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| 1 But when it had been determined that we should sail to Italy, they delivered up Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion, by name Julius, of Augustus' company. |
Sail into Italy – In company with other prisoners and under a strong guard. R3204:2, 1568:6, 1569:2
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| 2 And going on board a ship of Adramyttium about to navigate by the places along Asia, we set sail, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. |
We – Paul's company seems to have consisted of Luke, the writer of this account, who uses the pronoun we; Trophimus ( Acts 21:29); Aristarchus. R2222:1, 4505:3
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| 3 And the next day we arrived at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and suffered him to go to his friends and refresh himself. |
Courteously entreated – Paul found favor in the eyes of the captain of the guard. R1569:2
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| 4 And setting sail thence we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. |
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| 5 And having sailed over the waters of Cilicia and Pamphylia we came to Myra in Lycia: |
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| 6 and there the centurion having found a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy, he made us go on board her. |
He put us therein – They were transferred to an Egyptian vessel laden with a cargo of wheat and passengers enroute to Rome. R4505:3
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| 7 And sailing slowly for many days, and having with difficulty got abreast of Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete abreast of Salmone; |
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| 8 and coasting it with difficulty we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near to which was the city of Lasaea. |
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| 9 And much time having now been spent, and navigation being already dangerous, because the fast also was already past, Paul counselled them, |
Paul admonished them – Possibly the result of his own judgment of the weather and his experience as a sail maker. R3204:3
Much time was spent – They tarried at the port of Fair Havens for better weather. Thus they were delayed until about October 1st, the Jewish New Year's Day. R4505:3
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| 10 saying, Men, I perceive that the navigation will be with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives. |
Also of our lives – Greek, psuche; souls, beings. E338
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| 11 But the centurion believed rather the helmsman and the shipowner than what was said by Paul. |
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| 12 And the harbour being ill adapted to winter in, the most counselled to set sail thence, if perhaps they might reach Phoenice to winter in, a port of Crete looking north-east and south-east. |
The more part – Those in authority. R4505:3
A conference was held respecting the wisdom of wintering there or going on. R3204:2
Phenice – A larger port. R4505:3
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| 13 And the south wind blowing gently, supposing that they had gained their object, having weighed anchor they sailed close in shore along Crete. |
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| 14 But not long after there came down it a hurricane called Euroclydon. |
Tempestuous wind – A northeast wind (typhonic) struck the vessel suddenly. R4505:3
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| 15 And the ship being caught and driven, and not able to bring her head to the wind, letting her go we were driven before it. |
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| 16 But running under the lee of a certain island called Clauda, we were with difficulty able to make ourselves masters of the boat; |
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| 17 which having hoisted up, they used helps, frapping the ship; and fearing lest they should run into Syrtis and run aground, and having lowered the gear they were so driven. |
Undergirding the ship – By placing chains and ropes under her keel. R4505:6
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| 18 But the storm being extremely violent on us, on the next day they threw cargo overboard, |
Lightened the ship – By casting overboard her heavier furniture, tackle, etc. R4505:6
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| 19 and on the third day with their own hands they cast away the ship furniture. |
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| 20 And neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no small storm lying on us, in the end all hope of our being saved was taken away. |
Neither sun nor stars – The Captain could not tell his whereabouts, for the compass had not yet been invented. R4505:6
No small tempest – "The voyage of life" frequently resembles the one of this study. R4506:1
"Jesus Savior, pilot me over life's tempestuous sea." (hymn) R4506:1
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| 21 And when they had been a long while without taking food, Paul then standing up in the midst of them said, Ye ought, O men, to have hearkened to me, and not have made sail from Crete and have gained this disaster and loss. |
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| 22 And now I exhort you to be of good courage, for there shall be no loss at all of life of any of you, only of the ship. |
Now I exhort you – After receiving the assurances of safety, the Apostle made the matter known to the ship's company. R3204:6
Whatever we know that is good or comforting or refreshing to ourselves, we should dispense to others. R3205:1
We should be prompt to tell others the best tidings we have. R3205:1
Be of good cheer – Throughout the storm all had lost courage and hope but him. R4506:3
Of any man's life – Greek, psuche; soul, being. E338
But of the ship – Divine providence alone can effect the ultimate salvation, through the wrecking of the earthen vessel. R4506:2
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| 23 For an angel of the God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood by me this night, |
There stood my me – It was not for any wrongdoing that Paul was permitted to suffer as a prisoner. In the very midst of his trouble, the Lord showed him favor. F227; R1526:5,6
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| 24 saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted to thee all those that sail with thee. |
