College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 27:28-44
LANDING ON MELITA. Acts 27:28-44.
and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms.
And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.
And as the sailors were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under color as though they would lay out anchors from the foreship,
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.
Wherefore I beseech you to take some food: for this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you.
And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he brake it, and began to eat.
Then were they all of good cheer, and themselves also took food.
And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it.
And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.
But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.
And the soldiers-' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should out, and escape.
But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stayed them from their purpose; and commanded that they who could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first to the land;
and the rest, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to the land.
Acts 27:28-29 It was on the fourteenth night that a different sound was heard above the wind and rain. The sailors immediately recognized it as the roar of the breakers on the beach. Sounding was taken in a short time and the depth found to be twenty fathoms (120 feet). Another sounding was taken and it was measured as fifteen fathoms (90 feet). The land was approaching rapidly. Lest they be thrown on the rocks they let go four anchors from the stern of the boat. They did not know where they were or what would become of them and the attitude of the heart is well expressed in the little phrase that follows the account of the lowering of the anchors:
And they wished (or prayed) for day.
Acts 27:30-32 Paul was on deck before daybreak and watched with a sharp and experienced eye the activities of all hands. The sailors can hardly be blamed for their actions considering their background and the circumstances. It was a matter of every man for himself, with them. And they would have indeed escaped and left the ship unmanned had it not been for the vigilance of the apostle. The sham of appearing to set out anchors from the bow of the ship was transparent to Paulhe who had been a night and a day in the deep. Turning to the centurion and the soldiers who also stood by watching the proceedings, gesturing to the sailors as they lowered the boat he cried:
Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved.
All hands were going to be needed to care for the coming emergency and if the sailors left the others would suffer.
And so we can also learn the lesson from this circumstancethat although Paul knew the Lord had promised the safety of all, he was expected to do his part in the carrying out of God's plan.
The soldiers immediately sprang to thwart the purpose of the sailors. The small boat had already been lowered and was even then bobbing in the sea. A soldier drew his short sword and leaning over the side of the ship severed the rope and let the small boat adrift.
993.
Why throw out the anchors?
994.
How could the words of Paul be true regarding the loss of all unless the sailor stayed aboard?
995.
What lesson can we learn from this circumstance respecting the Lord's will?
Acts 27:33-36 And then the cold grey light of dawn began to streak the sky and when it was light enough to be seen Paul for the second time assembled the men around him on the deck of the ship and spoke to them on this wise:
Come now, let us take some food. It has been two weeksfourteen days since you ate at all. Food is for your safety. You will need strength for what is ahead of usbut I assure you that not a hair of your head shall perish. Come, let us eat.
And so saying, Paul took a loaf of bread in his hands and broke it. He then did a very wonderful thing. There on the deck of the doomed ship, amid more than two hundred heathen persons, he bowed his head and raised his voice in thanksgiving to the Father above.
What a testimony this action was and how we need to let our light shine in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Seeing the brave, confident example of the apostle, the others took heart and began to eat.
996.
What encouragement and testimony did Paul give at this point?
Acts 27:37-41 Luke here reminds us again that he was aboard, for he counts himself among these 276 souls on board.
When they had eaten enough they began to do what they could for the waterlogged vessel. It was evidently now all but swamped with water. Overboard went more of the wheat.
When the day had advanced far enough to see through the storm to land they perceived a certain land they knew not what nor where, but there was also a beach. Immediately there was talk as to whether they could bring the ship up on the beach in safety. They might better their lot by trying. Surely they could not long stay where they were. The anchor chains or ropes were unfastened, the iron bands that had held the great rudder loosed; this must be used and that skillfully if any kind of safe landing were to be made. A small sail was hoisted in the fore of the ship and the great unwieldly vessel began to move. Now, what they did not see was a small island out from the shore of Maltait would have been impossible for them to distinguish it from the mainland. But upon approaching the shore they could see the small isle of Salmonetta and the channel between it and the larger island. It was here that they encountered the two seas and alas a shallow channel!
According to those who have investigated the sea bed at this place, a very heavy, sticky clay is to be found here. Into this clay the bow of the ship was run with the greatest force. It stuck fast. But even as it did the heavy waves of the coast began to tear at the stern of the vessel. All could see that it would be no time until the whole ship would come to pieces. Then it was that almost all began to think of themselves and what would happen to them under such conditions. With characteristic Roman cruelty the soldiers suggested that the prisoners be killed since such an open means of escape was before them and the soldiers would be held responsible for their lives. But then was fulfilled, indeed, the words that for Paul's sake these would be saved.
997.
How many on board the ship?
998.
What did they do to improve the condition of the ship?
999.
Why try to sail into the land?
1000.
What did they fail to see in the land before them?
1001.
What caused them to go aground?
1002.
Why suggest to kill the prisoners?
1003.
How were all saved for Paul's sake?
Acts 27:42-44 The centurion, desiring to save Paul. and well he might for all that he had said and done, counseled that no one be harmed but that as many as could swim go overboard immediately and make for the shore; that those that could not were to look for a spar or plank or something from the ship that would float and with that aid reach safety. This was carried out posthaste and so all 276 persons came dripping up on the beach of Malta on that cold November morning.
1004.
What month was it that this happened?