Hechos 27

1 MAS como fué determinado que habíamos de navegar para Italia, entregaron á Pablo y algunos otros presos á un centurión, llamado Julio, de la compañía Augusta.

2 Así que, embarcándonos en una nave Adrumentina, partimos, estando con nosotros Aristarco, Macedonio de Tesalónica, para navegar junto á los lugares de Asia.

3 Y otro día llegamos á Sidón; y Julio, tratando á Pablo con humanidad, permitióle que fuese á los amigos, para ser de ellos asistido.

4 Y haciéndonos á la vela desde allí, navegamos bajo de Cipro, porque los vientos eran contrarios.

5 Y habiendo pasado la mar de Cilicia y Pamphylia, arribamos á Mira, ciudad de Licia.

6 Y hallando allí el centurión una nave Alejandrina que navegaba á Italia, nos puso en ella.

7 Y navegando muchos días despacio, y habiendo apenas llegado delante de Gnido, no dejándonos el viento, navegamos bajo de Creta, junto á Salmón.

8 Y costeándola difícilmente, llegamos á un lugar que llaman Buenos Puertos, cerca del cual estaba la ciudad de Lasea.

9 Y pasado mucho tiempo, y siendo ya peligrosa la navegación, porque ya era pasado el ayuno, Pablo amonestaba,

10 Diciéndoles: Varones, veo que con trabajo y mucho daño, no sólo de la cargazón y de la nave, mas aun de nuestras personas, habrá de ser la navegación.

11 Mas el centurión creía más al piloto y al patrón de la nave, que á lo que Pablo decía.

12 Y no habiendo puerto cómodo para invernar, muchos acordaron pasar aún de allí, por si pudiesen arribar á Fenice é invernar allí, que es un puerto de Creta que mira al Nordeste y Sudeste.

13 Y soplando el austro, pareciéndoles que ya tenían lo que deseaban, alzando velas, iban cerca de la costa de Creta.

14 Mas no mucho después dió en ella un viento repentino, que se llama Euroclidón.

15 Y siendo arrebatada la nave, y no pudiendo resistir contra el viento, la dejamos, y erámos llevados.

16 Y habiendo corrido á sotavento de una pequeña isla que se llama Clauda, apenas pudimos ganar el esquife:

17 El cual tomado, usaban de remedios, ciñendo la nave; y teniendo temor de que diesen en la Sirte, abajadas las velas, eran así llevados.

18 Mas siendo atormentados de una vehemente tempestad, al siguiente día alijaron;

19 Y al tercer día nosotros con nuestras manos arrojamos los aparejos de la nave.

20 Y no pareciendo sol ni estrellas por muchos días, y viniendo una tempestad no pequeña, ya era perdida toda la esperanza de nuestra salud.

21 Entonces Pablo, habiendo ya mucho que no comíamos, puesto en pie en medio de ellos, dijo: Fuera de cierto conveniente, oh varones, haberme oído, y no partir de Creta, y evitar este inconveniente y daño.

22 Mas ahora os amonesto que tengáis buen ánimo; porque ninguna pérdida habrá de persona de vosotros, sino solamente de la nave.

23 Porque esta noche ha estado conmigo el ángel del Dios del cual yo soy, y al cual sirvo,

24 Diciendo: Pablo, no temas; es menester que seas presentado delante de César; y he aquí, Dios te ha dado todos los que navegan contigo.

25 Por tanto, oh varones, tened buen ánimo; porque yo confío en Dios que será así como me ha dicho;

26 Si bien es menester que demos en una isla.

27 Y venida la décimacuarta noche, y siendo llevados por el mar Adriático, los marineros á la media noche sospecharon que estaban cerca de alguna tierra;

28 Y echando la sonda, hallaron veinte brazas, y pasando un poco más adelante, volviendo á echar la sonda, hallaron quince brazas.

29 Y habiendo temor de dar en lugares escabrosos, echando cuatro anclas de la popa, deseaban que se hiciese de día.

30 Entonces procurando los marineros huir de la nave, echado que hubieron el esquife á la mar, aparentando como que querían largar las anclas de proa,

31 Pablo dijo al centurión y á los soldados: Si éstos no quedan en la nave, vosotros no podéis salvaros.

32 Entonces los soldados cortaron los cabos del esquife, y dejáronlo perder.

33 Y como comenzó á ser de día, Pablo exhortaba á todos que comiesen, diciendo: Este es el décimocuarto día que esperáis y permanecéis ayunos, no comiendo nada.

34 Por tanto, os ruego que comáis por vuestra salud: que ni aun un cabello de la cabeza de ninguno de vosotros perecerá.

35 Y habiendo dicho esto, tomando el pan, hizo gracias á Dios en presencia de todos, y partiendo, comenzó á comer.

36 Entonces todos teniendo ya mejor ánimo, comieron ellos también.

37 Y éramos todas las personas en la nave doscientas setenta y seis.

38 Y satisfechos de comida, aliviaban la nave, echando el grano á la mar.

39 Y como se hizo de día, no conocían la tierra; mas veían un golfo que tenía orilla, al cual acordaron echar, si pudiesen, la nave.

40 Cortando pues las anclas, las dejaron en la mar, largando también las ataduras de los gobernalles; y alzada la vela mayor al viento, íbanse á la orilla.

