The church of Christ
At Granby, MO

     

HomeIntroductionWhat's New

 

SermonsReferencesStudies

The Book of Acts, lessons, commentary and study guide from the church of Christ

Speaker

Sermon/Lesson Title
(Right Click to Download)

Media

Share Options

Bobby Stafford Paul Sails To Rome
Acts:  Lesson 55  Acts 27:1-20
     Book of Acts

The Book of Acts

Paul Sails to Rome

Introduction:

When Paul first appeared before Festus, the new governor of Judea, he appealed to Caesar.  Festus agreed and said, “To Caesar you shall go!”  Paul’s journey to Rome was an eventful one, to say the least.  It was filled with dangers on every hand.  The physical storms he experienced can be compared with storms that we experience throughout life.  Much can be learned from this comparison.

Text:  Acts 27:1-20

Body:

I.  Casting Off  Acts 27:1-3 “And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.  2 So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia.  Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.  3 And the next day we landed at Sidon.  And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.” NKJV  Verse 1  “Paul and some other prisoners”  The word in the original means others of a different kind.  They were probably condemned criminals being taken to Rome in order to be executed!  Paul’s guard was Julius, a centurion of Augustan cohort [associated with August I  – the emperor].  Verse 2  “We” put to sea.  They probably left in August.  Luke, one of Paul’s traveling companions, boards the ship along with another of Paul’s friends, Aristarchus.  These two probably just paid for their passage to Rome.  This was a great sacrifice for these two.  It was a very dangerous trip.  Quote:  (John 15:13) “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” NKJV  They must have thought highly of their friend Paul.  If you were in Paul’s shoes, wouldn’t you want friends like these?  Verse 3  They landed at Sidon, seventy miles north of Caesarea.  Most of the prisoners would be required to stay below deck in chains, but Julius treated Paul kindly.  He allowed Paul to go with soldiers no doubt, to see friends and “receive care.”  Possibly this was medical attention.  It is wonderful to see fellow Christians being so concerned for Paul’s welfare.  (Proverbs 17:17a) “A friend loves at all times,” not just when convenient.  They knew what brotherly kindness really was.

 II.  Encounters Contrary Winds  Acts 27:4-8 “When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.  And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.  There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.  When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone.  Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.” NKJV  Prevailing winds in summer were from the west, the direction they were headed.  So they headed north to sail around the island of Cyprus where they could be at least partially protected from the wind.  Even though Paul was going to Rome as part of God’s will, he still encountered “contrary winds.”  [The fact that you have dedicated your life to God’s will does not mean that your days will always be sunny with the wind at your back.  As all experienced life-travelers have learned, “contrary winds blow from time to time.]  The best of people experience hard times.  (James 5:10-11) “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as example of suffering and patience.  Indeed we count them blessed who endure.  You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” NKJV  About two weeks of sailing lands them at Myra where they change ships.  They boarded a large cargo ship heading for Rome.  Sailing conditions worsened.  It took ten to fifteen days to reach Cnidus.  Very little was working out on this trip; plans were going astray.  They had to change course and sailed “under” Crete.  They passed with difficulty and arrived at Fair Havens.  Fair havens are good to find!  They had to anchor ship and wait for better sailing conditions.  Have you ever had to put your plans on hold and wait for better circumstances? 

III.  Sailing Becomes Dangerous  Acts 27: 9-13 “Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying,  ‘Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only  of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.’  Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.  And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.  When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.” NKJV  The dangerous season was the middle of September to around November 11.  After November 11, sailing would cease until spring.  The “Fast,” the Jewish Day of Atonement, was probably sometime during the first week of October.  Reaching Rome by late October wasn’t looking good.  Those in charge decided to not stay in Fair Havens for the winter because it was open to the sea and the ship would be exposed to bad weather.  They decided on Phoenix which was forty miles west.  But Paul advised them not to leave.  If they do, voyage would end with loss of both cargo and lives.  Was this an inspired prediction from God, or one based on Paul’s sailing experiences?  Luke recorded eleven voyages that Paul had made on this sea.  [He doubtless had others.]  Read II Corinthians 11:25. “Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;” NKJV  We don’t know for sure.  Paul does not say it was of divine origin.  Also events don’t happen exactly as he predicted.  But Julius chooses to listen to the pilot, ship’s captain, and “the majority.”  So they put out to sea.  Note that, usually, the majority is wrong.  (Matthew 7:13) “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.” NKJV  We should follow the advice of the godly instead.  (Proverbs 1:5) “A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,” NKJV  Even though the disaster which would soon fall on the ship was not Paul’s fault, he still suffered because of it!

