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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 27:31 mean?

Explanation

Acts 27:31 captures a critical moment during the Apostle Paul's journey to Rome, where he is being taken as a prisoner to stand trial.

The ship he and others are on is caught in a severe storm.

Observing the intention of the sailors to abandon ship to save themselves, Paul warns the centurion and soldiers that without the sailors' expertise, everyone on board will perish.

Paul's assertion that everyone must stay in the ship to be saved can be interpreted both literally and symbolically.

Literally, the sailors are crucial for navigating and keeping the ship afloat in the storm.

Symbolically, Paul's words could reflect the Christian belief in the need for unity and collective faith in God amidst trials.

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Historical Context

Acts 27:31 takes place during Paul's voyage to Rome to appeal his case before Caesar, a right he claimed as a Roman citizen. This event occurred in the first century AD, when sea travel was perilous, particularly during the stormy seasons.

The cultural and historical context of this passage is important as it reflects the Roman maritime experience, the role of the Roman military, and the practical realities of ancient ship travel.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse is often seen through the lens of divine providence and faith.

Paul had previously received an assurance from an angel that he would stand before Caesar and that all the people on board would be spared (Acts 27:24).

His confidence in this prophecy could demonstrate the importance of faith in God’s promises.

From a Christian perspective, staying on the ship at Paul’s instruction acts as a metaphor for remaining in the church or adhering to the Christian faith despite adversity.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied to everyday life in several ways.

It emphasizes the importance of staying the course even when situations are dire.

It reinforces the notion that individual actions can impact the greater community, which resonates with modern concepts of team dynamics and collective responsibility.

In times of crisis, expert advice should not be ignored, a lesson that can be applied in various aspects of personal and social decision-making.

Cross-References

Acts 27:24 - "Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee."
Philippians 1:24 - "Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you."
Hebrews 13:17 - "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word used for "abide" is "perimeno," which means "to remain around," "to wait for," or "to endure." In this context, the exact imperative communicates the need for the sailors to stick to their posts - to endure the storm and to wait for a resolution.

The urgency and conditional nature of the phrase are poignant.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparison with other ancient myths and religious interpretations may bring out the recurrent theme of divine intervention and the wisdom of adhering to guidance from those deemed as having divine insight.

Ancient myths are replete with stories where heroes receive guidance from the gods in dreams or visions, similar to how Paul receives his message from an angel.

In many of these stories, safety and success often depend on how well the mortals follow divine instructions.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the emphasis in Acts 27:31 on the expertise of the sailors acknowledges the practical and essential knowledge required for navigating and surviving ancient maritime voyages.

Modern understandings of meteorology and ship engineering further substantiate the literal interpretation of the verse that expert guidance is crucial in emergency situations.

commentaries

Experts and biblical commentators often highlight Paul’s leadership and discipleship in this passage, emphasizing his obedience to God's will.

Matthew Henry's commentary speaks of Paul's divine foreknowledge and his role as God's instrument for the salvation of others.

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary highlights the human responsibility to use means for preservation.

It notes that Paul's advice goes hand in hand with trust in God's providence.

Other commentators may focus on the historicity of the account or the practical aspects of ship management and ancient travel as illustrative background information.

Acts 27

Acts 27

What does Acts 27:31 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 27:31 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?