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| 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. |
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 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. |
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 courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. |
Courteously entreated – Paul found favor in the eyes of the captain of the guard. R1569:2
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| 4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. |
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| 5 And when we had sailed over the sea of 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 into 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 scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone; |
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| 8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea. |
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| 9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, 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 this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. |
Also of our lives – Greek, psuche; souls, beings. E338
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| 11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than 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 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. |
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, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. |
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| 14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. |
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 bear up into the wind, we let her drive. |
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| 16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: |
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| 17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, struck sail, and so were driven. |
Undergirding the ship – By placing chains and ropes under her keel. R4505:6
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| 18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; |
Lightened the ship – By casting overboard her heavier furniture, tackle, etc. R4505:6
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| 19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. |
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| 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. |
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 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. |
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| 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. |
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 the angel of God, whose I am, and whom 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 be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given 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 as it was told 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 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. |
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| 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; |
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 sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. |
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| 29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. |
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| 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,
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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 off 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 meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. |
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| 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. |
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 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. |
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 they also took some meat. |
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| 37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. |
276 souls – Beings. R205:2
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| 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. |
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| 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. |
With a shore – Now known as St. Paul's Bay in the island of Malta. R4506:5
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| 40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. |
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| 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. |
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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, 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: |
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| 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. |
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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