返回Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Acts 27:1–3. When it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort, named Julius. We boarded an Adramyttian ship and set off, intending to sail along the coast of the Asian regions. With us was Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. The next day we put in at Sidon. Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him to go to his friends and enjoy their care.
Aristarchus is profitably present and accompanies Paul, since he must report in Macedonia everything that happened to Paul.
"Julius, treating Paul kindly." And it was natural to lead and support Paul, who was weighed down by chains and fear. Notice how the writer does not conceal the fact that Paul was in need of care for himself.
Acts 27:4–8. Having departed from there, we sailed to Cyprus, because of contrary winds, and having crossed the sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we arrived at Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and put us on board it. Sailing slowly for many days and barely drawing even with Cnidus, because of the wind being unfavorable to us, we sailed toward Crete near Salmone. And having passed along it with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.
A ship, he says, "Alexandrian, sailing to Italy." Probably they too had departed for Asia Minor to announce what had happened to Paul, as Aristarchus had for Macedonia.
Acts 27:9–10. But when much time had passed, and sailing was now dangerous, because the fast had already gone by, Paul advised them, saying: Men! I see that the voyage will be with difficulties and with great damage not only to the cargo and the ship, but also to our lives.
I think Paul is speaking here of the Jewish fast, since he had departed a long time after Pentecost, so that he arrived at the borders of Crete almost by winter. But to show that he is not prophesying, but speaking by conjecture, he expresses himself thus: "I perceive," – because they would not have immediately believed him even if he had said this as a prophet.
Acts 27:11–13. But the centurion trusted the helmsman and the captain of the ship more than the words of Paul. And since the harbor was not suitable for wintering, many advised to set sail from there, in order to reach, if possible, Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest, and to winter there. When the south wind blew gently, thinking they had obtained what they wanted, they set sail and sailed close along Crete.
The Evangelist says that "the centurion trusted the helmsman and the captain of the ship more." He did this on the assumption that one should rather listen to people experienced in sailing than to a passenger inexperienced in this matter. Thus, this was an error of his mind, not of fortune.
Acts 27:14–33. But soon a stormy wind arose against it, called Euroclydon. The ship was seized so that it could not resist the wind, and we were carried along, given over to the waves. And running under a certain small island called Clauda, we were barely able to secure the boat. After hoisting it up, they began to use supports and to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the shallows, they lowered the sail and so were driven along. On the next day, because of the violent storm, they began to throw the cargo overboard, and on the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands. But as for many days neither sun nor stars appeared and no small tempest continued to rage, at last all hope of our being saved was disappearing. And as they had long been without food, Paul stood in the midst of them and said: Men! You should have listened to me and not departed from Crete, and thus you would have avoided these difficulties and loss. And now I urge you to take courage, because not a single soul among you will perish, but only the ship. For an Angel of God, to Whom I belong and Whom I serve, appeared to me this night and said: "Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar, and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you." Therefore take courage, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told to me. We must be cast upon some island. On the fourteenth night, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors began to suspect that they were approaching some land. And having taken soundings, they found twenty fathoms; then at a short distance, having taken soundings again, they found fifteen fathoms. Fearing lest they should fall upon rocky places, they cast four anchors from the stern and waited for day. But when the sailors wanted to flee from the ship and were lowering the boat into the sea, pretending as though they wanted to cast anchors from the bow, Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers: Unless these men remain on the ship, you cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the boat, and it fell away. As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take food, saying: Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense without food, eating nothing.
After such a prolonged storm, he addresses them not with reproach, but wishes that in the future they would believe him, and presents what happened as testimony to the truth of what he had told them. Then he predicts two things, namely: that the ship will perish, but those on it will be saved, and that they will be cast upon an island.
"Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you." Behold, if it were not for Paul, all who were in the ship would have had to perish. Thus, what was said by Homer is false:
Homer says that it is impossible to escape the mortal fate that determines the hour of a person's death together with their birth. But consider: if all were destined to perish, then, by ordinary reckoning, Paul too should have perished, having spent so many days at sea without food! Yes, the false mind said: "Neither the brave man (that is, the valiant) nor the coward escapes fate"… Something entirely different is said in Scripture, namely: "The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead" (Prov. 11:8). Thus, God granted the souls to Paul, but the ship with everything on it perished. In this way, the ungodly are saved this time for the sake of the righteous. It also happens that the ungodly person perishes prematurely because of his own ungodliness, as Ecclesiastes says: "Do not give yourself over to sin, and do not be foolish: why should you die before your time?" (7:18).
"Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the boat." God arranged it so that Paul was not believed at first, but was believed after his words were tested by experience; which is what happened. Look: the centurion believes Paul to such an extent that he allows the boat to be destroyed; the sailors, however, did not yet believe, but believed afterwards, since these people were poorly educated.
Acts 27:34–39. Therefore I urge you to take food: for this is for your preservation; for not a hair shall fall from the head of any of you. And having said this and taken bread, he gave thanks to God before all, and having broken it, he began to eat. Then they were all encouraged and also took food. And all of us on the ship were two hundred and seventy-six souls. And when they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship, throwing the wheat into the sea. And when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay with a sandy beach, onto which they resolved, if possible, to run the ship aground.
That Paul began to eat was so that he would not die of hunger. "Having taken bread, he gave thanks to God" for what had happened. The order of the Eucharist also teaches us to say the same thing: "We thank Thee, O God, that Thou hast vouchsafed us…"
Acts 27:40–44. And having taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the foresail to the wind, and made toward shore. And falling into a place where two seas met, the ship ran aground. The bow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was broken by the force of the waves. The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out and escape. But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from this intention, and commanded those who could swim to cast themselves first into the sea and get to land, and the rest to save themselves, some on boards and some on other things from the ship; and so it was that they all escaped safely to land.
They loosened the ropes when day came; and by day the ship is also taken down, so that those on board would not perish from fear and so that they might see the fulfillment of the prophecy.
It should be noted that they kill someone voluntarily, and fate cannot prevent the commission of murder. So then, the soldiers voluntarily decide upon the act of murder and proceed to carry it out; however, having obeyed the centurion, they again and likewise voluntarily abandon their intention. They could have disobeyed the centurion, since there were many of them and strength was on their side, but the will and free desire do what they want and do not do what they do not want.
Acts 27:1–3. When it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort, named Julius. We boarded an Adramyttian ship and set off, intending to sail along the coast of the Asian regions. With us was Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. The next day we put in at Sidon. Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him to go to his friends and enjoy their care.
Aristarchus is profitably present and accompanies Paul, since he must report in Macedonia everything that happened to Paul.
"Julius, treating Paul kindly." And it was natural to lead and support Paul, who was weighed down by chains and fear. Notice how the writer does not conceal the fact that Paul was in need of care for himself.
Acts 27:4–8. Having departed from there, we sailed to Cyprus, because of contrary winds, and having crossed the sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we arrived at Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and put us on board it. Sailing slowly for many days and barely drawing even with Cnidus, because of the wind being unfavorable to us, we sailed toward Crete near Salmone. And having passed along it with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.
A ship, he says, "Alexandrian, sailing to Italy." Probably they too had departed for Asia Minor to announce what had happened to Paul, as Aristarchus had for Macedonia.
Acts 27:9–10. But when much time had passed, and sailing was now dangerous, because the fast had already gone by, Paul advised them, saying: Men! I see that the voyage will be with difficulties and with great damage not only to the cargo and the ship, but also to our lives.
I think Paul is speaking here of the Jewish fast, since he had departed a long time after Pentecost, so that he arrived at the borders of Crete almost by winter. But to show that he is not prophesying, but speaking by conjecture, he expresses himself thus: "I perceive," – because they would not have immediately believed him even if he had said this as a prophet.
Acts 27:11–13. But the centurion trusted the helmsman and the captain of the ship more than the words of Paul. And since the harbor was not suitable for wintering, many advised to set sail from there, in order to reach, if possible, Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest, and to winter there. When the south wind blew gently, thinking they had obtained what they wanted, they set sail and sailed close along Crete.
The Evangelist says that "the centurion trusted the helmsman and the captain of the ship more." He did this on the assumption that one should rather listen to people experienced in sailing than to a passenger inexperienced in this matter. Thus, this was an error of his mind, not of fortune.
