Acts 27:27-44 The Shipwreck
On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. They took soundings and found that the water was twenty fathoms deep (120 feet). Going a little farther, they took another set of soundings that read fifteen fathoms (90 feet). Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.
Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea. But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.” So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and set it adrift.
Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food. So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost.”
After he had said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and took some food themselves. In all, there were 276 of us on board. After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they sighted a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. Cutting away the anchors, they left them in the sea as they loosened the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. But the vessel struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves.
The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom. But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul’s life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.”
WOW! If you’re addicted to adventure movies, then this passage is for you! Luke’s description of the shipwreck undoubtedly comes from Paul, who survives it. After a horrible night in which the sailors realize that they are approaching land, Paul encourages everyone to eat something, and then they throw the remaining grain off the ship. Although the sailors try to escape by themselves, Paul gets the military commander to stop them, stating that everyone must abandon ship together. The ship fetches up on a sand bar at the opening to the harbor and begins breaking up, forcing everyone to abandon it. Normally, the soldiers would kill the prisoners before leaving the ship; however, the centurion is so impressed with Paul that he orders his soldiers to spare the lives of all the prisoners. Somehow, everyone makes it safely to shore, fulfilling God’s word to Paul.
At first, this scene looks like a total disaster. The ship is lost, and it’s possible men will drown in their attempt to reach land. But God has promised Paul that everyone will be saved, and God keeps that promise.
Once more, God demonstrates that He is the Lord of the Universe and that He controls winds and waves. One wrong movement, and some of these men could easily be dashed on sharp rocks and die; yet, God keeps every one of them safe all the way to the beach. While the sailors might know how to swim, many of the others on the boat do not. It’s likely that as many as 200 or more men make it to shore by clinging to planks and various other parts of the ship. Given the horrible conditions, these men have been saved miraculously.
Dr. Luke writes the Book of Acts, getting his information from as many different sources as possible. When Paul tells Luke the story of the shipwreck, he does not emphasize his preaching to the crew and passengers but only mentions God’s messages to him. Clearly, Paul is giving all the glory to God for these men being spared.
Everyone loves miracle stories, and this account of Paul’s shipwreck is one of the best. But God is doing miracles 24/7 if we will only stop to look around us. At the moment, we have two miracle kids on our Children’s Ward. One eleven-year-old boy has been operated three times for typhoid perforation. After the third operation, he began leaking stool, only for the leak to close. This child may take a long time to recover, but his recovery is certain. Another nine-year-old boy has a very unusual intestinal infection that has caused scarring of the small bowel in twelve places. Although we wondered at first what would happen, this boy is recovering by the grace of God.
May God help each one of us, so that we appreciate the miracles He is doing in our lives every day!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to recognize Your Hand of mercy in our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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