Tempest Tossed but Not Lost

Acts 27:13-44

In the Tempest

13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. 15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. 17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. 18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 On the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands. 20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.

21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 However, we must run aground on a certain island."

27 Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land. 28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved." 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.

33 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you." 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. 36 Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. 37 And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship. 38 So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.

Shipwrecked on Malta

39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. 40 And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. 41 But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.

42 And the soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.

A strong northeastern blew up across the Mediterranean while Paul sailed towards Rome on the hired vessel as they almost ran aground on the Syrtis Sands, those deadly shallow shoals extending out from the Libyan coast that cost many a deep drafting grain ship the lives of her crew.  They tied ropes (possibly chains) under the hull of the ship to keep it from breaking apart if they skirted the sand bars beneath them as they passed uncontrollably in the storm.  They were able to deploy sails and escaped there but then had to throw everything they could to keep the ship higher in the water and out of the crashing waves to survive and reach port.  When they had run out of food and all looked dismal, Paul addressed the captain and crew.  He told them that they had been warned by God through him not to take this journey and this risk to their lives was the result of that disbelief.  He assured them, however, that this God he served had sent a divine messenger to assure them that not one life would be lost if they listened to him with the instructions he had been given.  The purpose was the same; God purposed to bring Paul to Rome to stand before Caesar with the words of life and those on the ship were also granted safe passage along with him as fellow recipients of grace.  Paul then told them they would run aground first before arriving at their destination.  As the ship was heading to crash and some wanted to escape he told them they had to stick together to survive and so they did against all odds.  All two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship made it to shore when they were broken up in the battering waves in the rocks.  They let the prisoners live and all made it safely to shore and out of the danger of the storm.  This is a parallel to how God saves us from spiritual destruction in the storms of life, both those called out already in Christ and those who are protected alongside them until they have an opportunity to see God work and trust in His work in Christ which is the gospel of deliverance from the destruction we all are sailing towards through the tumultuous storms of sin and its consequences.  The grace of God in Christ alone can promise deliverance from the tempest so that we are not lost but delivered safely to the heavenly shore to live with Him forevermore.  We then may be tempest tossed but not lost if we are found delivered safely in Christ by His promises (2 Peter 3:13).  He alone can calm the seas (Mark 4:39-41) and bring us safely home.  Yes, we can be assured that though we be Tempest Tossed we are not Lost in the destruction we are bound for as we set sail from birth if we are secure in Christ.