Acts 27 - A Study Guide by Kevin Scott

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                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                          Chapter Twenty-Seven

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To observe how Paul's trip to Rome began

2) To notice how Paul warned of a disaster and was ignored

3) To examine how the tempestuous sea became disastrous for the ship

4) To contemplate how all were saved in the shipwreck at Malta

SUMMARY

When it was decided that the prisoners should sail to Italy, Julius, a
centurion of the Augustan Regiment, took custody.  They boarded a ship
of Adramyttium to sail along the Asian coast.  Aristarchus, a Macedonian
of Thessalonica, accompanied Paul.  When the ship arrived at Sidon,
Julius treated Paul kindly.  He was allowed to go to his friends and
receive care.  They then sailed near Cyprus, Cilicia, Pamphylia, and
arrived at Myra.  There, the centurion found an Alexandrian ship headed
to Italy.  They boarded this ship and departed.  They sailed slowly for
many days, as the wind made it difficult to sail.  They continued to
sail with difficulty near Cnidus and Crete off Salmone.  Next, they
arrived at Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.  (1-8)

A great amount of time had passed, and sailing became dangerous.  Paul
advised, "I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much
loss..." The centurion ignored Paul, and rather listened to the helmsman
and ship-owner, who considered the harbor "not suitable to winter in."
The majority wanted to sail on to Phoenix, a harbor of Crete.  (9-12)

The south wind began to blow softly.  Supposing this favorable, they put
out to sea.  They sailed close to Crete.  Shortly after sailing, a
"tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon."  The ship was driven
south of an island called Clauda.  The sailors secured the ship with
cables/ropes by passing them underneath the hull.  The following day,
they lightened the ship.  The third day, they threw the ship's tackle
overboard.  After several days in the storm, all hope was given up.
They had not eaten for many days.  Paul reminded them that he had
recommended to not sail from Crete.  Paul then assured them there would
be no loss of life; only the ship would be lost.  This message came from
an angel of God.  Paul affirmed his faith/trust in God that this surely
would come to pass.  Paul further revealed that the ship would run
aground.  After fourteen nights, the sailors sensed they were near land.
They took soundings and determined they were nearing land.  It was dark.
They dropped four anchors to avoid running aground and prayed for
daylight.  The sailors lowered the skiff to appear that they were
putting out more anchors; however, they intended to leave the ship.
Paul told the centurion and soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the
ship, you cannot be saved."  The soldiers cut the ropes to the skiff and
let it fall away.  As the day dawned, Paul encouraged them to eat.  It
had been fourteen days since they had eaten.  Paul indicated they needed
food for nourishment and survival.  He reminded them they all would be
safe.  Paul then took bread, gave thanks to God, and began to eat before
them.  They were all encouraged by Paul and ate as well.  After they had
eaten enough, they threw the wheat into the sea to lighten the ship.
There were two hundred seventy-six people aboard the ship.  (13-38)

At daylight, they saw a bay with a beach, though they did not recognize
the land.  They desired to drive the ship onto the beach.  They let the
anchors go into the sea, hoisted the main sail, and headed for the
beach.  The ship ran aground "where two seas met" and the "prow stuck
fast" - the ship was immovable.  The waves violently began to break up
the ship.  The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to keep any from
escaping.  The centurion stopped the soldiers' plan.  He wanted to save
Paul.  The centurion commanded all who could swim to jump overboard and
swim for shore.  The rest floated on boards or parts of the ship.  They
all escaped safely to the island.  (39-44)

OUTLINE

I. TRIP TO ROME BEGAN (1-8)

   A. SAILED A SHIP OF ADRAMYTTIUM (1-5)
      1. It was decided that the prisoners should sail to Italy
      2. Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment, took custody
      3. They boarded a ship of Adramyttium to sail along the Asian
         coast
      4. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, accompanied Paul
      5. At Sidon, Julius treated Paul kindly
         a. Paul was allowed to go to his friends and receive care
      6. They sailed near Cyprus, Cilicia, Pamphylia, and arrived at
         Myra

   B. SAILED A SHIP OF ALEXANDRIA (6-8)
      1. At Myra, the centurion found an Alexandrian ship headed to
         Italy
      2. They boarded this ship and departed
         a. They sailed slowly for many days
         b. The wind made it difficult to sail
      3. They continued to sail with difficulty near Cnidus, Crete off
         Salmone
      4. They arrived at Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea

II. PAUL WARNED OF DISASTER (9-12)

   A. SAILING BECAME DANGEROUS; PAUL WARNED OF DISASTER (9-10)
      1. Much time had passed, and sailing became dangerous
      2. Paul advised, "I perceive that this voyage will end with
         disaster and much loss..."

   B. THE CENTURION IGNORED PAUL'S WARNING (11-12)
      1. The centurion listened to the helmsman and ship-owner rather
         than Paul
      2. They considered the harbor "not suitable to winter in"
      3. The majority wanted to sail on to Phoenix, a harbor of Crete

III. THE TEMPESTUOUS SEA (13-38)

   A. A FAVORABLE WIND BLEW (13)
      1. The south wind blew softly
      2. Supposing this favorable, they put out to sea
      3. They sailed close to Crete

   B. THE TEMPEST BEGAN (14-20)
      1. Shortly after sailing, a "tempestuous head wind arose, called
         Euroclydon"
      2. The ship was driven south of an island called Clauda
      3. The sailors secured the ship with cables/ropes, passing them
         underneath
      4. The following day, they lightened the ship
      5. The third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard
      6. After several days in the storm, all hope was given up

