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Acts 27:9–12
“Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, ‘Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives’” (vv. 9–10).
The initial phase of Paul’s journey from Caesarea to Rome featured very few problems. A centurion named Julius was put in charge of the Apostle, and there would have been other prisoners on their way to Rome also in the traveling cohort, since the Romans would transport more than one prisoner at a time. Paul and the others traveled by boat from Caesarea north and then west, making their way along the coasts, and then sailed to the south of Crete, stopping at Fair Havens. Along the way, Julius granted Paul the freedom to visit with friends (Acts 27:1–8). The Apostle apparently gained the confidence of Julius, as will be seen as we make our way through the rest of Acts 27.
While in Fair Havens, Julius had to decide on the next leg of the journey. Winter was rapidly approaching, a season when sea travel was avoided altogether because poor visibility, high winds, and driving rain and snow made trips by boat exceptionally dangerous in that part of the world from November to March. Luke tells us in verse 9 that “the Fast was already over.” This is a reference to the fasting associated with the Jewish Day of Atonement, which occurs in late September or early October, depending on the year. The fast began on October 5 in AD 59, the most likely year in which this voyage occurred, so a decision had to be made soon as to where to spend the winter, since sea travel would be off the table. It was clear that they could not spend the season in the port of Fair Havens (v. 12), and that was because the geography of the port would leave the ship exposed to the harsh winter weather.
Julius, therefore, sought counsel from several others, including the pilot of the ship, the owner of the ship, and even Paul himself (vv. 9–11). Evidently, Julius had come to respect Paul’s opinion, from which we may infer that the Apostle’s kindness and wisdom had been on full display. It was clear to Julius that Paul was no ordinary prisoner. The Apostle advised Julius to travel no farther at that time, perceiving that it would result in injury and loss of cargo and life (v. 10). Nothing in the text indicates that Paul was speaking based on a revelation from the Lord, so it seems that he grounded his advice in his own experience of sea travel, the dangers of which he knew firsthand (see 2 Cor. 11:25–26). Julius did not follow Paul’s counsel, but he ordered the boat to set course for the harbor of Phoenix.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Paul was invited to give his counsel regarding further travel almost certainly because he had shown himself to be wise by his speech and actions. Others will not generally seek our advice unless we have proved ourselves wise by our words and by what we have done. If we are to have influence with others, we must speak and act wisely.
For further study
- Genesis 41
- Proverbs 15:22
- Luke 7:35
- James 3:13
The bible in a year
- Daniel 3–4
- 1 John 3