Paul’s recommendation to stay in Fair Havens was not accepted, and the ship put out to sea, hoping to reach Phoenix to spend the winter there. And at first, the weather seemed to be on their side. It seemed that perhaps Paul had been wrong. But the weather suddenly turned violent, and the relatively short trip to Phoenix would become a 400+ mile trip as a northeaster tsunami-like storm came upon them, driving them west. The wind was so powerful that they were simply along for the ride, trying their best to keep the ship from being destroyed and to stay alive!
They barely secured the skiff, undergirded the ship for support, lowered gear, and jettisoned cargo in their fearful attempt to avoid the perils of the Syrtis. By day 3, things had become so desperate that they resorted to casting the ship’s tackle overboard. But every last effort these men made to make their calamity better did not help. They had no light from the sun during the day or the moon and stars at night. After several days of nonstop fighting this monstrous storm, the men (seemingly including Paul and his companions) collectively resigned themselves to death at sea … no hope of salvation.
But then Paul stood up and addressed the men. He admonished them for not taking his advice earlier but then encouraged the men to be courageous. The reason for such confidence now in Paul was that an angel of God had appeared to him, confirming that he would stand in Rome before Nero, and that God would also save every other man on board the ship with Paul. Paul’s confidence was restored, and he had strong faith that God would do as He promised. But it would be necessary for them to run the ship aground on a nearby island.
By the 14th night of being swept by the violent storm, the sailors believed they were near an island, and their soundings of water depth confirmed it. Since it was night, they threw down anchors, praying for daylight. The sailors decided to save themselves and tried to escape on the skiff, but Paul intervened with the centurion, telling him that every man needed to stay aboard in order to be saved. The Roman soldiers cut the ropes of the skiff and let it fall away.
As dawn broke, Paul encouraged every man to finally take some food and eat. For they needed strength to make it to land, and not one of them would perish. Resembling the actions of Jesus at the feeding of the 5,000+, Paul took break in his hand (the symbol of hope through God’s deliverance), broke it, and ate it himself. The nearly 300 men on board were greatly encouraged, and they too ate, believing they would live. Their final act was to throw the wheat overboard to further lighten the ship and to prepare for the dangerous part of getting from the ship to the island.
How did Paul end up becoming the informal captain of the ship? What parallels and differences can be seen in this story and the narrative of Jonah? What spiritual currents of salvation run throughout this harrowing ordeal of Paul? You can listen to this teaching on Acts 27:13-38 by clicking on the following link: Captains Courageous
