Acts 27 Footnotes

27:1 This is the fourth “we” section, which extends through v. 29. It is entirely possible that the author of the “we” passages was in some way linked to the journey. On the boat with the centurion were a number besides Paul and the other prisoners, including Aristarchus (v. 2).

27:2 The vessel was from Adramyttium, located in western Asia near the island of Lesbos and the cities of Mitylene, Assos, and Troas. It was probably a small grain ship, which would have stayed relatively near the coast, here working its way from Caesarea until it reached Adramyttium.

27:3 Though Acts does not tell us when Sidon was evangelized—perhaps through Pentecost (2:9) or as the result of persecution (11:19), Christians were there. We have no record of Paul visiting the spot, but he appears to have had friends in Sidon who provided for him. He possibly made those friends during an unrecorded visit as he traveled between Jerusalem and Antioch.

27:6 At Myra, on the southern coast of Asia Minor, the centurion put the men on a ship from Alexandria that was going to Rome; he did this as opposed to putting them on a ship bound for Adramyttium, which would have taken them out of their way. The Alexandrian ship would have been part of the grain supply trade from Egypt to Rome. Rome was heavily dependent on Egypt for its grain, so the fleet of ships conscripted for such service was well organized and important. The route from Alexandria to Rome went by way of Myra due to the winds.

27:7-9 The ship was having difficulty along its voyage because the journey was undertaken at the end of the sailing season, and the winds were unpredictable. The sailing season was deemed to be dangerous from mid-September to mid-November, and the waterways closed for travel from then until February, a period of about three months (28:11). It appears Paul’s journey was taking place in roughly mid-October. Fair Havens, despite the name, was not a suitable place to stay the winter since the harbor was exposed to the open sea (27:12).

27:11 The centurion chose to pay more attention to the captain of the ship, who was determined to make his destination during the sailing season, than to Paul’s warning. He did not realize that Paul had divinely-given insight into the situation, nor did he understand that Paul, also an experienced traveler, was well acquainted with the potential dangers.

27:12 Luke mentioned Phoenix, a port on the island of Crete; it had two inlets to its port, one on the southwest and another on the northwest.

27:17-19 Caught in the wind, the sailors virtually lost control of the vessel. In efforts to save the ship and themselves, they took preventive measures, which are well known from other ancient sources. They tied ropes around the ship’s hull so that it did not come apart, lowered an anchor, and jettisoned some cargo (probably not the grain).

27:22-26 An angel gave Paul insight into their situation. He made clear that Paul had a greater destiny than death by shipwreck. The divine plan would not be thwarted.

27:27 The Adriatic Sea mentioned here was not the (now called) Adriatic Sea between Italy and the former Yugoslavia. Rather, the sea apparently lay between Crete, Malta, Italy, and Greece; it extended into the Mediterranean.

27:28-29 The soldiers took soundings by letting down lengths of rope with weights on them; they determined they were approaching land at a fast pace, even though they could not see it. In an effort to slow the ship, they took the unusual measure of lowering four anchors from the stern, rather than dropping anchors from the bow, which would have swung the ship around.

27:30-32 The danger prompted some sailors to plan an escape. Paul’s wisdom in not permitting them to abandon ship is seen in the next episode, when all hands were needed. The soldiers probably acted unwisely in cutting the ropes to the skiff in an attempt to thwart any further escape plans, as this eliminated a useful means of escape when it proved necessary.

27:35 Following Jewish custom, Paul gave thanks to God for the food they ate. It is unlikely that Paul’s thanksgiving and breaking of bread is a celebration of the Lord’s Supper, given the pagan context. Paul was simply encouraging all to eat in preparation for the rigors of abandoning ship.

27:38 At this point, the crew threw out the grain, which had served as ballast for the ship. The move allowed the vessel to run aground (v. 39).

27:41 The attempt to beach the ship was thwarted when it hit a sandbar before they had reached shore, rendering the bow immovable. The pounding waves began to break up the stern, requiring them to abandon the ship.

27:42 The soldiers’ intent to kill the prisoners was probably motivated by their personal responsibility for them If any of the prisoners got away during the chaos, the soldiers could be punished in their stead.

27:44 Everyone miraculously got to shore, some by swimming and others by holding on to pieces of debris from the ship.