Trusting Experience More Than The Spirit

Acts 27:9-44

Unseasonable winds had delayed the journey to Rome and the seasons were changing, increasing the danger of severe weather.

“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)

Although he was not a sailor, Paul had sailed a lot, and the Holy Spirit made him aware of the danger. Since the harbor at Fair Havens was not a safe place to winter, the captain and crew recommended sailing to the safer harbor at Phenice.

“Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. And because the haven was not commodious 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. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.” (Acts 27:11-13)

Trusting the captain’s experience more than Paul’s warning the centurion agreed to go on, and when a favorable wind blew, they set out. Unfortunately the favorable wind quickly became a hurricane.

“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, struck sail, and so were driven.” (Acts 27:14-17)

Unable to control the ship they were forced to run before the wind until they passed close to an island where by using their life boats they were able to swing the ship into the leeward side and lessent the force so they could safely lower the sails and batten down the hatches, but fearing they would driven aground, they could not anchor there, and just drifted with the wind.

“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)

Every thing they could do to increase their chances of survival, but after several says with no control of the ship and no break in the storm, the entire company had given up hope.

“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. 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 27:21-26)

Had they not ignored the Holy Spirit’s warning, the entire situation would have been avoided, but the Holy Spirit now had declared that they all would survive, although they would be stuck on a small island. How many times I have ignored the still small voice of the Lord and found myself in a similar situation.

“But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.” (Acts 27:27-29)

After fourteen days fighting the storm, the sailors realized they were approaching land, although they couldn’t see it. In an effort to prevent being smashed against the shore, they set anchors, wishing it was day so they could see what they faced. Fearing the anchors wouldn’t hold, many of the sailors intended to take the lifeboats and run for shore.

“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, 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 27:30-32)

The Holy spirit made Paul realize that if the sailors deserted, there would be no one to control the ship and everyone else would die. When he warned them, the soldiers set the lifeboats adrift to prevent the sailor from deserting ship. They no longer questioned the Holy Spirit’s advice.

“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. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.” (Acts 27:33-38)

For two weeks, they had not eaten, partly because they couldn’t cook while the storm was so bad, and partly as a result of fear and seasickness. This had undoubtedly made their depression worse. After eating they had hope enough to dump the cargo in hopes of survival, no longer needing it for ballast.

“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 hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. 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)

Seeing a place where the water might be deeper because of the outlet of a creek, the sailors attempted to guide the ship into it. They struck bottom and the force of the waves began to break up the ship.

“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)

Roman law required that the guards serve the penalty of any prisoner they allowed to escape. The soldiers wanted to execute all the prisoners to be sure none did so, but the centurion knew that Paul was innocent and did not want to be responsible for his death. As a result, despite the hurricane and shipwreck, there were no casualties. God had protected them all.