 IV.  All Hope Is Given Up  Acts 27:14-20 “But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.  So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind,  we let her drive.  And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty.  When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.  And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.  On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.  Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.” NKJV  Soon after leaving, disaster strikes.  They encounter violent wind – typhoon-like in magnitude.  The ship was caught in it.  They couldn’t control it; so they just let the ship be driven along at the mercy of wind and waves.  The ship was driven southwest and finally received some relief by running under shelter of an island called Clauda.  The crew took advantage of a momentary lull and tried to make the boat more seaworthy.  They secured the “skiff”, a lifeboat.  They used ropes or chains around the hull and tightened them with winches to help hold the vessel together.  The Syrtis Sands were the shallows of Syrtis.  These sandbars off the coast of North Africa were a graveyard for ships.  These sailors were “battening down the hatches” and preparing to ride out the storm.  We have to do that in our lives sometimes as well.  The next day was not any better.  Actually it was much worse.  They were “violently storm-tossed” by howling winds, black clouds, angry waves.  It got so bad they began to throw some of the valuable cargo over board.  Their safety was more important.  The next day they even threw tackle overboard and got rid of everything that was not absolutely essential.  When storms come into our lives, we often need to get rid of things not absolutely essential.  Too much stuff can capsize us!  (Psalms 49:6-7) “Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches, None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him “– NKJV  The storm continued.  Clouds kept the crew from navigating because they could not see the sun by day or stars by night.  They had no idea where they were;  this went on for many days.  They gave up all hope!  This apparently included Luke also.  Many in this audience may have experienced an occasion when they felt that all hope was gone.  Marriage – physical health – mental suffering  During these times, it’s very hard to see how any good can come of these times.  But what should we do?  Pray with every ounce of your being; trust in the Lord with all of your heart; do everything you personally can.  (II Corinthians 1:8-10) “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia:  that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.  Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,” NKJV  “Let me close with a story about a man who learned to trust the Lord:  In 1873,  a businessman from Chicago, Horatio G. Spafford, decided to take his family on a vacation to Europe.  He booked passage on a French liner, but at the last minute business prevented him from going.  He put his wife and four daughters on the ship, planning to join them later in Europe.  On November 22, the liner was rammed by another vessel.  In twelve minutes, the ship sank to the bottom of the ocean, killing 226 people, including Spafford’s four daughters.  Nine days later, when the survivors reached England, his wife sent him a two-word cable:  ‘Saved alone.’  1He immediately booked passage on another ship to go to England to be with his wife.  One night the captain called him to his cabin. ‘As nearly as I can tell,’ the captain said, ‘we are over the spot where the ship sank with your daughters.’ Spafford returned to his cabin.  There, in ‘the valley of the shadow of death,’ he wrote a song that has comforted us for decades:

 When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

 Whatever your lot, when ‘sorrows like sea billows roll,’ I pray that you will be able to say, ‘It is well with my soul.’ ” 

  Source Unknown 

 Invitation: 

Bobby Stafford 
December 11, 2016 
Acts:  Lesson 55 
Acts 27:1-20

 More Studies on Acts


Genesis | Exodus | Leviticus | Numbers | Deuteronomy | Joshua | Judges | Ruth | 1 Samuel | 2 Samuel

  1 Kings | 2 Kings | 1 Chronicles | 2 Chronicles | Ezra | Nehemiah | Esther | Job | Psalms | Proverbs

 Ecclesiastes | Song of Solomon | Isaiah | Jeremiah | Lamentations | Ezekiel | Daniel | Hosea | Joel

 Amos | Obadiah | Jonah | Micah | Nahum | Habakkuk | Zephaniah | Haggai | Zechariah | Malachi

 

Matthew | Mark | Luke | John | Acts | Romans | 1 Corinthians | 2 Corinthians | Galatians

Ephesians | Philippians | Colossians | 1 Thessalonians | 2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy | 2 Timothy | Titus | Philemon | Hebrews | James

1 Peter | 2 Peter | 1 John | 2 John | 3 John | Jude | Revelation


Home | Sermon Index | Online Bible | Studies | Bible Study Forum | FAQS

Daily Bible Reader | Reference | Plan of Salvation

Site For the Lord

 

The material found within this website is free to everyone.
The price was paid when Jesus died on the cross.
Feel free to use any of the content found within
this website for the spreading of the Gospel
to all. 


Genesis 22:17-18

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.