Acts 27:27-44 – On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away. 33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. 39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf. 42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.
“When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.” The sailors and all those on board did not recognize the bay with the sandy beach but they saw it as their best chance to survive. They cut loose the anchors and dropped them into the sea. This sandy beach appeared to be a safe place to beach the ship. They raised the main sail to allow the wind to drive them toward the land. Likely, their hopes were rising as they headed for a chance to get out of the raging sea.
“41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.” A sandbar, or also called an Offshore Bar, is sand that is built up by the offshore breaking of waves and the resulting swirling water. So before reaching the beach, they became stuck offshore with the waves pounding the stern (rear) of the ship. The strength of the violent waves was breaking their ship apart. They had wanted to land on the sandy beach and pull the ship onto the land to save it. It would not be so. They were in a desperate situation and needed to act quickly.
“The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.” The soldiers had a duty to fulfill. If prisoners escaped it would then be them who would be in peril, not from the sea but from Rome. They felt they could justify killing the prisoners, but could not justify having let them escape. To keep them from escaping they planned to kill all the prisoners, including Paul. Yet, just as Paul knew the deadly sea would not kill him (because of God’s prophetic word to him (Acts 23:11), he knew these men likewise would not kill him. It is the purpose of God for our lives that will not fail, the purpose of men often will. If God is with us, indeed, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31, Psalm 91:9-16) Paul wrote those words and he witnessed the reality of them many times in his service to the Lord. (2 Corinthians 23-27) Rest assured, Paul knew he needed no weapon to defend himself, his protector was God and not himself. (Psalm 34:19, Psalm 138:7) Was he in danger? Well the potential for them killing him was there, but Paul knew that potential would fall like fruit that falls to the ground and rots. God was watching over him and so He would be safe. And Paul knew that absolutely.
The centurion must have been a strong and respected leader as he, at that chaotic and perilous time, could assert his command and make it so. We don’t know his integrity before this journey, but if how he treated Paul was an indicator he was a compassionate and strong leader. It seems likely that the men trusted him and also dared not cross him. The centurion was wise enough to at least know that Paul was a man of God and so no harm would come to Paul if the centurion could stop it. At this point, are you like me in hoping that the centurion came to the know Jesus as his Savior and Lord. We don’t know, but I hope so.
The centurion ordered that those who swam well would swim to the beach before others left the ship. From there they could spread out and make sure no prisoners could escape. The centurion knew Paul’s mindset. He knew Paul was certain that God was calling him to Rome and so Paul would not seek to escape.
Thinking we have a hold of God’s plan for us, thinking that we have it the “endzone” in sight, we hurry forward with excitement. Then we run aground on a sandbar of life. Not quite reaching the goal. Will His plans for us still come true? Can we still trust Him? Has all the provision and protection stopped? No, no, no! His love for us never wanes, never fades, never stops, and so His provision for us and protection of us also continue. (Psalm 100:5) Paul saw many times, having been beaten, stoned, almost being physically torn apart that God is worthy of His trust. (2 Corinthians 23-27) He knew that God would keep Him until He would bring him home. (2 Timothy 1:12) Family, we must keep our minds on who God is. We must remember all His goodness and faithfulness to us. We must remember who He has revealed to us that He is. We must keep our minds on these things. Our hearts must belong firstly to the Lord. Our eyes must be set upon our Master for His guidance. Then, through all times and all circumstances, we may have the same confident assurance in God as Paul had. God is in control and His will shall be done. Let us find peace, rest and comfort in that, to the praise of our God! 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.”