BRUCE C WEARNE, in his series on Acts, looks at events surrounding what happened the ship Paul was on was wrecked…
With the coming of the 14th night, we were drifting across the Adriatic Sea. In the middle of the night, the sailors suspected that the shore was not far away. Upon sounding they found 20 fathoms; a little farther on they sounded again and found 15 fathoms, and fearing we might run aground onto the rocks, they let out four anchors from the stern, praying for day to come.
In pretending to lay out the anchors from the bow, the sailors were intending to abandon the ship, having lowered the life-boat into the ocean. [Detecting this], Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Without these men remaining on board the ship, you cannot be rescued.” At this, the soldiers cut away the boat’s ropes, letting it fall [into the sea].
And now, as day was soon upon them, Paul encouraged them all to take some food, saying, “This is the 14th day that you have persisted with great effort without food, having not stopped to take anything. Let me urge you to take some food; it will be for your safe-keeping, since not a hair from the head of any of you will be taken.” And by saying such things, he took bread and gave thanks to God, in the presence of them all, and having broken it he began to eat. The spirits of all were thereby lifted and they took some food. In all there were 276 persons in the ship. And having eaten sufficient food, they then lightened the ship, throwing the [cargo of] wheat into the sea.
When day broke, the coast could not be recognised, but they did perceive a bay with a beach, on which they then planned, if possible, to run the ship aground. The anchors were cut loose and left in the sea, the rudders were unfastened, the sail was hoisted to the wind, and in this way they made it for the beach. And in coming hard up against the sandbar between the two stretches of water, the ship ran aground with its bow stuck there and immovable. Meanwhile, the stern was breaking up under the pounding of the surf.
The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners, preventing them from swimming away and escaping, but the centurion, wishing to keep Paul in safe-keeping, prevented them from carrying out their purpose. He ordered those who could swim to throw themselves overboard first and make for the land, with the rest to take to planks or pieces of the ship. And that was how all escaped to land. – Acts 27: 27-44
WRECKED: This shipwreck is actually on the Aran Islands off Ireland. PICTURE: Abraham Wiebe/Unsplash
IN A NUTSHELL
This was a great escape. The storm did not let up. Paul foiled the effort of the crew to leave the passengers to their fate. The soldiers were prevented from executing the prisoners. They all got to land after running the boat onto the reef and leaving as it began to break up in the surf.
Paul intervened when all hope was gone; some time later, two weeks after starting out, the crew were still at their posts. Hope had risen. They even showed piety, praying for dawn to come. Still, when dawn arrived, it became apparent why the sailors had been praying. Some had decided to save their own lives by using the dinghy to get to land. The scheme was uncovered with Paul reminding Julius that they needed “all men on deck” to get through the final stages of this horrendous sea voyage. The ropes holding the getaway boat were cut, setting it adrift.
Paul then prayed before them all, asking for God’s special blessing as he gave out food. How did he do this? Did he boil porridge in a galley stove or catch some fish? Paul was a very practical man, serving those by meeting their basic needs. They would need every ounce of energy for this last dangerous swim to shore. The ship began to break up and the soldiers panicked. To stop the prisoners from escaping they wanted to kill them. “No,” said Julius, sparing the lives of all the prisoners. Julius helped those who could not swim find planks on which to float to shore. The others jumped in body surfing to shore as the boat broke up. When it was all over the full complement of 276 crew and passengers were safe. The angel had it right. There was no loss of life.
OPEN BOOK – HINTS FROM THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS: ALL ARE SAFE; NONE ESCAPE
BRUCE C WEARNE, in his series on Acts, looks at events surrounding what happened the ship Paul was on was wrecked…
With the coming of the 14th night, we were drifting across the Adriatic Sea. In the middle of the night, the sailors suspected that the shore was not far away. Upon sounding they found 20 fathoms; a little farther on they sounded again and found 15 fathoms, and fearing we might run aground onto the rocks, they let out four anchors from the stern, praying for day to come.
In pretending to lay out the anchors from the bow, the sailors were intending to abandon the ship, having lowered the life-boat into the ocean. [Detecting this], Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Without these men remaining on board the ship, you cannot be rescued.” At this, the soldiers cut away the boat’s ropes, letting it fall [into the sea].
And now, as day was soon upon them, Paul encouraged them all to take some food, saying, “This is the 14th day that you have persisted with great effort without food, having not stopped to take anything. Let me urge you to take some food; it will be for your safe-keeping, since not a hair from the head of any of you will be taken.” And by saying such things, he took bread and gave thanks to God, in the presence of them all, and having broken it he began to eat. The spirits of all were thereby lifted and they took some food. In all there were 276 persons in the ship. And having eaten sufficient food, they then lightened the ship, throwing the [cargo of] wheat into the sea.
When day broke, the coast could not be recognised, but they did perceive a bay with a beach, on which they then planned, if possible, to run the ship aground. The anchors were cut loose and left in the sea, the rudders were unfastened, the sail was hoisted to the wind, and in this way they made it for the beach. And in coming hard up against the sandbar between the two stretches of water, the ship ran aground with its bow stuck there and immovable. Meanwhile, the stern was breaking up under the pounding of the surf.
The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners, preventing them from swimming away and escaping, but the centurion, wishing to keep Paul in safe-keeping, prevented them from carrying out their purpose. He ordered those who could swim to throw themselves overboard first and make for the land, with the rest to take to planks or pieces of the ship. And that was how all escaped to land. – Acts 27: 27-44
WRECKED: This shipwreck is actually on the Aran Islands off Ireland. PICTURE: Abraham Wiebe/Unsplash
IN A NUTSHELL
This was a great escape. The storm did not let up. Paul foiled the effort of the crew to leave the passengers to their fate. The soldiers were prevented from executing the prisoners. They all got to land after running the boat onto the reef and leaving as it began to break up in the surf.
Paul intervened when all hope was gone; some time later, two weeks after starting out, the crew were still at their posts. Hope had risen. They even showed piety, praying for dawn to come. Still, when dawn arrived, it became apparent why the sailors had been praying. Some had decided to save their own lives by using the dinghy to get to land. The scheme was uncovered with Paul reminding Julius that they needed “all men on deck” to get through the final stages of this horrendous sea voyage. The ropes holding the getaway boat were cut, setting it adrift.
Paul then prayed before them all, asking for God’s special blessing as he gave out food. How did he do this? Did he boil porridge in a galley stove or catch some fish? Paul was a very practical man, serving those by meeting their basic needs. They would need every ounce of energy for this last dangerous swim to shore. The ship began to break up and the soldiers panicked. To stop the prisoners from escaping they wanted to kill them. “No,” said Julius, sparing the lives of all the prisoners. Julius helped those who could not swim find planks on which to float to shore. The others jumped in body surfing to shore as the boat broke up. When it was all over the full complement of 276 crew and passengers were safe. The angel had it right. There was no loss of life.
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