Acts 23:11] And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
So, you see Paul himself knew that they would make it to Rome, he just warned them that they should go a different way. back to Acts 27 and verse 21 reads.
Acts 27:21] 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.
[22] 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.
[23] For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
[24] Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Paul said the Lord just told him that all would be saved, but the ship would be lost.
Acts 27:25] Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
[26] Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
[27] 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;
[28] And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
A fathom is 6 feet, what they are seeing is that land was coming up fast.
Acts 27:29] Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
Casting their anchors trying to keep it off the rocks.
Acts 27:30] 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,
These shipmen were trying to save themselves.
Acts 27:31] Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
[32] Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
The soldiers believed Paul this time, and not the captain of the ship. The soldiers took over the ship.
Acts 27:33] 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.
[34] 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.
Told them to eat something for their strength. But listen to what he said, not a hair on your head. This is Gods word from Luke 21:18 and it reads.
Luke 21:17] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
[18] But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Just thought I would remind you it is what God said to Luke. And Luke was Paul’s scribe. Back to Acts 27 and verse 35 reads.
Acts 27:35] 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.
[36] Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
Ok, this is to good to pass up. Did you catch it. Think of the Passover, this was the 14th. day and they broke bread. He just told them that Lord was with him and said all would be saved. They also took meat, and we know that it is the Meat, not the milk, that allows all to come to God. this was totally a spiritual thing going on here. And Paul continues…
Acts 27:37] And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
That is 276 Souls.
Acts 27:38] And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
Now they are down to the cargo. When they had enough meat, I keep thinking spiritually here. They cast off their burdens, camel through the eye of the needle anyone?
Acts 27:39] 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.
They found a place that they would try to land.
Acts 27:40] 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.
[41] 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.
[42] And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
It was their duty to kill any prisoners that tried to escape, but these men are just trying not to die. And Paul warned them this was going to happen.
Acts 27:43] 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:
Paul was a prisoner, they would have killed him too, that’s why Julius intervened. But that they sent the ones that could swim first is weird, you would think that they would send the ones that can’t swim first.
Acts 27:44] 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.
This was very interesting to me that all that happened fit the Passover. And that all were saved is proof to me that all received the Holy Spirit. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible