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Acts 27

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.

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.

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.

And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.

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;

And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

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.

Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

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.

And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:

Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;

And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

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.

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.

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.

For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

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;

And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.

Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

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,

Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

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.

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.

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.

Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

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.

And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

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.

And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

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:

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.

What does Acts 27:24 mean?

Explanation

Acts 27:24 is a verse in the New Testament that recounts an event during the Apostle Paul's journey to Rome, where he is to stand trial before Caesar.

At this point in the narrative, Paul and his companions are in grave danger, caught in a violent storm at sea that has lasted for many days, causing them to despair for their lives.

In the midst of this turmoil, Paul receives a divine message of reassurance from an angel of God.

The verse literally describes an angel of God appearing to Paul during the night and telling him not to be afraid. The angel assures Paul that he must stand before Caesar, meaning that his life will be spared from the present danger.

Moreover, the angel declares that God has granted safety to all those sailing with Paul.

On a deeper level, this verse highlights the themes of divine providence and assurance.

It serves as a testament to Paul's role in God's plan and God's control over historical events.

It also provides comfort and certainty not just to Paul but to all the individuals present, reinforcing the idea that their fates are intertwined with Paul's God-given mission.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

This verse is part of the Book of Acts, which is the fifth book of the New Testament. Acts is traditionally believed to have been written by Luke, a physician and companion of Paul, in the first century AD.

The book details the history of the early Christian church and the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome.

At this stage in Paul's journey, he is a prisoner being transported to Rome to appeal his case before the emperor.

The journey by sea was commonly undertaken in ancient times and could be very perilous, especially during certain seasons when storms were frequent.

The ship that carried Paul and 275 others encountered a particularly severe storm that lasted many days, which is described earlier in Acts 27.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints would draw various insights from this verse:

Providence and Predestination: The verse supports the notion of divine providence, showing that God has a predetermined plan for Paul involving his appearance before Caesar.

This aligns with the view that God orchestrates events on earth to fulfill a divine purpose.

Promises and Faithfulness: From a Christian perspective, the verse illustrates God's faithfulness in keeping His promises.

Paul had earlier been promised that he would testify in Rome, and this angelic message reinforces that promise.

Community and Collective Salvation: Some theologians may also see the granting of safety to all those with Paul as an indication that God's blessings can extend beyond individuals to entire communities, especially in relation to their association with God's servants.

Practical Applications

There are several practical applications of Acts 27:24 for individuals in their daily lives:

Encouragement during Crisis: The verse can offer solace and encouragement to those facing difficult circumstances by reminding them that they are not alone and that a higher power is in control.
Assurance of Divine Plan: Believers can find comfort in the idea that, like Paul, they are part of a divine plan that will unfold despite obstacles.
Fostering Unity: Just as the safety of all on board was tied to Paul’s mission, this verse could inspire unity and collective responsibility within communities.

Cross-References

Acts 23:11 - "And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome."
Acts 18:9-10 - "Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city."
Philippians 1:19 - "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,"
Romans 8:28 - "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek for Acts 27:24 are:

"Fear not" (μὴ φοβοῦ): A common biblical phrase often used when divine messengers appear to humans, indicating that they should not be afraid of the supernatural encounter.
"Paul" (Παῦλε): The Greek form of the name Paul, referring to the Apostle who was previously known as Saul of Tarsus.
"Must" (δεῖ): This word implies necessity or obligation; in this context, it indicates that Paul's appearance before Caesar is a necessary part of God's plan.
"Before Caesar" (ἔμπροσθεν Καίσαρος): Caesar was the title used by the Roman emperors.

The phrase underscores the high stakes of Paul's mission and the high level of authority he would confront.

"Hath given" (κεχάρισταί): Derived from the Greek word χαρίζομαι, meaning to grant or give as a favor, which in this context suggests that the safety of all on board is a gift from God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The biblical account of Acts 27 includes elements that can be found in other ancient cultural myths and religious texts:

Divine intervention in human affairs is a common motif across many religions. In the Greco-Roman context, gods were believed to intervene in the lives of heroes and important figures, guiding or saving them from danger.
Visions and angelic encounters feature in other religious traditions, including Judaism and Islam, where prophets receive messages from God or His messengers.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the account of Paul's shipwreck can be analyzed in terms of historical meteorology and maritime practices of the ancient world.

Scientists and historians might examine the typical weather patterns in the Mediterranean Sea to assess the plausibility of the storm and consider the capabilities of ancient ships in withstanding such conditions.

Additionally, it's worth noting that psychological reassurance, like the message conveyed to Paul, can play a significant role in human survival during disasters, by providing a sense of hope and resilience.

commentaries

Commentaries offer diverse interpretations of Acts 27:24:

Classic Commentators: Older commentaries, such as those by John Calvin, may emphasize the sovereignty of God in ensuring Paul's destiny and the comfort of divine messages during trials.
Modern Scholarship: Contemporary scholars, like N.T. Wright, would likely focus on the historical and theological significance of Paul's journey to Rome and how this verse fits into Luke's narrative of the expansion of early Christianity.
Pastoral Perspectives: Pastoral commentaries might offer applications for spiritual growth and encouragement, drawing parallels between Paul’s experience and the personal challenges faced by believers today.

Acts 27

Acts 27

What does Acts 27:24 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 27:24 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?