Acts 27:14–33. But soon a stormy wind arose against it, called Euroclydon. The ship was seized so that it could not resist the wind, and we were carried along, given over to the waves. And running under a certain small island called Clauda, we were barely able to secure the boat. After hoisting it up, they began to use supports and to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the shallows, they lowered the sail and so were driven along. On the next day, because of the violent storm, they began to throw the cargo overboard, and on the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands. But as for many days neither sun nor stars appeared and no small tempest continued to rage, at last all hope of our being saved was disappearing. And as they had long been without food, Paul stood in the midst of them and said: Men! You should have listened to me and not departed from Crete, and thus you would have avoided these difficulties and loss. And now I urge you to take courage, because not a single soul among you will perish, but only the ship. For an Angel of God, to Whom I belong and Whom I serve, appeared to me this night and said: "Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar, and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you." Therefore take courage, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told to me. We must be cast upon some island. On the fourteenth night, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors began to suspect that they were approaching some land. And having taken soundings, they found twenty fathoms; then at a short distance, having taken soundings again, they found fifteen fathoms. Fearing lest they should fall upon rocky places, they cast four anchors from the stern and waited for day. But when the sailors wanted to flee from the ship and were lowering the boat into the sea, pretending as though they wanted to cast anchors from the bow, Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers: Unless these men remain on the ship, you cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the boat, and it fell away. As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take food, saying: Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense without food, eating nothing.
After such a prolonged storm, he addresses them not with reproach, but wishes that in the future they would believe him, and presents what happened as testimony to the truth of what he had told them. Then he predicts two things, namely: that the ship will perish, but those on it will be saved, and that they will be cast upon an island.
"Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you." Behold, if it were not for Paul, all who were in the ship would have had to perish. Thus, what was said by Homer is false:
Homer says that it is impossible to escape the mortal fate that determines the hour of a person's death together with their birth. But consider: if all were destined to perish, then, by ordinary reckoning, Paul too should have perished, having spent so many days at sea without food! Yes, the false mind said: "Neither the brave man (that is, the valiant) nor the coward escapes fate"… Something entirely different is said in Scripture, namely: "The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead" (Prov. 11:8). Thus, God granted the souls to Paul, but the ship with everything on it perished. In this way, the ungodly are saved this time for the sake of the righteous. It also happens that the ungodly person perishes prematurely because of his own ungodliness, as Ecclesiastes says: "Do not give yourself over to sin, and do not be foolish: why should you die before your time?" (7:18).
"Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the boat." God arranged it so that Paul was not believed at first, but was believed after his words were tested by experience; which is what happened. Look: the centurion believes Paul to such an extent that he allows the boat to be destroyed; the sailors, however, did not yet believe, but believed afterwards, since these people were poorly educated.
Acts 27:34–39. Therefore I urge you to take food: for this is for your preservation; for not a hair shall fall from the head of any of you. And having said this and taken bread, he gave thanks to God before all, and having broken it, he began to eat. Then they were all encouraged and also took food. And all of us on the ship were two hundred and seventy-six souls. And when they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship, throwing the wheat into the sea. And when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay with a sandy beach, onto which they resolved, if possible, to run the ship aground.
That Paul began to eat was so that he would not die of hunger. "Having taken bread, he gave thanks to God" for what had happened. The order of the Eucharist also teaches us to say the same thing: "We thank Thee, O God, that Thou hast vouchsafed us…"
Acts 27:40–44. And having taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the foresail to the wind, and made toward shore. And falling into a place where two seas met, the ship ran aground. The bow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was broken by the force of the waves. The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out and escape. But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from this intention, and commanded those who could swim to cast themselves first into the sea and get to land, and the rest to save themselves, some on boards and some on other things from the ship; and so it was that they all escaped safely to land.
They loosened the ropes when day came; and by day the ship is also taken down, so that those on board would not perish from fear and so that they might see the fulfillment of the prophecy.
It should be noted that they kill someone voluntarily, and fate cannot prevent the commission of murder. So then, the soldiers voluntarily decide upon the act of murder and proceed to carry it out; however, having obeyed the centurion, they again and likewise voluntarily abandon their intention. They could have disobeyed the centurion, since there were many of them and strength was on their side, but the will and free desire do what they want and do not do what they do not want.