This chapter shows, among other things, how the Apostle Paul walked in close fellowship with the Lord. The Lord communicated His mind to His servant, and as a result, all 276 people on board the ship escaped safe to land. Had they followed Paul’s admonition from the first, they would have been spared much loss, but the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship more than Paul. To begin with, a south wind blew softly and they thought that sailing was safe. But not long after a strong northeast wind blew and the heavens became dark. These mariners were guided by the stars at night, but when neither sun nor stars appeared and the storm continued, all hope that they should be saved was taken away. Do you think anything is too hard for the Lord? No! At this very time an angel of God stood by Paul and told him, “Fear not.” What a comfort it must have been to his heart! He told them to be of good cheer and to eat for their health. Before he began to eat, in the presence of them all, he gave thanks to God. It was a testimony to all those men. Proverbs 3:66In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:6) says, “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
When the ship broke apart, the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners lest they should swim out and escape. However Julius, the centurion, was courteous to Paul and wanted to spare his life, so he kept the soldiers from their purpose. Because the Lord wanted His servant to be brought before Cæsar, all on board were safe. Today, the world is a safer place because Christians are still here.
1. When given advice from Paul about their voyage, who did the centurion believe more than Paul? __________ Acts 27:___
2. When the storm raged on and they hadn’t seen the sun or stars for many days, what was taken away from the sailors? __________ Acts 27:___
3. What two words did the angel of God say to Paul to comfort him? __________ Acts 27:___
4. Before Paul began to eat, what did he do in the presence of them all? __________ Acts 27:___
5. The centurion prevented the soldiers from killing the prisoners because he wanted to save whom? __________ Acts 27:___