Acts 27:1-12 – When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. 3 The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. 4 From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8 We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. 9 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, 10 “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” 11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.
“From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.” Remembering that they were traveling late in the season for traveling by sea (at that time) they were facing North/South and North/East winds which meant that they were sailing against the wind. Not just winds, but treacherous waves. So them passing at the lee of Cyprus meant that they were traveling on sea where the island protected them from the main brunt of the wind and waves. It is detailed that traveling against these winds and storms of the late season were very precarious, unless of course, God was protecting. Even then the waters were rough and winds a more than capable opponent when traveling against them.
Normally the ship’s captain may have not wanted to travel this route since pirates were known to be in that area. It would have normally been safer to not travel in the lee of Cyprus, but having a centurion, with soldiers aboard, surely eased their worries about taking that route. Especially since the winds were against them.
“When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia.” Fighting the open sea was tough going and so they opted to land at Myra. This port was well known for the trading of valued purple dye. Landing here gave them a little reprieve from sailing their rough sailing.
“There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.” As previously noted their first ship was from northern Asia Minor and thus was headed in a different direction. So the centurion found a ship from Alexandria, Egypt that was headed for Italy and he put everyone on that ship.
“We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.” After leaving Myra, because of the wind, they were making little progress so they altered their course and headed for island of Crete in order to get some relief in the lee of Crete.
“We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.” The seas are usually not as rough nor the winds as fierce along the coast as in the open sea. After rough travel, they took port in Fair Havens.
We know that the will of God was for Paul to go to Rome (Acts 23:11). Considering the dangers and rough conditions of the journey, it would have been easy for those traveling with Paul to second-guess if indeed it was God’s will for Paul to get to Rome. However, we know that in this life, while doing the will of God, we will, and do, face opposition, just as Jesus did (Hebrews 12:3). Paul knew through experience that everything in ministry is not “smooth sailing.” (2 Corinthians 11:21-27) However if God strongly guides us, as He did for Paul, there is no reason for concern, as Paul clearly displayed. He was sure of what God called him to and so he knew that nothing in all the universe, physical or spiritual, could stop it. These precarious conditions did not make Paul doubt his mission, but proved what he already knew, that though the devil may oppose, the will of God will be done. And we dear Family and Friends, know the same thing. The will of God can be opposed, but He is undefeated in all He does. So, as Paul wrote in Romans 8:31 “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”