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| 1 And when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band. |
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 embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, 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 touched at Sidon: and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go unto 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 putting to sea from thence, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. |
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| 5 And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. |
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| 6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy; and he put us therein. |
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 when we had sailed slowly many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not further suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone; |
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| 8 and with difficulty coasting along it we came unto a certain place called Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea. |
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| 9 And when much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already gone by, Paul admonished 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 and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the loading and the ship, but also of our souls. |
Also of our lives – Greek, psuche; souls, beings. E338
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| 11 But the centurion gave more heed to the captain and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul. |
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| 12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, to winter there; which is a haven 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 when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore. |
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| 14 But after no long time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called Euraquilo: |
Tempestuous wind – A northeast wind (typhonic) struck the vessel suddenly. R4505:3
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| 15 and when the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven. |
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| 16 And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat: |
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| 17 and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven. |
Undergirding the ship – By placing chains and ropes under her keel. R4505:6
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| 18 And as we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw the freight overboard; |
Lightened the ship – By casting overboard her heavier furniture, tackle, etc. R4505:6
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| 19 and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship. |
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| 20 and when neither sun nor stars shone upon us for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was now 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 long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss. |
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| 22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of soul among you, but 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 there stood by me this night an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve, |
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 lo, God hath granted thee all them 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, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto 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 upon a certain island. |
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| 27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven to and fro in the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some country: |
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 they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms. |
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| 29 And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day. |
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| 30 And as the sailors were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under color as though they would lay out anchors from the foreship, |
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 to the soldiers, Except 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 off. |
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 the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, this day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing. |
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| 34 Wherefore I beseech you to take some food: for this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you. |
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 when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the sight of all; and he brake it, and 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 Then were they all of good cheer, and themselves also took food. |
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| 37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred seventy-six souls. |
276 souls – Beings. R205:2
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| 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. |
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| 39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it. |
With a shore – Now known as St. Paul's Bay in the island of Malta. R4506:5
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| 40 And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. |
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| 41 But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves. |
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| 42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, 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, desiring to save Paul, stayed them from their purpose; and commanded that they who could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first to the land; |
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| 44 and the rest, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to the 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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