But the vessel struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves. But the vesselThe term "vessel" here refers to the ship carrying Paul and other passengers. In the Greek, the word used is "σκάφος" (skaphos), which denotes a ship or boat. Historically, this was a Roman grain ship, likely large and robust, designed to carry heavy cargo across the Mediterranean. The ship symbolizes the journey of faith, often subject to the storms of life, yet under divine providence. struck a sandbar
The Greek word for "sandbar" is "τόπος" (topos), meaning a place or location. In this context, it refers to a hidden underwater obstacle. This incident illustrates the unforeseen challenges believers face, reminding us of the need for spiritual discernment and reliance on God’s guidance. and ran aground
The phrase "ran aground" comes from the Greek "ἐπέκειλαν" (epekeilan), meaning to drive upon or to beach. This action signifies a sudden halt in progress, often seen in spiritual journeys when God allows circumstances to redirect our paths for His purposes. The bow stuck fast
The "bow" is the front part of the ship, and "stuck fast" indicates it was immovable. The Greek "ἐρείδω" (ereido) means to fix firmly. This imagery reflects moments in life where we feel trapped or unable to move forward, yet these are times to trust in God’s sovereignty and timing. and would not move
This phrase emphasizes the ship's immobility, highlighting the Greek "κινέω" (kineo), meaning to move or stir. Spiritually, it suggests times when God calls us to be still and know that He is God, trusting in His deliverance. and the stern was being broken up
The "stern" is the rear part of the ship, and "broken up" comes from the Greek "λύω" (luo), meaning to loosen or destroy. This destruction signifies the trials that test our faith, breaking away our reliance on worldly security and drawing us closer to God. by the pounding of the waves
The "pounding" refers to the relentless force of the waves, with the Greek "κλύδων" (kludon) meaning a surge or billow. This represents the trials and tribulations believers face, which, though challenging, are used by God to refine and strengthen our faith, much like waves shaping the shoreline. Persons / Places / Events 1. PaulThe apostle who is being transported to Rome as a prisoner. He is a central figure in the account, providing spiritual leadership and guidance. 2. The ShipA vessel carrying Paul, other prisoners, soldiers, and sailors. It becomes the focal point of the account as it encounters a storm and ultimately runs aground. 3. The SandbarA natural underwater ridge that the ship strikes, causing it to run aground. This event is pivotal in the account, leading to the ship's destruction. 4. The Crew and PassengersIncludes Roman soldiers, sailors, and prisoners. Their actions and decisions throughout the journey are crucial to the unfolding events. 5. The StormA severe weather event that leads to the shipwreck. It serves as a backdrop for demonstrating God's providence and Paul's faith. Teaching Points Divine Providence in CrisisGod's hand is evident even in dire circumstances. The shipwreck, while disastrous, is part of God's plan to bring Paul to Rome. Faith Amidst AdversityPaul's calm and leadership during the storm serve as a model for maintaining faith and composure in life's trials. The Importance of Heeding Godly CounselEarlier in the chapter, Paul advises against sailing, but his warning is ignored. This highlights the value of listening to spiritual wisdom. God's Sovereignty Over NatureThe shipwreck illustrates that God is in control of all creation, including the forces of nature. Community and Cooperation in CrisisThe survival of all aboard the ship underscores the importance of working together and supporting one another in difficult times. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Paul's response to the shipwreck demonstrate his faith and trust in God? Reflect on how you can apply this in your own life during challenging times. 2. In what ways does the account of the shipwreck in Acts 27 parallel the account of Jonah? What lessons can we learn about obedience and divine intervention? 3. Consider the role of the sandbar in the account. How can unexpected obstacles in our lives serve as opportunities for growth and reliance on God? 4. How does the account of Jesus calming the storm in Matthew 8 relate to the events in Acts 27? What does this teach us about Jesus' authority and our response to fear? 5. Reflect on a time when you ignored wise counsel and faced consequences. How can this passage encourage you to seek and heed godly advice in the future? Connections to Other Scriptures Jonah 1The account of Jonah also involves a ship caught in a storm, highlighting themes of divine intervention and human response to God's will. Matthew 8:23-27Jesus calming the storm demonstrates His authority over nature, paralleling the divine protection seen in Paul's journey. Psalm 107:23-30This passage describes sailors in distress and God's