Acts 27:6
There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.
There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board
There the centurion
The term "centurion" refers to a Roman officer in charge of approximately one hundred soldiers. This highlights the Roman military presence and authority during the time of the early church. The centurion in this context is likely Julius, mentioned earlier in Acts 27:1, who is responsible for transporting Paul, a prisoner, to Rome. The role of the centurion is significant as it demonstrates the intersection of divine providence and human authority, where God uses even Roman officials to fulfill His purposes.

found an Alexandrian ship
Alexandria was a major city in Egypt, known for its significant port and as a center of commerce and learning. Ships from Alexandria were often large grain ships, as Egypt was a major supplier of grain to Rome. The mention of an "Alexandrian ship" indicates the vessel's origin and its likely cargo, emphasizing the economic and logistical connections within the Roman Empire. This detail underscores the historical accuracy of the account and the interconnectedness of the ancient world.

sailing for Italy
Italy, specifically Rome, was the heart of the Roman Empire, representing power, authority, and the center of the known world at the time. Paul's journey to Italy is not just a physical voyage but a fulfillment of God's plan for him to testify in Rome, as previously revealed in Acts 23:11. The phrase "sailing for Italy" signifies the divine direction and purpose in Paul's mission, as he is being led to the epicenter of political and cultural influence to spread the Gospel.

and put us on board
The phrase "put us on board" indicates the centurion's authority and decision-making in the journey. The use of "us" suggests the presence of companions with Paul, likely including Luke, the author of Acts, and possibly Aristarchus, as mentioned in Acts 27:2. This communal aspect of the journey highlights the fellowship and support among believers, even in challenging circumstances. It also reflects the theme of divine guidance and protection, as God orchestrates the details of their travel to ensure the fulfillment of His purposes.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Centurion
A Roman officer in charge of a hundred soldiers. In this context, the centurion is responsible for transporting Paul and other prisoners to Rome.

2. Alexandrian Ship
A large grain ship from Alexandria, Egypt, which was a major center of commerce and trade. These ships were known for their size and sturdiness, often used for transporting grain to Rome.

3. Italy
The destination of the voyage, specifically Rome, where Paul was to stand trial before Caesar.

4. Paul
The apostle who is being transported as a prisoner to Rome. His journey is part of his mission to spread the Gospel, even in the face of adversity.

5. Luke and Aristarchus
Companions of Paul on this journey, as indicated by the use of "us" in the text, suggesting Luke's presence as the author of Acts.
Teaching Points
Divine Providence in Adversity
God's plans often unfold through unexpected and challenging circumstances. The centurion's decision to board the Alexandrian ship was part of God's providential plan to bring Paul to Rome.

Faithful Companionship
The presence of Luke and Aristarchus with Paul underscores the importance of having faithful companions in our spiritual journey. We are encouraged to support and uplift one another in times of trial.

Trust in God's Promises
Despite the uncertainty of the voyage, Paul trusted in God's promise that he would reach Rome. Believers are called to trust in God's promises, even when the path seems uncertain.

Courage in Witnessing
Paul's journey to Rome, despite being a prisoner, exemplifies courage in witnessing for Christ. We are encouraged to boldly share our faith, regardless of our circumstances.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the role of the centurion in Acts 27:6 illustrate the intersection of human authority and divine providence?

2. In what ways can the presence of Luke and Aristarchus on the journey encourage us to seek and provide companionship in our own spiritual journeys?

3. Reflect on a time when you faced uncertainty. How can Paul's trust in God's promise to reach Rome inspire you to trust God in your own life?

4. How does Paul's journey to Rome, despite being a prisoner, challenge us to be courageous in sharing our faith today?

5. Consider the significance of the Alexandrian ship in the context of trade and commerce. How can we use our everyday environments and occupations as platforms for witnessing to others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Acts 23:11
This verse connects to Acts 27:6 as it records the Lord's promise to Paul that he would testify in Rome, providing divine assurance of his journey's purpose.

2 Corinthians 11:25-26
Paul recounts his experiences of shipwrecks and dangers at sea, which relate to the perilous journey described in Acts 27.

Romans 1:15
Paul expresses his eagerness to preach the Gospel in Rome, highlighting his commitment to his mission despite the circumstances.
Christ's Bark on the Stormy Ocean of This WorldK. Gerok.Acts 27:1-20
Effect of Courteous TreatmentActs 27:1-20
JuliusDean Howson.Acts 27:1-20
Man's CounsellorsD. Thomas, D. D.Acts 27:1-20
Paul's ShipwreckThe EvangelistActs 27:1-20
Paul's VoyageS. S. TimesActs 27:1-20
Paul's VoyageH. M. Grant, D. D.Acts 27:1-20
Paul's VoyageJ. Parker, D. D.Acts 27:1-20
Paul's VoyageJ. Ossian Davies.Acts 27:1-20
Practical Lessons from Paul's VoyageD. Curry, D. D.Acts 27:1-20
St. Paul's VoyageE. T. Prust.Acts 27:1-20
The Stormy Voyage of LifeK. Gerok.Acts 27:1-20
The Voices of God's ProvidenceActs 27:1-20
The Voyage and ShipwreckDean Vaughan.Acts 27:1-20
The Voyage of LifeA. F. Shauffler.Acts 27:1-20
The Voyage of LifeD. Thomas, D. D.Acts 27:1-20
The Voyage of LifeLisco.Acts 27:1-20
The Voyage of LifeW. Clarkson Acts 27:1-44
The Voyage to Italy: an Allegory of the Christian's CourseE. Johnson Acts 27:1-44
Endeavor and AttainmentW. Clarkson Acts 27:4, 8
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
Aboard, Across, Alexandria, Alexandrian, Board, Bound, Captain, Centurion, Italy, Julius, Sailing, Ship, Therein
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 27:6

     5250   centurion

Acts 27:1-44

     5517   seafaring

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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