A Perilous Journey

“Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.”

~ Festus.

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.  Acts 27:1

And 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.  Acts 27:2

And 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;  And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.  Acts 27:7-8

Now when much time was spent…

and when sailing was now dangerous…

because the fast was now already past…

Paul admonished them…

And 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. 

Acts 27:9-10

Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.   Acts 27:11

Determined to press onward…

they set sail…

And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Which 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.

Acts 27:13-17

And were met with…

a furious storm upon the seas…

just as Paul warned!

And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And 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.  Acts 27:18-20

In the midst of this great storm…

one man stood up…

But 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.  Acts 27:21

Steady. Composed. Confident.

Paul  addressed the company…

with a message of hope…

and deliverance.

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. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying…

Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar:

and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.  Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.   Acts 27:22-26

Notwithstanding, the storm continued…

and the ship was tossed and driven by the sea…

until men feared for their lives…

Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. And 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,  Acts 27:29-30

Again, Paul warned…

Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

Acts 27:31-32

And he ministered  to the company…

encouragement, hope…

                                                                and strength for the journey…

And 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. Wherefore 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.

And 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.

Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.   

Acts 27:33-37

And 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. And 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.

 the ship was run aground…

and lost upon the rocks…

And 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.  Acts 27:39-41

Albeit, not one soul was lost to the stormy seas…

And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But 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: And 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.

Acts 27:42-44

One ship…. bearing precious cargo…

tossed about in a violent, stormy sea…

276 souls…

lingering at the brink of death…

hopeless, fearful and faint…

One man stood up…

Steadfast. Fearless. Bold.

and ministered LIFE to the assembly.

A promise of hope, in the midst of the storm.

A promise of strength in the time of need.

A promise of life in the face of death.

How was Paul able to stand confident and fearless in this great time of desperation and need?

In his own words…

…I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 

Philippians 3:8-10

To KNOW God.   To KNOW His voice.   To KNOW His fellowship.

Makes all the difference.

Do you Know His voice?