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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
27:1-28:31 The Witness in Rome. The last two chapters of Acts are devoted mainly to Paul's journey to Rome (27:1-28:16). In Rome, he followed his usual pattern of beginning with the Jews then turning to all who would come and listen to his message.
27:1-44 Paul Journeys to Rome by Sea. See map. The voyage to Rome (which probably began in the autumn of ) is given in great detail and with remarkable exactness, consistent with what is otherwise known about sea travel in that time and place. The keynote of the story is God's providence, especially in preserving Paul for his Roman testimony. At a literary level the story is told to indicate how far and difficult the journey to Rome is, as the gospel heads toward the ends of the earth.
27:1 Note the we, indicating Luke's presence with Paul all the way to Rome (the last "we" is found at 28:16). For centurion and Cohort, see note on 10:1.
27:2 The ship of Adramyttium was probably a small coasting vessel, not adequate for the open-sea voyage to Rome. Adramyttium was a large port city of Mysia in the province of Asia Minor (opposite the island of Lesbos). Aristarchus. See note on 19:29.
27:3 The friends of Paul were the Christians of Sidon (on Sidon, see note on Mark 7:24). Paul's guard Julius showed him deference throughout the voyage.
27:4 Under the lee refers to sailing under shelter; they were protected by the island from the contrary winds.
27:5-6 Cilicia, Pamphylia, and Lycia were districts along the southern coast of what today is Turkey. Myra was directly north of Alexandria and would have been a good stopping place for a ship that was sailing for Italy, probably carrying Egyptian grain.
27:7 The normal route from Myra to Rome would have taken them south of Rhodes and north of Crete to Sicily. They were already well off course when they reached Cnidus (southwestern tip of Asia/Turkey) and even more so when they had to seek shelter on the south side of Crete.
27:8 The location of Fair Havens is uncertain, though there is a town on the southern coast of Crete with that name today, probably close to the ancient site.
27:9 The Fast refers to the Day of Atonement in the fall, when Mediterranean voyages became too dangerous for sailing vessels. Despite the poor harbor, Paul's advice was that they stay put (v. 10).
27:11 The pilot was the ship's captain.
27:12 The majority probably means the majority of the crew. Phoenix (Gk. phoinix, "palm tree, date-palm") may be the modern Phineka Bay, which is on the southwestern coast of Crete.
27:14 The wind is described as tempestuous (Gk. typhōnikos), and the storm is called in Greek the eurakylōn (Gk., based on euros, "east wind," and akylō, "north wind"--hence, northeaster). Such northeasters are extremely dangerous in this region, appearing suddenly with violent, whirling winds caused by a meeting of opposite air currents.
27:16 Cauda is today known as Gozzo. The ship's boat (a smaller vessel used to transport people from the ship to land) had probably filled with water and was hard to lift on deck.
27:17 Ancient ships were sometimes secured during storms with cables (supports) tied around the ends or across and under the center of the ship. What gear was lowered is not known--possibly the topsails or a drift anchor to slow the ship's progress. The Syrtis was a sandy shoal off the North African coast with a reputation as the graveyard of ships.
27:18-19 The jettisoned cargo may have been grain, although they kept some of it (see v. 38). The jettisoned tackle may have been the beam that supported the mainsail.
27:20 Before the advent of the compass, sailors depended for their bearings on the sun and stars, which were not visible in the storm.
27:21 You should have listened to me was probably not a haughty, censorious statement but rather was intended to establish Paul's credibility as he prepared to give the crew some divinely revealed instructions (vv. 22-26).
27:22 At Fair Havens Paul had warned of the danger of loss of life (v. 10), but that was simply his opinion as an experienced traveler who had already been shipwrecked three times, reflecting the potential level of risk (see 2 Cor. 11:25). Now, however, he says there will be no loss of life. The difference was a revelation from God through an angel (Acts 27:23-24).
27:24 must stand before Caesar. See note on 25:9-11. The ultimate reason for Paul's deliverance was his testimony in Rome (cf. 19:21; 23:11). Therefore, whereas Jonah's presence on the ship threatened to destroy everyone (Jonah 1:12), Paul's presence assured everyone's deliverance.
27:27 Adriatic Sea. In ancient times this designation extended south to Crete and Malta, farther than the modern Adriatic.
27:29 the rocks. The location was probably the rocky promontory on the northeastern coast of Malta, known today as Point Koura. Ancient ships had multiple anchors; the four anchors from the stern would keep the ship steady and facing toward land.
27:30 the sailors were seeking to escape. They knew they were nearing land, so they decided to take the ship's only small boat and get themselves safely to shore. But such a selfish action would have left no one on the ship with the skill to handle it, leading to much loss of life. So Paul warned the centurion of the sailors' plan, and he stopped them (vv. 31-32). Paul's action shows the compatibility of divine sovereignty (see vv. 22-24) with human responsibility. God will fulfill his promises, but that doesn't negate the importance of human actions as the means God uses to carry out his promises (cf. note on 18:9-11).
27:33 The rescue was to begin at daybreak, and everyone needed food for maximum strength.
27:34 not a hair is to perish from the head. Cf. 1 Sam. 14:45; 2 Sam. 14:11; 1 Kings 1:52; Matt. 10:30; Luke 12:7; 21:18.
27:35 Paul's giving thanks and breaking bread was not a celebration of the Lord's Supper but a testimony to his faith in the God who was about to deliver them.
27:37 The number of 276 passengers was not too great for large grain ships, which were up to
27:39 Although other locales on Malta have been suggested, the traditional site of Paul's shipwreck is known as St. Paul's Bay; it has a sandy beach on its western side.
27:40 The ship's rudders would have been pulled out of the water and tied down during the storm but were now placed back in the water to steer the ship. The foresail (Gk. artemōn) was a small sail in the bow to guide a ship.
27:41 The meaning of reef (lit., "a place of two seas") is uncertain; it could also refer to a sandbar. Either way, the bow stuck in it and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding surf.
