Acts 27

In this chapter, we read of of the events written by Luke.   We see  all these events unfold as Paul heads to Rome sailing through the Mediterranean Sea.  The trip was dangerous and carried much risk.   The winds are contrary to their journey, but they continue to sail on.   Paul warns all on the trip that they may be injured or die and the ship and it’s cargo will be damaged.  Regardless of the warning, those in charge of the ship sails on.  The ship sails close to the islands they pass to avoid the weather and strong winds.  As the winds arose, the ship was tossed about.  The wind is called Euroclydon, which means ” A cyclonic tempestuous northeast wind which blows in the Mediterranean”.  The sailors lose control of the ship by the island of Cauda, which is south of Crete. As the ship is cast to and fro for a number of days, the crew begins to jettison things on the ship.  Paul stands among the men again and changes his message to them.  In verse 22 he tells the men to “be of good cheer” because no one will loose their life.  He tells them  an angel of God conveyed this to him.  The ship drew near to an island, but the crew knew not where they were due the overcast skies.  As the ship moved near to the island, they feared it would crash into the rocky shore of the island.  They were ready to abandon ship but in verse 31 Paul tells the men, “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved”.   Paul urges them to eat.  He gives thanks to the Lord for His provision.  With renewed energy the crew makes a decision to head the ship for shore.  They run the ship aground.  The ship breaks apart as they do this.  The soldiers make a decision to kill Paul and the other prisoners, but the centurion was willing to save Paul.  All those on board make it safely on shore.

We see a number of applications here.  The first, no matter what the circumstances Paul shows us we must place our hope in no other person or being than Christ.  Time and time again, as we have walked through his life in Acts, we see he does not waver or have any reservation of this.  The second would be to always be ready to share the message of the gospel.  Here again, throughout the book of Acts, we see Paul do this whether the person is a regular guy or a powerful king, even when his life is in jeopardy.  On a personal note,  I really like verse 31.  Like many other illustrations in the Bible, the place we can be we the safest is with Jesus.  He is the ship we must abide in.  There is salvation in no other.