The Book of Acts

The Shipwreck

Acts 27:27-44 NLT

“About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near.”

                  In the last post we discussed the dilemma the sailors found themselves in because they didn’t listen to the apostle Paul. One of the practices that a ships crew would perform to shore up their vessel was ‘frapping’ or binding ropes or cables around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. Since doing this during a dangerous situation would be quite impossible, it would need to be done prior to shoving off. This practice enabled the vessel to withstand elevated winds and waves, helping it stay together rather than break apart.

                  As I mentioned last time, the Northeaster’s winds could reach up to 90 mph. That would be bad enough on land, but to be subject to the relentless pounding of the waves against the hull of the ship at sea would have been extremely dangerous and pretty impossible to accomplish. The crew ascertained that the depth of the water was decreasing, thus meaning they were approaching land. They cast 4 anchors off the back of the ship and prayed for daylight. This was to keep the ship from crashing into the rocks on the shoreline. The crew were contemplating escaping to land via the lifeboat; however, Paul told the captain that no one must leave the ship for they will surely die. According to scripture there were 276 men on board the ship. This included the captain, the crew, the Roman soldiers, and the prisoners. 

                  Paul pointed out that due to the situation no one had eaten in two weeks. He took a piece of bread, blessed it and began to eat ... the others followed suit. After eating the crew began to toss overboard other cargo to continue to lighten the ships load. It should be noted that the storm lasted for 14 days. It would seem to me quite miraculous that not one life was lost. All that Paul had told them had come true; thus they paid a little more attention when he spoke to them in the future. 

                  The apostle had instructed the officer and sailors, upon seeing them prepare to jump overboard to swim for safety, to remain on the ship if they wanted to live. God had assured Paul that should they do as they were told all on board would survive. 

                  Not realizing at dawn where they were, they spotted a small bay with a beach. The crew cut loose the 4 anchors and allowed the tide to carry the ship toward shore. Then the ship ran aground in a shoal or low place in the water causing them to run aground too soon. The ship was now firmly stuck and the constant pounding of the waves on the stern caused the ship to begin to break up.

                  It was a fact that should any of the prisoners on board gotten away, the man responsible for keeping watch of them would pay with his own life, so the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to keep them from escaping, but the commanding officer wished to spare Paul’s life so he wouldn’t allow the soldiers to carry out their plan. The officer ordered all who were able to swim to jump overboard and swim to land. Others were to get into the water and cling to either a plank or some other piece of debris and get to shore. As Paul has predicted, no man was lost. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible