Since
there is little in this chapter that requires, or lends itself to exposition -
a conclusion that seems to be supported by the dearth of detailed exposition
in existing commentaries - I shall simply list the verses, so that the
occasional brief necessary comment or explanation will be easily available to
the reader.
It
is necessary, however, to note that some have seen in this chapter an
allegorical picture of the course of the Church, from Pentecost till the
Rapture, somewhat similar to that presented in the letters to the seven
churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
I personally do not see that picture in this chapter, and examination
of the expository material relative to it does not convince me that such a
picture exists.
27:1.
“And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they
delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one name Julius, a centurion
of Augustus’ band.”
27:2.
“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.
27:3.
“And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously
entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh
himself.”
27:4.
“And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus:
because the winds were contrary.”
27:5.
“And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came
to Myra, a city of Lycia.”
27:6.
“And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria
sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.”
27:7.
“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.”
27:8.
“And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair
havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea .”
27:9.
“Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous,
because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,”
The
“fast” was that of the Day of Atonement, observed at the end of September
or beginning of October. In those
days during the winter all sailing in the Mediterranean ceased because of the
rough weather.
27:10.
“And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with
hurt and much damage, not only of the lading (cargo) and ship, but also of our
lives.”
27:11.
“Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the
ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.”
27:12.
“And because the haven was not commodious (not suitable) to winter
in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might
attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth
toward the south west and north west.”
27:13.
“And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained
their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.”
27:14.
“But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called
Euroclydon (more accurately Euroquilo, the north easter).”
27:15.
“And when the ship was caught (in the storm), and could not bear up
into the wind, we let her drive (be driven by the wind).”
27:16.
“And running under (in the shelter of) a certain island which is
called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:”
“...
come by the boat” is literally to secure or lash down the lifeboat.
27:17.
“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.”
“...
they used helps, undergirding the ship” means that they passed cables round
the ship to reinforce it.
27:18.
“And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they
lightened the ship; (by jettisoning the cargo)”
27:19.
“And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the
ship.”
Tackling
is literally furniture, i.e., apparatus used in connection with the sailing of
the ship.
27:20.
“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.”
27:21.
“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.”
“...
long abstinence” means that they had gone without regular meals for several
days.
27:22.
“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.”
27:23.
“For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and
whom I serve,”
27:24.
“Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo,
God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.”
This
is further confirmation that Paul had not been guilty of any disobedience in
going up to Jerusalem, and participating in the temple ritual in connection
with the vow and ceremonial purification of the four men mentioned in chapter
21.
27:25.
“Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall
be even as it was told me.”
Faith
in, and obedience to, God’s Word are the only things that can cheer the
heart in times of trouble.
27:26.
“Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.”
27:27.
“But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven
up and down in Adria (the Adriatic Sea), about midnight the shipmen
deemed (suspected) that they drew near to some country;”
27:28.
“And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a
little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.”
27:29.
“Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four
anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.”
27:30.
“And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had
let down the boat into the sea, under color (pretext) as though they would
have cast anchors out of the foreship,”
27:31.
“Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide
in the ship, ye cannot be saved.”
27:32.
“Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall
off.”
27:33.
“And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat
(food), saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and
continued fasting, having taken nothing.”
27:34.
“Wherefore I pray you to take some meat (food): for this is for your
health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.”
27:35.
“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.”
27:36.
“Then
were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat (food).”
27:37.
“And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen
souls.”
27:38.
“And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast
out the wheat into the sea.”
27:39.
“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.”
27:40.
“And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves
unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands (two large steering oars on either
side of the ship), and hoisted up the mainsail to the
wind, and made toward shore,”
27:41.
“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.”
27:42.
“And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of
them should swim out, and escape.”
27:43.
“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:”
27:44.
“And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship.
And it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.”