deliverance, echoing the themes of divine rescue and faith in adversity. People Aristarchus, Augustus, Julius, PaulPlaces Adramyttium, Adriatic Sea, Alexandria, Asia, Cauda, Cilicia, Cnidus, Crete, Cyprus, Fair Havens, Italy, Lasea, Lycia, Malta, Myra, Pamphylia, Phoenix, Salmone, Sidon, Syrtis, ThessalonicaTopics Able, Aground, Bow, Break, Broken, Fallen, Falling, Fast, Fixed, Force, Forepart, Fore-part, Foreship, Front, Got, Hammering, Heavy, Hinder, Hinder-part, Immovable, Immoveable, Indeed, Itself, Lighting, Met, Move, Moved, Pieces, Point, Pounding, Prow, Ran, Reef, Sand, Sandbar, Seas, Ship, Shoal, Stern, Sticking, Stranded, Striking, Struck, Stuck, Surf, Unmoveable, Unmoved, Vessel, Violence, WavesDictionary of Bible Themes Acts 27:41 4360 sand Acts 27:1-44 5517 seafaring Acts 27:14-44 5590 travel Acts 27:27-44 5569 suffering, hardship Library A Short Confession of Faith
'...There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve.'--ACTS xxvii. 23. I turn especially to those last words, 'Whose I am and whom I serve.' A great calamity, borne by a crowd of men in common, has a wonderful power of dethroning officials and bringing the strong man to the front. So it is extremely natural, though it has been thought to be very unhistorical, that in this story of Paul's shipwreck he should become guide, counsellor, inspirer, and a tower of strength; and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The ActsA Total Wreck, all Hands Saved
'And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 31. Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 32. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. 33. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts Tempest and Trust
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. 14. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 17. Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts Seasons of Covenanting.
The duty is never unsuitable. Men have frequently, improperly esteemed the exercise as one that should be had recourse to, only on some great emergency. But as it is sinful to defer religious exercises till affliction, presenting the prospect of death, constrain to attempt them, so it is wrong to imagine, that the pressure of calamity principally should constrain to make solemn vows. The exercise of personal Covenanting should be practised habitually. The patriot is a patriot still; and the covenanter …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting The Wyclif of the East --Bible Translation
1801-1832 The Bible Carey's missionary weapon--Other vernacular translators--Carey's modest but just description of his labours--His philological key--Type-cutting and type-casting by a Hindoo blacksmith--The first manufacture of paper and steam-engines in the East--Carey takes stock of the translation work at the opening of 1808--In his workshop--A seminary of Bible translators--William Yates, shoemaker, the Coverdale of the Bengali Bible--Wenger--A Bengali Luther wanted--Carey's Bengali Bible--How …
George Smith—The Life of William Carey Of the Practice of Piety in Fasting.
There are divers kinds of fasting--First, A constrained fast, as when men either have not food to eat, as in the famine of Samaria (2 Kings vi. 25;) or, having food, cannot eat it for heaviness or sickness, as it befel them who were in the ship with St. Paul (Acts xxvii. 33.) This is rather famine than fasting. Secondly, A natural fast, which we undertake physically, for the health of our body. Thirdly, A civil fast, which the magistrate enjoins for the better maintenance of the commonwealth. Fourthly, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Spiritual Culture.
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." 1 John 5:11. There is eternal life in Jesus, but for man to come into possession of this life he must comply with the requirements made by the Bible. After getting into possession of this life there are certain duties which man must faithfully perform to retain and develop it. After entering the wide fields of grace development is necessary. "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
Discourse 7 "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: And thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:16-18. 1. It has been the endeavour of Satan, from the beginning of the world, …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions Appendix xv. The Location of Sychar, and the Date of Our Lord's visit to Samaria.
1. The Location of Sychar. Although modern writers are now mostly agreed on this subject, it may be well briefly to put before our readers the facts of the case. Till comparitively lately, the Sychar of St. John iv. was generally as representing the ancient Shechem. The first difficulty here was the name, since Shechem, or even Sichem, could scarcely be identified with Sychar, which is undoubtedly the correct reading. Accordingly, the latter term was represented as one of oppobrium, and derived from …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Conversion.
