Atos 27:42-44

The soldiers would have had to pay with their lives if their prisoners escaped (cf. Acts 12:19; Acts 16:27). The centurion was willing to take responsibility for the prisoners’ safety to spare Paul’s life. This unusual concern for the apostle raises the unanswerable question of whether this man may have become a Christian on this trip. God kept His promise to keep Paul and his fellow travelers safe (cf. Acts 27:24).

A British yachtsman and scholar who was familiar with the parts of the Mediterranean Sea that Paul covered on this journey retraced Paul’s route in the first part of the nineteenth century. His book relates his experiences and findings. It is fascinating reading and confirms the accuracy of Luke’s references in this chapter. [Note: James Smith, The Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul.]

This unusually dramatic and vivid chapter stresses God’s sovereign control over circumstances to bring His will to pass, specifically that Paul should minister in Rome. It reminds us of Jesus’ ability to control the winds and the waves of Galilee to accomplish His will and to communicate His identity. He had sent His disciples into a storm (Luke 8:22-25) just as He had sent Paul. Jesus had predicted that He would build His church and that Hades’ gates would not overwhelm it (Matthew 16:18). This chapter shows to what lengths God will go to remain faithful to His promises.