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Commentaries
English
Acts
  
27Now 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.28And 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.29Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.30And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretence of putting out anchors from the prow,31Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”32Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.33And 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.34Therefore 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.”35And 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.36Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.37And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.


Fourteen days in the danger of waves is a long time. Half a month on a rolling ship is like eternity. He who loses his direction and looks into the eyes of death dies many deaths. Yet Paul prayed, believed, and rested assured, for he did not lose his direction upwards. His compass indicator always pointed to God, and he was comforted and purified by the blood and righteousness of Christ.
Suddenly, about midnight, the sailors suspected that they were getting close to land. They quickly measured the depth and found that the water was becoming shallower as they drew nearer to shore. They were afraid that the ship would wreck on the rocks. So they lowered the anchors from the back of the ship to slow its progress, and lowered the small boat into the water to enable their escape. What treacherous design! The experienced Paul recognized the sailors’ trick and immediately told the officer, who gave the order to cut the ropes that held the boat, letting it fall into the water. The angel had told him that “all”, and not just some, would be saved. By deceiving the sailors the devil had tried to frustrate the plan of God. That deception was quickly aborted because of the apostle’s watchfulness.
Paul then recognized that they were in need of physical strength for what lay ahead. They had to eat, since their rescue was at hand. They did not need to go on fasting. Paul encouraged them all to eat well in that dark night, amidst that fearful tempest. This intimates that Paul was chaplain on board the ship. His power, deliberateness, faith, and boldness had impressed them all. They looked at him attentively as he declared the end of their fasting, broke the bread and prayed before everyone, offering thanks to God for his grace in the midst of the storm. They crowded together and, with great appetite following long hunger, began to eat, believing that God would save them. Paul assured them, in the name of his Lord, that not a hair of their heads would be lost, even while the ship was being torn-apart by waves engulfing her. The apostle’s faith was growing stronger, in spite of the growing difficulties. Christ’s promise to him meant more than all the great troubles he would face.