THE DIFFICULTY OF CONVERSION. CONVERSION to God is not so easy and so smooth a thing, as some would have men believe it is. Why is man's heart compared to fallow ground, God's word to a plough, and his ministers to ploughmen, if the heart indeed has no need of breaking in order to the receiving of the seed of God unto eternal life? Why is the conversion of the the soul compared to the grafting of a tree, if that be done without cutting? CONVERSION THE POWER OF GOD. A broken heart is the handy-work …
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan Perseverance
'Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.' I Pet 1:1. The fifth and last fruit of sanctification, is perseverance in grace. The heavenly inheritance is kept for the saints, and they are kept to the inheritance. I Pet 1:1. The apostle asserts a saint's stability and permanence in grace. The saint's perseverance is much opposed by Papists and Arminians; but it is not the less true because it is opposed. A Christian's main comfort depends upon this doctrine of perseverance. Take …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity First Missionary Journey Scripture
STUDY III FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY Scripture, Acts 13:1-14:26 INTRODUCTION TO THE THREE MISSIONARY JOURNEYS Before taking up the study of the first missionary journey, attention is called to certain points which should be considered in regard to all three of them (Acts 13:1-21:17). We have now arrived at what we might call the watershed of the Acts of the Apostles. Hitherto we have had various scenes, characters, personages to consider. Henceforth Paul, his labors, his disputes, his speeches, occupy …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul Pastoral and Personal
FOURTH GROUP OF EPISTLES FIRST TIMOTHY. TITUS. SECOND TIMOTHY. THE PLACE OF THE EPISTLES +When Written.+--It is generally agreed among scholars that no place can be found for the writing of First Timothy, Titus, and Second Timothy in the period covered by Luke in his narrative in Acts. Agreeing with the tradition of the church, however, the opinion of many eminent scholars is that Paul was released from the first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:16, 30), that he again took up his missionary work, and …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul Second Sunday Before Lent
Text: Second Corinthians 11, 19-33; 12, 1-9. 19 For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves. 20 For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face. 21 I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II Scriptural Christianity
"Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head." Ezek. 33:4. "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." Acts 4:31. 1. The same expression occurs in the second chapter, where we read, "When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all" (the Apostles, with the women, and the mother of Jesus, and his brethren) "with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions That the Christian Miracles are not Recited, or Appealed To, by Early Christian Writers Themselves So Fully or Frequently as Might have Been Expected.
I shall consider this objection, first, as it applies to the letters of the apostles preserved in the New Testament; and secondly, as it applies to the remaining writings of other early Christians. The epistles of the apostles are either hortatory or argumentative. So far as they were occupied in delivering lessons of duty, rules of public order, admonitions against certain prevailing corruptions, against vice, or any particular species of it, or in fortifying and encouraging the constancy of the …
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Wisdom of God
The next attribute is God's wisdom, which is one of the brightest beams of the Godhead. He is wise in heart.' Job 9:9. The heart is the seat of wisdom. Cor in Hebraeo sumitur pro judicio. Pineda. Among the Hebrews, the heart is put for wisdom.' Let men of understanding tell me:' Job 34:44: in the Hebrew, Let men of heart tell me.' God is wise in heart, that is, he is most wise. God only is wise; he solely and wholly possesses all wisdom; therefore he is called, the only wise God.' I Tim 1:17. All …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Doctrine of Angels.
I. THEIR EXISTENCE. 1. THE TEACHING OF JESUS. 2. THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES. II. THEIR NATURE. 1. CREATED BEINGS. 2. SPIRITUAL BEINGS. 3. GREAT POWER AND MIGHT. 4. VARIOUS GRADES. 5. THE NUMBER OF ANGELS. III. THE FALL OF ANGELS. 1. TIME AND CAUSE. 2. THE WORK OF FALLEN ANGELS. 3. THE JUDGMENT OF FALLEN ANGELS. IV. THE WORK OF ANGELS. 1. THEIR HEAVENLY MINISTRY. 2. THEIR EARTHLY MINISTRY. a) In Relation to the Believer. b) In Relation to Christ's Second Coming. THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS. We are not …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible Links Acts 27:41 NIVActs 27:41 NLTActs 27:41 ESVActs 27:41 NASBActs 27:41 KJV
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