13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. 15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. 17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. 18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands. 20 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. 21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 However, we must run aground on a certain island.” 27 Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land. 28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off. 33 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. 36 Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. 37 And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship. 38 So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.
Commentary
Vs. 13 “When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.”
And so, ignoring the Apostle Paul’s warning they now prepare to set sail for Phoenix. Now as the south winds were blowing softly, they thought they had made the right decision, and thus they put out to sea. However, they sail close to shore line of Crete so as to avoid the any potential open seas storms and contrary winds.
Vs. 14-19 14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. 15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. 17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. 18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.
Though their journey began well enough it was not soon afterward that a tempestuous headwind arose, called Euroclydon (a Greek and Latin hybrid word used to describe a very strong northeast wind, coming down from the cliffs above them, Believers Bible Commentary, vs. 14). Thus, unable to sail the desired course they were forced to let the wind drive her (vs. 15), which drove them near to a small island called Claudia, where they were able to secure the skiff with difficultly (i.e., the lifeboat they had been towing, vs. 16). Thus, securing it on board with difficulty, but now fearing that they might run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they use cables to first under gird the ship before raising the sail so as to be driven away from them (vs. 17).
Vs. 18-19 18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.
And being so exceedingly tempest tossed, and fearing taking on water and thus sinking. They began to lighten the ship (hoping to raise her up) by throwing overboard anything that was considered unnecessary for their survival in these stormy seas (vs. 18). Luke now recalls how on the third day of the storm that they threw overboard the ships tackle (i.e., its ropes and pulleys etc.) with their own hands, which would’ve only been done in pure desperation and as a means of last resort to lighten the vessel.
Vs. 20 “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.”
With neither sun nor stars to guide them, and facing a continual tempest storm day after day with no end in sight, they all gave up hope that they would be saved. However, as the saying goes the storm is always darkest before the calm.
Vs. 21-26 21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 However, we must run aground on a certain island.”
Now it was during this time, that the Apostle Paul took it upon himself to fast and to pray, to seek the mercies of God, not only for himself, but for all. And so it was that in their darkest hour that the Apostles prayer was heard by God. For He sent his angel to assure him of not only his own survival, but of all of those then present with him on the vessel, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ (vs. 24). Having then full confidence in God’s Word about their survival, the Apostle Paul now stands in the midst of them, but initially rebukes them, saying they should’ve listened to him and never left Crete and taken this misguided journey and incurred all this disaster of loss (vs. 21). That said, the Apostle Paul knowing their fear now quickly reaffirms them all, and tells them all to take his word to heart, for as it has been told him by God’s angel sent to him, so shall it be for them all. They will all survive this though they must run aground on a certain island (vs. 25-26).
Vs. 27-29 27 Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land. 28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.
Now it had been Fourteen days that they had been in this most terrible storm, unable to navigate because of blackness, and basically just trying to survive and stay afloat as they were being driven by the storm up and down the Adriatic Sea, which is the northern most arm of the Mediterranean Sea that immediately separates the Italian peninsula from the Balkans (Croatia; Bosnia, Yugoslavia, Albania, and Macedonia being adjoined to Albania but is farther inland and north of Greece), as well as Italy from Greece which is at the southern end of it. And so, it was around midnight that the sailors sensed they were drawing near to land (vs. 27). And so, they began to take soundings, first finding the depth to be about twenty fathoms, (120 ft), and then having gone just a little farther they found it to be 15 fathoms (90 ft), and fearing that they might run aground on the rocks they dropped four anchors from the stern (the rear of the vessel), and prayed that daylight would come (vs. 28-29).
Vs. 30-32 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.
Knowing then that were now nearing land, some of the sailors plotted to abandon the ship (because it was at risk of being broken up on the rocky shoreline) and so they thought to escape in the skiff (the ships life vessel), by letting it down from the prow (the front of the ship) under the guise that they were going let down some anchors (vs. 30). However, when the Apostle Paul saw this, he told the centurion and his men that unless they remained on board with them no one would be saved (vs. 31). Therefore, the soldiers cut away the ropes from the skiff and let it fall into the sea (vs. 32).
Vs. 33-38 33 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. 36 Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. 37 And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship. 38 So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.
Having then survived another perilous night on the storm driven sea, the Apostle Paul around dawn now implores everyone onboard to now take food, saying to them, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” (vs. 33-34). Having then encouraged them all to eat, Paul himself now takes some bread and giving thanks to God in the presence of them all he then breaks the bread and begins to eat (vs, 35). Therefore, hearing his words and seeing him end his fast, they too take hope that they are now all going to survive, and so they too likewise begin to eat (vs. 36). The Scripture now notes in verse thirty-seven that there were two hundred and seventy-six persons on board that ship (vs. 37), it was then no small vessel. Having then eaten enough they all lightened the ship for one last time by throwing out the ship’s wheat into the sea (vs. 38).
Continued on in next blog entry.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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