Fear not, Paul – The Lord manifested his favor and encouraged him. The Apostle must have felt strengthened by this vision, and assurance of divine care. R3190:1
The Lord may lead in mysterious ways regarding our temporal matters and our service for him and his cause; but meantime he may permit trials and difficulties of various kinds to come as storms upon us. R3204:3
It was in obedience to his convictions of duty that he braved all those predicted adversities. F227; R1526:5
Thou must be brought – That is, on his account all the passengers and crew should escape with their lives from the wreck. R1569:2
That sail with thee – The Lord constantly witnessed with him to the truth of the gospel, by miracles and signs which mightily convinced the people. R1558:5
The divine care which accompanies the saints often proves a great blessing to their companions, even though, as in this case, they are worldly and unregenerate. R3204:5
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| 25 Wherefore be of good courage, men, for I believe God that thus it shall be, as it has been said to me. |
Be of good cheer – The true Christian in proper relationship with the Lord has at all times "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding." (Phil. 4:7) R4506:1
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| 26 But we must be cast ashore on a certain island. |
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| 27 And when the fourteenth night was come, we being driven about in Adria, towards the middle of the night the sailors supposed that some land neared them, |
Near to some country – The trained ears of the seamen in the night caught the sounds of the surf. R4506:3
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| 28 and having sounded found twenty fathoms, and having gone a little farther and having again sounded they found fifteen fathoms; |
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| 29 and fearing lest we should be cast on rocky places, casting four anchors out of the stern, they wished that day were come. |
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| 30 But the sailors wishing to flee out of the ship, and having let down the boat into the sea under pretext of being about to carry out anchors from the prow, |
And as the shipmen – Illustrating their selfish character, which explains why the Apostle did not preach the Gospel to them. R3205:2
About to flee – The sailors were selfishly intent upon using the only small boat available for their escape, and premeditated leaving the soldiers and the prisoners on the vessel. R3205:2, 1569:5
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| 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, Unless these abide in the ship *ye* cannot be saved. |
Paul said – When he discerned the evident intention of the sailors to escape in the small boat, leaving the passengers, unable to guide the vessel, at the mercy of the sea. R3205:4
Ye cannot be saved – That the deliverance would not be forced upon them, nor would it be granted to them without their cooperation. R1569:5
We have something to do in realizing the gracious promises of God to us. R3205:4
While praying and trusting, let us not slack our hands as respects the proper use of earthly means. R4506:6
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| 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let her fall. |
Cut off the ropes – The soldiers took immediate measures to frustrate the selfish scheme of the shipmen by cutting the ropes and letting the life-boat drift away, so the crew would use their efforts for the salvation of all. R1569:6
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| 33 And while it was drawing on to daylight, Paul exhorted them all to partake of food, saying, Ye have passed the fourteenth day watching in expectation without taking food. |
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| 34 Wherefore I exhort you to partake of food, for this has to do with your safety; for not a hair from the head of any one of you shall perish. |
Take some meat – He urged them to take food that they might be strengthened for the strenuous exertions of the coming day. R4506:3
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| 35 And, having said these things and taken a loaf, he gave thanks to God before all, and having broken it began to eat. |
He took bread – An ordinary repast for the satisfying of hunger and not as a memorial or symbol of our Lord's death. R1382:5
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| 36 And all taking courage, themselves also took food. |
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| 37 And we were in the ship, all the souls, two hundred and seventy-six. |
276 souls – Beings. R205:2
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| 38 And having satisfied themselves with food, they lightened the ship, casting out the wheat into the sea. |
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| 39 And when it was day they did not recognise the land; but they perceived a certain bay having a strand, on which they were minded, if they should be able, to run the ship ashore; |
With a shore – Now known as St. Paul's Bay in the island of Malta. R4506:5
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| 40 and, having cast off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the lashings of the rudders, and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the strand. |
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| 41 And falling into a place where two seas met they ran the ship aground, and the prow having stuck itself fast remained unmoved, but the stern was broken by the force of the waves. |
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| 42 And the counsel of the soldiers was that they should kill the prisoners, lest any one should swim off and escape. |
And the soldiers – Whose unworthiness to hear the Gospel message was thus shown. R3205:2
Kill the prisoners – Perceiving that the vessel would go to pieces, and that thus some prisoners might escape, they counselled their destruction. R3205:2, 1569:6
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| 43 But the centurion, desirous of saving Paul, hindered them of their purpose, and commanded those who were able to swim, casting themselves first into the sea, to get out on land; |
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| 44 and the rest, some on boards, some on some of the things that came from the ship; and thus it came to pass that all got safe to land. |
Some on boards – Some by swimming and others by floating on wreckage, reached the land. R3205:5
They escaped – Thus on Paul's account, all the passengers and crew escaped with their lives from the wreck. R1569:2, 1569:6
Through the favor of the centurion. R1569:6
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