1 AND when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band. [ It's determined verse one, that they should go to Italy and they turn Paul over to a centurion named Julius. To get in the boat, there's like 266 people in the boat. Many of those are prisoners and they're on their way to Rome. They go island hopping, verse four, to Cyprus. Then down slowly, verse seven says, they come to this place in verse eight called Fair Havens. This isn't the best time of year to go. ]

2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.

7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;

8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, [ This is probably October. In fact, some people, some scholars have said this is October 5th. They say that because of verse nine. Now, when much time was spent and the sailing was now dangerous because the fast was now already passed, Paul admonished them. There's that little clue right there that they think this is about Yom Kippur and the year they think, it's 58 AD. Dangerous time to sail, especially when you get into November and December and January. Those are like, no, don't sail. No sail zones. ] Paul admonished them,

10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. [ Let's suppose that an apostle says that a particular choice might be dangerous and will lead to hurt and damage. What should we do? We have a choice. On the contrary we have an expert, the master of the ship. What's the danger of believing the so called experts more than a prophet of God? ]

12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, [ There's an inconvenient thing he said, I think we should stay here, though it'll be inconvenient because I perceive with both prophetic insight and some seafaring experience himself that there is going to be hurt and much damage if we choose to go. ] the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.

13 And when the south wind blew softly, [ Oh this is perfect sailing weather, glad we decided to take the experts advice. ] supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, we'd call it a Nor'easter today. Northeastern wind coming down. The kind of wind that sunk the Edmund Fitzgerald on the great lakes.

15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, [ They were loosing control of the ship to the wind. ] we let her drive. [ Now what's driving the ship? It is out of their hands now as they've lost control. They've lost control of the ship. You can moralize all through this. What's the moral of the story so far? They didn't listen to the prophet. They thought everything's going to be fine. They went into a place where you lose some control. Once you get into the ship, you lose some of your control. Don't get into ships that apostles warned you not to get into is one of the things I'm thinking of. ]

16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:

17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; [ They start throwing stuff overboard. ]

19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands [ Most likely they are dropping their anchors to try to slow the ship down so it doesn't violently smash into rocks on the shore. ] the tackling of the ship.

20  And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, [ I suppose that Luke is really trying to paint the picture that all hope was lost here. The light of hope was gone. ] and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, [ Like I told you so - you should have listened to me. I knew what I was saying. ] and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened [ Hebrew "Shema" is translated here as hearkened which means "listened to" and "obeyed". ] unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. [ I think he learned that from Jesus, didn't he? Everything's going wrong. We've made dumb choices. We've got into ships we shouldn't have got into. Followed people we shouldn't have followed. Paul still says, "Be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you but of the ship." The ship's a goner. "For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve." Here's what the angel said, "Fear not, Paul. Thou must be brought before Caesar and lo God hath given thee all them that sail with thee." Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer, says a second time, for I believe God. That's where Paul is drawing his strength. I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me, we are going to be cast upon a certain island somewhere. I saw that too, so here we go. ]

23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. [ If I was right then listen to me now. Be of good cheer, there shall not any loss of life of men, I told you we should not go out, but you would not listen, so listen to me now we will be ok. The people on the boat then kind of think "Oh, okay. I'm going to believe him this time." Paul says "I believe God" theere have been all of these twists and turns and yet I still see the hand of God in all of this. Be of good cheer for I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me. What more can he say then to you he hath said like the hymn says? Is it this way with our patriarchal blessings as well? ]

26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;

28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. [ The depth is getting shallower and shallower, and they know it. ]

29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, [ They would drop an anchor, it'd slow and then it would get to the tension point where it would break the ship. Then they'd cut the anchor, drop another anchor. ] and wished for the day.

30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. [ Or if you jump from the ship you will surely die, your best hope is to stay on-board and everything will be ok. ]

32  Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, [ I assume that they are cutting themselves free of the anchors as the anchors in the strom are causing too much stress on the boat. ] and let her fall off.

33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. [ ]

34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: [ Paul then says, " you've been fasting for a while and are weak, now is the time to get some energy as you are going to need it." There must be a lot of Jews on this ship. "Take some meat for this is for your health." ] for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God [ Then he says, "When he had thus spoken, he took bread and gave thanks to God in presence of them all. When he had broken it, he began to eat. Does this sound familiar? ] in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

36  Then were they all of good cheer, [ It sounds like there was a lot of dissension with those on the ship, to the point that there was no leadership, and then Paul steps up and gives them some hope. ] and they also took some meat.

37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. [ Then were they all of good cheer and they also took some meat." That's when he gives us the number. There's 266 souls. ]

38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.

40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, [ They recognized their plight and then they just yielded to whatever was going to happen as there was really nothing they could do anyway. So they saw a little creek where the shore would most likely have been a little softer from the wash of the creek. And they cut everything loose and go for it, letting nature have all control. ] and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

42  And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, [ The soldiers say, "Let's kill all the prisoners." ] lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

43  But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; [ Then this centurion, Julius, is like, "No. No, no, no." Because he wanted to save one of them, Paul. Willing to save Paul, he kept them from their purpose and commanded that they which could swim, should cast themselves into the sea and get to land and the rest grab onto some boards. They come, all of them, everyone lives, 266 escape safely. They make it to this island. Today we know that island as Malta, or Melita, as it says in our Bible maps. That's just now south of Italy. ] and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:

44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.