Acts 27

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Paul’s Voyage to Rome, and the Shipwreck

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Unbelievers are not blessed when they follow the wisdom of this world.

  2. Unbelievers are blessed when they follow the counsel of godly believers.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Watch out for favorable soft winds.

QUESTIONS

  1. Why did Paul board a ship in this chapter?

  2. Where was this ship coming from? What kind of ship was it?

  3. What went wrong on this voyage?

  4. How do we know that Paul had established a good reputation with the centurion, Julius?

  5. When did the sailors begin listening to Paul’s advice?

ANSWERS

  1. Paul had appealed to Caesar to defend himself against the accusations of the Jews. Now he was being sent by ship to Rome.

  2. This was a grain ship coming from Alexandria, Egypt to Rome. Egypt was the breadbasket of Rome.

  3. The ship was blown off course by a sudden, violent, and prolonged storm from the northeast. Fearing that they would be blown into the treacherous shallows off the coast of Africa, they dropped a sea anchor and let the ship be blown along at the mercy of the storm.

  4. Luke and Aristarchus were permitted to accompany Paul as his servants. Paul was allowed to go ashore in Sidon to meet with believers there. Also the centurion allowed Paul to express his opinion concerning the voyage.

  5. After the storm arose

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The wisdom of this world may appear reasonable, but because it does not take God and His Word into account, it cannot result in blessing. Discuss the wisdom of the world and the damage you have seen it do.

  2. Even unbelievers can receive a measure of blessing in their lives if they follow the counsel of godly believers. Give examples of this from the Bible and from history.

CHALLENGE

  1. Because of the favorable soft wind, the sailors wanted to continue their voyage rather than winter where they were. They turned a deaf ear to common sense and godly counsel, and reaped the consequence of shipwreck. Are you making life decisions because of “favorable soft wind”? Check these things out and pray about them. God promises to guide you.

KEY VERSES

  • “When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.” Acts 27:13

  • “Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.” Acts 27:20

  • “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Acts 27:31

  • “And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.” Acts 27:44

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