So, in short here’s what we see is happening: they are on an already arduous journey, Paul tries to warn the crew that the trip is likely to get much more difficult. The centurion doesn’t pay attention to this advice and seeing as this location is not suitable for staying at through the winter the majority vote falls in favors of continuing despite the possible risks.

Now let’s break this down bit.

Verse 9 tells us that the journey was now dangerous because “even the fast was over.” Meaning, it was probably sometime in October and the dangerous season for sailing began around September and lasted through November. After that all navigation on open sea stopped until winter was over.

Then Paul decides to warn the crew of the dangers of continuing.

Now Paul was probably a pretty experienced traveler of the Mediterranean, having already traveled some 3,500 miles by sea. Paul also says in II Corinthians 11.25 “Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;” So having some experience with sea troubles and perhaps being prompted by the Holy Spirit to speak up as well, he probably felt fairly confident giving this advice.

However, as this advice is coming from a prisoner on the ship it comes at no real surprise that the centurion doesn’t pay him much attention but favors the advice of his pilot.

What can we learn from this story? Perhaps God is trying to warn us through the person we’d least expect? Maybe God is prompting you to do something that is out of your element but could be a real blessing to others? God uses us in all kinds of ways, don’t forget to stay listening for Gods directing even when you may think you’re not the person for the job.

[Acts 27.1-12]

27.1 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. 2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. 4 And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. 5 And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 8 Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea. 9 Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,10 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.” 11 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What do you think made the Julious let Paul go to see his friends in Sidon?

+ What does the Fast being over have to do with sailing conditions?

+ Who is the centurion more inclined to listen to and why do you think that is?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Is there an unexpected person in your life who may be trying to warn you about something?

+ Is God trying to use you to be a guide post for someone?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Is there someone in my life who I can be praying for?

+ Is there someone in my life whom God has placed on my heart to do life with?