Chapter Text
Paul Sails for Rome
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.
2And 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.
3And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself .
4And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
6And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein .
7And 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;
8And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens ; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
9Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
10And 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.
11Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
12And 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.
The Storm at Sea
13And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
14But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
15And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive .
16And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
17Which 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.
18And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship ;
19And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
20And 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.
21But 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.
22And 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.
23For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
26Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
The Shipwreck
27But 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;
28And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
29Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks , they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
30And 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,
31Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
32Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
33And 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.
34Wherefore 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.
35And 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.
36Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
37And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
39And 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.
40And 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.
41And 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.
42And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
43But 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:
44And 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.
Summary
Paul and other prisoners set sail for Rome under the care of a centurion named Julius. The voyage proves difficult as they battle contrary winds. Paul warns that continuing will bring disaster, but the captain and centurion overrule him. A violent storm called Euroclydon seizes the ship for fourteen days. All hope is lost until Paul receives an angelic assurance that everyone aboard will survive. The ship runs aground on an island, and all 276 souls reach shore safely.
Meaning
The storm narrative demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over the forces of nature and human circumstance. Though Paul is a prisoner, he emerges as the true leader aboard the ship because he walks by faith in a faithful God. His calm assurance amid the tempest reveals the peace that comes from trusting divine promises.
Paul's counsel to take food and his breaking of bread before all on the ship echo themes of communion and provision. The salvation of every person aboard fulfills God's word exactly, confirming that not one promise of the Lord falls to the ground. Even the journey to Rome becomes a theatre of God's faithfulness.
Background
The voyage to Rome followed common Mediterranean shipping routes, transferring between vessels at various ports. The season of sailing described was late autumn, when Mediterranean navigation became extremely dangerous. The Euroclydon was a violent northeast wind. The ship's cargo of grain suggests it was part of the Egyptian grain fleet supplying Rome. The practice of undergirding the ship with ropes was a known ancient maritime emergency technique.
Chapter Outline
- vv. 1-8The voyage begins toward Italy
- vv. 9-12Paul's warning is rejected
- vv. 13-20The tempest Euroclydon strikes
- vv. 21-26Paul's angelic assurance
- vv. 27-32Soundings near unknown land
- vv. 33-38Paul urges them to eat
- vv. 39-44Shipwreck and deliverance to land
Key Verses
“For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,”— 27:23
Paul's testimony of divine ownership and service in the midst of crisis is one of Scripture's clearest expressions of belonging wholly to God. The phrase 'whose I am, and whom I serve' has become a beloved confession of Christian discipleship.
“Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”— 27:25
A landmark statement of faith resting on the bare word of God. Paul models confident trust that becomes the anchor for 276 souls in the storm.
“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.”— 27:22
Paul's prophetic assurance demonstrates that God's providence preserves His servants even when circumstances appear hopeless, and extends mercy to those around them for the sake of His chosen.
People & Places
People
- Paul — The apostle, prisoner being transported to Rome to appeal his case before Caesar.
- Julius — A centurion of the Augustan band entrusted with Paul and other prisoners, who treated Paul with kindness.
- Aristarchus — A Macedonian believer from Thessalonica who accompanied Paul on the voyage.
Places
- Sidon — Ancient Phoenician port on the Mediterranean coast where the ship's first stop was made.
- Cyprus — Large island in the eastern Mediterranean under whose lee they sailed against contrary winds.
- Myra — A city of Lycia in Asia Minor where they transferred to an Alexandrian grain ship bound for Italy.
- Cnidus — A port at the southwest tip of Asia Minor that the ship struggled to reach.
- Crete — Large Mediterranean island under whose lee they sailed for shelter from the wind.
- Fair Havens — A harbor on the southern coast of Crete near the city of Lasea where the ship took refuge.
- Lasea — A Cretan city near the harbor of Fair Havens.
- Phenice — A more commodious harbor on Crete that the sailors hoped to reach for wintering.
- Clauda — A small island south of Crete under whose lee the storm-tossed ship briefly sheltered.
- Adria — The central Mediterranean sea between Crete and Sicily where the ship was driven by the tempest.
Prophecy & Fulfillment
The chapter contains a direct prophetic word given to Paul by an angel of God in verses 23-24, assuring him he must stand before Caesar and that all aboard would be spared. Paul declares this prophecy in verses 22-26, and its fulfillment unfolds across the remainder of the chapter, culminating in verse 44 where 'they escaped all safe to land.' This also fulfills the Lord's earlier word to Paul in Acts 23:11 that he must bear witness in Rome.
Devotional
Storms come to the obedient as surely as to the rebellious. Paul was traveling in the very center of God's will, yet for fourteen days neither sun nor stars appeared, and all hope was taken away. Faith does not exempt us from tempests; it anchors us within them.
Notice how Paul's quiet confidence — 'I believe God' — steadied 275 frightened strangers. When you belong wholly to the Lord, your courage becomes contagious. In your own storms, remember whose you are and whom you serve, and let that settled identity feed the courage of those around you.
Literary Style
First-person travel narrative — one of the famous 'we passages' of Acts — written with remarkable nautical precision. Luke employs vivid eyewitness detail, technical sailing vocabulary, and dramatic pacing, blending historical reportage with theological testimony to divine providence.