   C. PAUL ASSURED THE MEN OF SURVIVAL (21-26)
      1. They had not eaten for many days
      2. Paul reminded them:  he had recommended to not sail from Crete
      3. Paul then assured them there would be no loss of life; only the
         ship would be lost - the message came from an angel of God
      4. Paul affirmed his trust in God to the men by saying, "for I
         believe God that it will be just as it was told me"
      5. Paul further revealed that the ship would run aground

   D. THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO ABANDON THE SHIP (27-32)
      1. After fourteen nights, the sailors sensed they were near land
      2. They took soundings and determined they were nearing land
      3. It was dark; they dropped four anchors to avoid running aground
         and prayed for daylight
      4. The sailors lowered the skiff to appear they were putting out
         more anchors; but they intended to leave the ship
      5. Paul told the centurion and soldiers, "Unless these men stay in
         the ship, you cannot be saved."
      6. The soldiers cut the ropes to the skiff and let it fall away

   E. THE TEMPEST BEGAN (33-38)
      1. As the day dawned, Paul encouraged them to eat; it had been
         fourteen days since they had eaten
      2. Paul indicated they needed food for nourishment and survival
      3. He reminded them they all would be safe
      4. Paul took bread, gave thanks to God, and began to eat before
         them
      5. They were all encouraged by Paul and ate as well
      6. After they had eaten enough, they threw out the wheat to
         lighten the ship
      7. There were two hundred seventy-six people aboard the ship

IV. SHIPWRECKED AT MALTA (39-44)

   A. ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE SHIP ONTO THE BEACH (39-41)
      1. At daylight, they saw a bay with a beach
      2. They desired to drive the ship onto the beach
      3. They let the anchors go into the sea, hoisted the main sail and
         headed for the beach
      4. The ship ran aground "where two seas met" and the "prow stuck
         fast" - the ship was immovable
      5. The waves violently began to break up the ship

   B. THEY SWAM AND/OR FLOATED TO SHORE; ALL WERE SAVED (42-44)
      1. The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to keep any from
         escaping
      2. The centurion stopped the soldiers' plan
         a. He wanted to save Paul
      3. The centurion commanded all who could swim to jump overboard
         and swim for shore
         a. The rest floated on boards or parts of the ship
      4. They all escaped safely to the island

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main events in this chapter?
   - Paul's trip to Rome began (1-8)
   - Paul warned of a disaster and was ignored (9-12)
   - The tempestuous sea became disastrous for the ship (13-38)
   - All were saved in the shipwreck at Malta (39-44)

2) Where were they to sail? (1)
   - Italy (1)

3) To whom were the prisoners, including Paul, delivered? (1)
   - Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment (1)

4) Who was also sailing with Paul? (2)
   - Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica (2)
   - Luke was travelling along as well -- "we" and "us" (2)

5) How did the centurion treat Paul at Sidon? (3)
   - He treated Paul kindly and allowed him to go to his friends and
     receive care (3)

6) Why did they sail under the shelter of Cyprus? (4)
   - The winds were contrary (4)

7) Where did the centurion find the Alexandrian ship? (5-6)
   - Myra, a city of Lycia (6)

8) What caused the ship to sail slowly for many days? (7)
   - The wind did not permit them to proceed (7)

9) What was the name of the port near the city of Lasea? (8)
   - Fair Havens (8)

10) Now that the Fast was over, what was the condition for sailing? (9)
   - Sailing conditions were dangerous at that time of year (9)

11) Did the centurion heed Paul's warning? Who did he listen to? (11)
   - No, he was "more persuaded" by others (11)
   - The helmsman and the owner of the ship (11)

12) What did the majority advise to do? (12)
   - To set sail for Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, and winter there (12)

13) What did the sailors use to undergird the ship?  Why? (17)
   - They used cables/ropes (17)
   - They afraid of running aground (17)

14) On the third day, what did they throw overboard? (18-19)
   - The ship's tackle (19)

15) What did the angel say to Paul? (23-24)
   - "Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and
     indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you." (24)

16) What did Paul tell them must happen? (26)
   - The ship must run aground on a certain island (26)

17) When the sailors sensed they were nearing land, what did they
    attempt to do? (27-30)
   - They let the skiff down under pretense of letting out more anchors
     (30)

18) What did Paul tell the centurion? What did the soldiers do? (31-32)
   - "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved." (31)
   - The soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall (32)

19) As Paul tried to convince them to eat, what did he assure them would
    not happen? (33-34)
   - "...not a hair will fall from the head of any of you" (34)

20) What did Paul do in the presence of all of them? (35)
   - He took bread, gave thanks to God, and began to eat (35)

21) How many people were on the ship? (37)
   - Two hundred seventy-six (37)

22) What did they do after they had all eaten enough? (38)
   - They lightened the ship and threw the wheat into the sea (38)

23) When it became day, what did they see? (39)
   - They say a bay with a beach (39)

24) As they attempted to run the ship onto the beach, what happened?
    (40-41)
   - They ran the ship aground where the two seas met; the ship was
     immovable and began to break up from the violent waves (41)

25) What did the soldiers plan to do to the prisoners? (42)
   - They planned to kill the prisoners, so none could escape (42)

26) Did the centurion go along with the plan? What did he do? Why? (43)
   - He did not go along with the soldiers' plan (43)
   - He commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard and
     get to land (43)
   - He wanted to save Paul (43)

27) How did the rest get to shore? How many escaped safely to land? (44)
   - They floated on boards and parts of the ship to land (44)
   - They all escaped safely to land (44)
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