1
After it had been decided that we should sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julyus, of the Imperial Regiment.

2
We boarded a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to ports along the coast of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.

3
The next day we put in at Sidon. Julyus treated Paul kindly and allowed him to go to his friends so that they might provide for his needs.

4
From there we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were against us.

5
After sailing across the open sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in the region of Lycia.

6
There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it.

7
For many days we made little headway, and with difficulty we came near Cnidus. Since the wind would not let us go on, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone.

8
With difficulty we passed it and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

9
Much time had been lost, and the Fast was already over; sailing had now become dangerous. So Paul warned them, saying:

10
“Men, I can see that our voyage is going to bring hardship and great loss, not only to the cargo and the ship, but also to our lives.”

11
But the centurion trusted the pilot and the ship’s owner more than what Paul said.

12
Since the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority decided to sail on, hoping somehow to reach Phoenix and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete, facing southwest and northwest.

13
When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had achieved their purpose. They weighed anchor and sailed along the coast of Crete very close to shore.

14
But not long after, a storm wind called the “northeaster” came down from the island.

15
The ship was caught and could not face the wind, so we gave way and let her be driven along.

16
As we passed along the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were barely able to secure the ship’s lifeboat.

17
After hoisting it aboard, they used supports to undergird the ship with ropes. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along.

18
Because we were being violently tossed by the storm, the next day they began to throw the ship’s cargo overboard into the sea.

19
And on the third day they cast out the ship’s gear with their own hands.

20
After many days, neither sun nor stars appeared, and the fierce storm kept threatening us continually; at last all hope that we would be saved was gone.

21
And since they had gone without food for some time, Paul stood among them and said, “Brothers, if you had followed my advice not to sail from Crete, we would have been spared this hardship and loss!

22
But now, even in this trouble, I urge you to keep up your courage, for not one of you will perish, except the ship.

23
For last night an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood by me,

24
and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar; and indeed, by God’s grace, all who are with you on this ship will be saved because of you.’

25
Therefore take courage, brothers! For I believe God, that it will all happen just as it was told to me.

26
However, we must run aground on some island.”

27
The fourteenth night had come, and we were still being driven about on the Adriatic Sea. But about midnight the sailors sensed that they were nearing land.

28
So they took soundings, and found it to be twenty fathoms deep. After going a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.

29
And fearing that we might run aground on some rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern, and we greatly wished that day would soon come.

30
But the sailors tried to escape from the ship. They lowered the lifeboat and pretended that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow.

31
Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”

32
So the soldiers cut the ropes of the lifeboat and let it drift away.

33
As day was about to dawn, Paul urged everyone to eat, saying, “For fourteen days you have been waiting, going hungry and eating nothing.

34
Therefore I urge you to eat now. This is necessary for your safety. Not a hair from the head of any of you will be lost.”

35
After saying this, he took bread, gave thanks to God in the presence of them all, broke it, and began to eat.

36
Then all of them were encouraged, and they also ate.

37
There were in all two hundred seventy-six souls on the ship.

38
When they had eaten enough, they threw the wheat cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.

39
When day came, they saw a bay with a sandy shore. Though they did not recognize the land, they decided to run the ship aground there if possible.

40
So they cut away the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes of the rudders, hoisted the foresail to the wind, and made for the shore.

41
But they struck a sandbar, and the ship ran aground. The bow stuck fast and could not move, and the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves.

42
At that time the soldiers planned to kill the prisoners, so that none of them might escape by swimming away.

43
But the centurion wanted to save Paul. So he prevented their plan and ordered those who could swim to jump into the sea first and go ashore,

44
and the rest to follow on planks or pieces of the ship. And so all were brought safely to land.

📖 Acts 27 – Paul’s Voyage to Rome and the Shipwreck

🧾 Summary of the Passage

This chapter tells of Paul’s journey from Caesarea to Rome as a prisoner. In the midst of a long and dangerous sea voyage, the ship they were on was struck by a great storm and finally wrecked near the island of Malta. Yet, through God’s care, not a single life was lost.

✨ Verse-by-Verse Explanation

1. The Beginning of the Journey to Rome (Verses 1–8)

• Paul was handed over to a Roman centurion named Julyus of the imperial cohort.
• They boarded a ship from Adramyttium and stopped at several places, including Sidon, Myra, and Cnidus.
• Then they continued the journey on a ship from Alexandria bound for Italy.

💡 Meaning: God uses human authority to fulfill His plan. Though Paul was a prisoner, God remained with him.

2. Paul’s Warning Ignored (Verses 9–12)

• Paul warned that the voyage would be dangerous if they continued because the storm season was near.
• However, the pilot and the owner of the ship were trusted more than Paul’s words.

💡 Lesson: Spiritual wisdom is often overlooked by a world that trusts human logic or economic interests more.

3. A Great Storm Strikes (Verses 13–26)

• When the south wind blew, they sailed farther. But not long after, a storm wind called the “Northeaster” (Euroklydon) came.
• The ship was violently tossed, and all the passengers gave up hope of surviving.
• Paul stood up and encouraged everyone, saying that an angel of the Lord had appeared to him and assured them:

“Not one of you will perish, except the ship.” (verse 22)

💡 Lesson: In the storms of life, believers can be a source of strength because of God’s presence.

4. The Ship Is Destroyed, All Are Saved (Verses 27–44)

• After two weeks of being tossed about on the sea, the ship drew near land.
• Some sailors tried to escape, but Paul warned the officer to stop them.
• Before the ship ran aground, Paul urged everyone to eat and strengthened them.
• The ship finally broke apart on the rocks, but all the passengers swam or floated safely to shore, just as the Lord had promised.

💡 Lesson: The Lord’s promise will surely be fulfilled — even when everything seems ruined.

📘 Main Lessons from Acts 27

1. The Lord is with His people even in the fiercest storm.
2. Believers should be bold to speak and lead in the midst of crisis, not hide away.
3. Obedience to God’s direction saves many people.
4. Storms can destroy facilities, but they cannot thwart God’s plan.
5. Steadfast faith brings hope to everyone around.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Acts 27

• Paul is an example of a resilient spiritual leader in the storm, because he trusted in the Lord’s promise.
• The life of a follower of Christ is not without storms, but the Lord’s presence gives peace and assurance amid chaos.
• God can use “locked” or “limited” situations (such as Paul being a prisoner) to remain a light and a blessing.
• Sometimes God allows our ship to be broken, so that we may reach the island He has prepared.