Acts 27

Acts 27 is a chapter in the latter part of the book of Acts. In the previous chapter Paul made his defense before Agrippa, and because he had already appealed to Caesar (the Roman emperor), he is sent to Rome in this chapter. The passages in which the narrator speaks as "we" resume here.

Outline

• Verses 1–8: Paul and other prisoners are placed in the custody of Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. The party travels by way of Sidon and Myra, transfers to a ship of Alexandria, and with difficulty reaches the Fair Havens on the island of Crete.
• Verses 9–12: Because the fast has passed and sailing has become dangerous, Paul warns that the voyage will bring loss. The centurion, however, trusts the master and the owner of the ship more than Paul, and they decide to set out for Phoenix (KJV "Phenice"), a harbor in which to winter.
• Verses 13–20: A tempestuous wind called Euroclydon drives the ship along. Those aboard throw the cargo and the ship's tackling overboard, and when neither sun nor stars appear for many days, they lose all hope of being saved.
• Verses 21–26: Paul reports that an angel of God appeared to him and reassures everyone that no life will be lost, only the ship.
• Verses 27–32: On the fourteenth night, while the ship is driven about in the sea of Adria, land draws near. When the sailors try to escape in the ship's boat, the soldiers, acting on Paul's word, cut its ropes.
• Verses 33–38: Paul takes bread, gives thanks, and eats, urging the others to take food. There are 276 people aboard the ship.
• Verses 39–44: The ship runs aground and breaks apart. When the soldiers propose to kill the prisoners, the centurion prevents them. By swimming or clinging to boards, everyone reaches land.

Key Verses

• Acts 27:24 "Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar": In the midst of the storm, the promise that Paul will bear witness in Rome is reaffirmed.
• Acts 27:25 "For I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me": This statement sums up the trust Paul displays throughout the chapter.
• Acts 27:44 "And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land": This shows that the promise of verse 22 was fulfilled exactly.

People and Places

• Paul: A prisoner being taken to Rome.
• Julius: A centurion of Augustus' band who treats Paul kindly and ultimately spares his life.
• Aristarchus: A man of Thessalonica who accompanies Paul.
• Crete, Fair Havens, and Phoenix: The island and harbors discussed as possible places to spend the winter.
• Euroclydon: The name of the tempestuous wind that arose near Crete.

Points for Reflection

• The "we" passages have traditionally been understood as the record of the author, Luke, who personally accompanied Paul. Some scholars instead regard them as reflecting the use of a source or as a literary device.
• The "fast" in verse 9 is commonly understood to be the Day of Atonement. It is taken to indicate the autumn season, when sailing on the Mediterranean became dangerous.
• The language in verse 35 of taking bread, giving thanks, and breaking it recalls the Lord's Supper. Some interpreters therefore find Eucharistic significance in the scene, while others see it as an ordinary meal urged upon hungry people.
• Because it depicts a ship in a storm, the chapter is sometimes read alongside Jonah 1 or the Calming of the Storm. The island where the drifting ends is named in the next chapter, Acts 28.

In the Korean Church

The chapter is frequently used as a sermon text on trusting God's promises even in the midst of suffering. "Euroclydon" often appears in sermons as a metaphor for the great trials of life.