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| 1 Now, when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul, and certain other prisoners, unto a centurion by name Julius, of an 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, going on board a ship of Adramittium, about to sail unto the places along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, there being with us, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica; |
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, on the next day, we put into Zidon,–and Julius, treating Paul, kindly, 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, from thence putting out to sea, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary; |
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| 5 and, sailing across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came down to Myra, a city of Lycia. |
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| 6 And the centurion, there, finding a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy, 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, for a good many days sailing slowly, and getting with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us to get on, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone; |
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| 8 and, with difficulty coasting it, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near to which was the city of Lasea. |
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| 9 And, when a considerable time had passed, and sailing was already dangerous, because, even the Fast, had already gone by, Paul began to advise, |
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 to them–Sirs! I perceive that, with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and of the ship, but even of our persons, shall the voyage certainly be attended. |
Also of our lives – Greek, psuche; souls, beings. E338
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| 11 But, the centurion, by the master, and by the shipowner, was more persuaded than by the things which, by Paul, were spoken. |
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| 12 And, the harbour being, incommodious, to winter in, the more part, advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they might be able to reach Phoenix, to winter, [which was] a harbour 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, a south wind blowing softly, supposing they had secured their purpose, weighing anchor, they began to sail close in shore along Crete. |
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| 14 But, after no long time, there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, called Euraquilo,– |
Tempestuous wind – A northeast wind (typhonic) struck the vessel suddenly. R4505:3
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| 15 and, the ship being caught and we not being able to bring her head to the wind, we let her go, and were borne along. |
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| 16 And, running under the lee, of some small island, called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to make ourselves masters of the boat,– |
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| 17 which, hoisting up, they began to use, helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest, on the sand-bank of Africa, they should run aground, lowering the gear, so, were they borne along. |
Undergirding the ship – By placing chains and ropes under her keel. R4505:6
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| 18 But, we being exceedingly tempest-tossed, on the next day, they began to throw [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, the tackling of the ship, they cast away. |
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| 20 And, neither, sun nor stars, appearing for many days, and, no small tempest, lying upon us, in the end, all hope that we should be saved, began to be taken from us. |
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, when they had been, long without food, then, Paul, standing in the midst of them, said–Ye ought, indeed, Sir! yielding to me, not to have sailed away from Crete, to get this damage and loss. . . . |
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| 22 And, now, I recommend you to be of good courage; for, loss of life, shall there be, none at all, from among you,–only 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, belonging unto the God whose I am, unto whom also I am doing divine service, a messenger, |
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–Be not afraid, Paul! for, before Caesar, must thou needs stand. And lo! God hath granted to thee as a favour, all them who are sailing 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, Sirs; for I believe in God–that, so, it shall be, according as it hath been 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 Upon a certain island, however, must we needs be wrecked. |
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| 27 And, when, the fourteenth night, had come, and we were being driven to and fro in the Adriatic, about midnight, the sailors suspected that some country was, nearing, 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, sounding, they found twenty fathoms,–and, going a little further, and again sounding, they found fifteen fathoms. |
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| 29 And, fearing lest haply, on rocky places, we should be wrecked, out of stern, cast they four anchors,–and began praying that day might dawn. |
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| 30 But, when, the sailors, were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, by pretext, as though out of the prow they had been about to reach anchors, |
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 unto the centurion, and unto the soldiers–Except, these, abide in the ship, ye yourselves, 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, until day was about to dawn, Paul continued to beseech one and all to take some food, saying–This day is, the fourteenth day, that, suspense, fasting, ye are completing,–having helped yourselves, to nothing. |
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| 34 Wherefore, I beseech you to take some food,–for, this, lays a foundation for your safety; for, of no one of you, shall a hair of the head 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 unto God before all, and, breaking 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 becoming, of good cheer, they also, helped themselves to food. |
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| 37 Now we were, in the ship, in all, about seventy-six souls. |
276 souls – Beings. R205:2
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| 38 And, when they were satisfied with food, they began lightening the ship, casting out the wheat into the sea. |
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| 39 And, when day came, they could not recognise, the land; but perceived, a certain bay, having a beach,–upon which they were minded, if they could, safely to bring 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, casting off the anchors, they let them go into the sea,–at the same time, loosening the lashings of the rudders, and, hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. |
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| 41 But, falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and, the foreship sticking fast, remained immoveable, while, the stern, began to break up, from the violence [of the waves]. |
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| 42 Now, the soldiers counsel, turned out to be, that they should kill, the prisoners, lest any one 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, being minded to bring Paul safely through, hindered them of their purpose, and ordered such as were able to swim, to 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, all, were brought safely through, on 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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