27:1 And 1 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.
(1) Paul, with many other prisoners and through the midst of
many deaths, is brought to Rome, but yet by God's own hand
as it were, and set forth and commended to the world with
many singular testimonies.
27:7 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 a Salmone;
(a) Which was a high hill of Crete.
27:92 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now
dangerous, because the b fast was now already past, Paul
admonished [them],
(2) God's providence does not take away the causes which God
uses as means, but rather orders and disposes their right
use, even when he reveals an extraordinary issue.
(b) This refers to the Jews fast which they kept in the
feast of expiation, as we read in (Le 23:17),
which fell in the seventh month which we call October,
and is not good for navigating or sailing.
27:113 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the
owner of the ship, more than those things which were
spoken by Paul.
(3) Men cast themselves willingly into an infinite amount of
dangers, when they choose to follow their own wisdom,
rather than God, when he speaks by the mouth of his
servants.
27:14 But not long after there arose against c it a
tempestuous wind, called d Euroclydon.
(c) By Crete, from whose shore our ship was driven by that
means.
(d) Northeast wind.
27:184 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the
next [day] they lightened the ship;
(4) The result proves that none provide worse for themselves
than those who commit themselves to be governed only by
their own wisdom.
27:215 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the
midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened
unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have
gained this harm and loss.
(5) God spares the wicked for a time, for the sake of his elect
and chosen.
27:256 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God,
that it shall be even as it was told me.
(6) The promise is made effectual through faith.
27:277 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were
driven up and down in e Adria, about midnight the
shipmen deemed f that they drew near to some country;
(7) We attain and come to the promised and sure salvation
through the midst of tempests and death itself.
(e) For Ptolemy writes that the Adriatic Sea beats upon the
east shore of Cecilia.
(f) Or, some country drew near to them.
27:308 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,
(8) No matter how foul the act, distrust and an evil conscience
can always compel men to commit it.
27:319 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except
these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
(9) Although the performing of God's promises does not depend
upon secondary causes, yet they make themselves unworthy of
God's bountifulness who do not embrace those means which
God offers them, either upon rashness or distrust.
27:3310 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.
(10) When the world trembles, the faithful alone are not
only at peace, but strengthen and encourage others by
their example.
27:34 Wherefore I pray you to take [some] meat: for this is for
your health: for there shall not an g hair fall from the
head of any of you.
(g) This is a proverb which the Hebrews use, by which is
meant that they will be safe, and that not one of them
will perish.
27:3911 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they
discovered a certain h creek with a shore, into the
which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in
the ship.
(11) Then are tempests most of all to be feared and looked for,
when the port or haven is nearest.
(h) A creek is a sea within land, as the Adriatic Sea, and
the Persian Sea.
27:41 And falling into a place where i 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.
(i) So is an isthmus called, because the Sea touches it on
both sides.
27:4212 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners,
lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
(12) There is nowhere more unfaithfulness and unthankfulness in
unbelievers.
27:4313 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them
from [their] purpose; and commanded that they which could
swim should cast [themselves] first [into the sea], and
get to land:
(13) God finds even amongst his enemies those whose help he
uses to preserve his own.
27:4414 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.