41 Mas dando en un lugar de dos aguas, hicieron encallar la nave; y la proa, hincada, estaba sin moverse, y la popa se abría con la fuerza de la mar.

42 Entonces el acuerdo de los soldados era que matasen los presos, porque ninguno se fugase nadando.

43 Mas el centurión, queriendo salvar á Pablo, estorbó este acuerdo, y mandó que los que pudiesen nadar, se echasen los primeros, y saliesen á tierra;

44 Y los demás, parte en tablas, parte en cosas de la nave. Y así aconteció que todos se salvaron saliendo á tierra.

Hechos 27 Commentary

Chapter 27

Paul's voyage towards Rome. (1-11) Paul and his companions endangered by a tempest. (12-20) He receives a Divine assurance of safety. (21-29) Paul encourages those with him. (30-38) They are shipwrecked. (39-44)

Verses 1-11 It was determined by the counsel of God, before it was determined by the counsel of Festus, that Paul should go to Rome; for God had work for him to do there. The course they steered, and the places they touched at, are here set down. And God here encourages those who suffer for him, to trust in him; for he can put it into the hearts of those to befriend them, from whom they least expect it. Sailors must make the best of the wind: and so must we all in our passage over the ocean of this world. When the winds are contrary, yet we must be getting forward as well as we can. Many who are not driven backward by cross providences, do not get forward by favourable providences. And many real Christians complain as to the concerns of their souls, that they have much ado to keep their ground. Every fair haven is not a safe haven. Many show respect to good ministers, who will not take their advice. But the event will convince sinners of the vanity of their hopes, and the folly of their conduct.

Verses 12-20 Those who launch forth on the ocean of this world, with a fair gale, know not what storms they may meet with; and therefore must not easily take it for granted that they have obtained their purpose. Let us never expect to be quite safe till we enter heaven. They saw neither sun nor stars for many days. Thus melancholy sometimes is the condition of the people of God as to their spiritual matters; they walk in darkness, and have no light. See what the wealth of this world is: though coveted as a blessing, the time may come when it will be a burden; not only too heavy to be carried safely, but heavy enough to sink him that has it. The children of this world can be prodigal of their goods for the saving their lives, yet are sparing of them in works of piety and charity, and in suffering for Christ. Any man will rather make shipwreck of his goods than of his life; but many rather make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience, than of their goods. The means the sailors used did not succeed; but when sinners give up all hope of saving themselves, they are prepared to understand God's word, and to trust in his mercy through Jesus Christ.

Verses 21-29 They did not hearken to the apostle when he warned them of their danger; yet if they acknowledge their folly, and repent of it, he will speak comfort and relief to them when in danger. Most people bring themselves into trouble, because they do not know when they are well off; they come to harm and loss by aiming to mend their condition, often against advice. Observe the solemn profession Paul made of relation to God. No storms or tempests can hinder God's favour to his people, for he is a Help always at hand. It is a comfort to the faithful servants of God when in difficulties, that as long as the Lord has any work for them to do, their lives shall be prolonged. If Paul had thrust himself needlessly into bad company, he might justly have been cast away with them; but God calling him into it, they are preserved with him. They are given thee; there is no greater satisfaction to a good man than to know he is a public blessing. He comforts them with the same comforts wherewith he himself was comforted. God is ever faithful, therefore let all who have an interest in his promises be ever cheerful. As, with God, saying and doing are not two things, believing and enjoying should not be so with us. Hope is an anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast, entering into that within the veil. Let those who are in spiritual darkness hold fast by that, and think not of putting to sea again, but abide by Christ, and wait till the day break, and the shadows flee away.

Verses 30-38 God, who appointed the end, that they should be saved, appointed the means, that they should be saved by the help of these shipmen. Duty is ours, events are God's; we do not trust God, but tempt him, when we say we put ourselves under his protection, if we do not use proper means, such as are within our power, for our safety. But how selfish are men in general, often even ready to seek their own safety by the destruction of others! Happy those who have such a one as Paul in their company, who not only had intercourse with Heaven, but was of an enlivening spirit to those about him. The sorrow of the world works death, while joy in God is life and peace in the greatest distresses and dangers. The comfort of God's promises can only be ours by believing dependence on him, to fulfil his word to us; and the salvation he reveals must be waited for in use of the means he appoints. If God has chosen us to salvation, he has also appointed that we shall obtain it by repentance, faith, prayer, and persevering obedience; it is fatal presumption to expect it in any other way. It is an encouragement to people to commit themselves to Christ as their Saviour, when those who invite them, clearly show that they do so themselves.

Verses 39-44 The ship that had weathered the storm in the open sea, where it had room, is dashed to pieces when it sticks fast. Thus, if the heart fixes in the world in affection, and cleaving to it, it is lost. Satan's temptations beat against it, and it is gone; but as long as it keeps above the world, though tossed with cares and tumults, there is hope for it. They had the shore in view, yet suffered shipwreck in the harbour; thus we are taught never to be secure. Though there is great difficulty in the way of the promised salvation, it shall, without fail, be brought to pass. It will come to pass that whatever the trials and dangers may be, in due time all believers will get safely to heaven. Lord Jesus, thou hast assured us that none of thine shall perish. Thou wilt bring them all safe to the heavenly shore. And what a pleasing landing will that be! Thou wilt present them to thy Father, and give thy Holy Spirit full possession of them for ever.