Acts 27:24 Study Bible: saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'

◄ Acts 27:24 ►

and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.'

Study Bible

and said
This phrase indicates a direct communication from God through an angelic messenger. In the Greek, "said" is from the verb "eipon," which is often used to denote authoritative speech. This highlights the divine authority and assurance behind the message being delivered to Paul. In the context of Acts, divine messages often guide and reassure believers, emphasizing God's active role in the lives of His followers.

Do not be afraid, Paul
The command "Do not be afraid" is a common biblical exhortation, found throughout Scripture as a reassurance from God to His people. The Greek "phobou" (fear) is negated here, emphasizing the removal of fear through divine intervention. This phrase underscores God's personal care for Paul, addressing him by name, and reflects the broader biblical theme of God’s presence dispelling fear.

You must stand before Caesar
The necessity ("must") in this phrase, from the Greek "dei," indicates divine purpose and inevitability. Paul’s journey to Rome is not merely a legal or political matter but a fulfillment of God’s plan. Standing before Caesar signifies the spread of the Gospel to the heart of the Roman Empire, aligning with the Great Commission to take the message of Christ to all nations.

and behold
The word "behold" (Greek "idou") is an imperative that draws attention to the significance of what follows. It serves as a divine spotlight, emphasizing the miraculous nature of the promise about to be revealed. This word often precedes important revelations or divine actions in Scripture, inviting the reader to pause and consider the gravity of God’s intervention.

God has granted you the lives
The phrase "has granted" (Greek "charizomai") implies a gracious gift from God. It reflects the biblical principle of grace, where God bestows blessings not based on merit but out of His abundant love and mercy. The "lives" granted to Paul signify not only physical preservation but also the potential for spiritual salvation, as Paul’s presence and testimony could lead others to faith.

of all who sail with you
This phrase highlights the communal aspect of God’s deliverance. The Greek "pantes" (all) emphasizes the inclusivity of God’s protection, extending beyond Paul to encompass everyone on the ship. This reflects the biblical theme of God’s concern for all humanity and His desire for all to come to repentance and salvation. It also illustrates the impact of a faithful believer’s presence in a community, where God’s blessings overflow to those around them.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Paul
The apostle and central figure in this passage, who is on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. He is a prisoner but also a leader and source of hope for those on the ship.

2. Angel of God
A divine messenger who appears to Paul, delivering God's promise of safety and assurance of his mission to stand before Caesar.

3. Caesar
The Roman Emperor, representing the highest earthly authority to whom Paul is destined to present his case.

4. Ship's Crew and Passengers
The group of individuals, including sailors, soldiers, and other prisoners, who are with Paul on the ship. Their lives are spared because of God's promise to Paul.

5. The Mediterranean Sea
The body of water where the ship is caught in a storm, symbolizing the trials and uncertainties faced by Paul and his companions.

Teaching Points

Divine Assurance in Trials
God provides assurance and peace even in the midst of life's storms. Just as Paul was assured of his safety and mission, believers can trust in God's promises during difficult times.

Purpose in God's Plan
Every believer has a purpose in God's plan. Paul's journey to Rome was not just about his trial but also about spreading the Gospel. We should seek to understand and fulfill our God-given purpose.

Intercession and Influence
Paul's presence on the ship brought safety to all aboard. Our faith and prayers can have a profound impact on those around us, leading to blessings and protection.

Courage and Faith
The command "Do not be afraid" is a call to courage and faith. In facing our own "storms," we are encouraged to trust in God's sovereignty and promises.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Paul's experience in Acts 27:24 encourage you to trust God in your own life storms?

2. In what ways can you identify your purpose in God's plan, similar to Paul's mission to stand before Caesar?

3. How can you be a source of blessing and protection to those around you, as Paul was to the ship's crew and passengers?

4. Reflect on a time when you received divine assurance or peace during a difficult situation. How did it impact your faith journey?

5. How can the command "Do not be afraid" be applied in your current life circumstances, and what other scriptures support this encouragement?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Acts 23:11
Earlier, the Lord stood by Paul and assured him that he would testify in Rome, reinforcing the divine plan for Paul’s journey.

Psalm 91:11
This verse speaks of God commanding His angels concerning His people, which parallels the angelic visitation to Paul.

2 Timothy 4:17
Paul reflects on how the Lord stood by him and strengthened him, similar to the divine encouragement he receives in Acts 27:24.

Sermons

Christian Pilotage	J. Parker, D. D.	Acts 27:24
Social Influences	G. D. Hill, M. A.	Acts 27:24
The Church the World's Hope	C. H. Spurgeon.	Acts 27:24
The Voyage of Life	W. Clarkson	Acts 27:1-44
The Voyage to Italy: an Allegory of the Christian's Course	E. Johnson	Acts 27:1-44
In the Storm	Christian World	Acts 27:14-26
Paul and Jonah	K. Gerok.	Acts 27:14-26
Paul in the Storm	Christian Age	Acts 27:14-26
Paul in the Storm	K. Gerok.	Acts 27:14-26
Paul Tested in the Storm	K. Gerok.	Acts 27:14-26
Rising Above the Storm	Scientific Illustrations., S. S. Times	Acts 27:14-26
The Calmness of Faith		Acts 27:14-26
The Storm and the Deliverance	D. O. Mears.	Acts 27:14-26
Waiting and Trusting	H. C. Trumbull, D. D.	Acts 27:14-26
The Bad Man's Extremity, God Add the Good Man's Opportunity	P.C. Barker	Acts 27:20-25
Ancient Navigation	S. S. Times	Acts 27:20-26
God's Dealing with Man in His Extremity	D. Thomas, D. D.	Acts 27:20-26
Paul in the Storm and His Celestial Visitant	J. M. Ludlow, D. D.	Acts 27:20-26
Paul's Voyage to Rome Considered in Connection with His Faith	R. Burls.	Acts 27:20-26
Religion in a Storm	W. H. Burton.	Acts 27:20-26
Spiritual Darkness	F. B. Meyer, B. A.	Acts 27:20-26
Wrecked, But not Reckless	C. H. Spurgeon.	Acts 27:20-26
Good Cheer from a Good Man	R. Tuck	Acts 27:21-26
The Example of Paul in the Storm	E. Johnson	Acts 27:21-30
Divine Ownership and Human Service	W. Clarkson	Acts 27:23-25
The Divine and the Human Will	W. Clarkson	Acts 27:24, 31

People

Aristarchus, Augustus, Julius, Paul

Places

Adramyttium, Adriatic Sea, Alexandria, Asia, Cauda, Cilicia, Cnidus, Crete, Cyprus, Fair Havens, Italy, Lasea, Lycia, Malta, Myra, Pamphylia, Phoenix, Salmone, Sidon, Syrtis, Thessalonica

Topics

Afraid, Behold, Behoveth, Caesar, Cesar, Dismiss, Fear, Graciously, Granted, Paul, Sail, Sailing, Saying, Stand, Trial

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Acts 27:24

Acts 27:1-44

Acts 27:7-26

Acts 27:14-44

Acts 27:21-25

5714 men
6696 necessity

Acts 27:21-26

6705 peace, experience

Acts 27:22-24

1403 God, revelation
9130 future, the

Acts 27:22-25

8215 confidence, results

Acts 27:23-24

     4111   angels, servants
     5593   trial
     9412   heaven, worship and service

Acts 27:23-25

4140 angel of the Lord
8025 faith, origins of

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 Acts

A 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

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