Voyage to Rome — TDW Kids

Last time. King Agrippa said that Paul “might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar” (26:32). So the long trip to Rome began. The trip begins. “And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment” (27:1). A centurion was an army officer over about a hundred soldiers. God’s promise. Back in Jerusalem, the Lord had told Paul that he would tell about Him in Rome (23:11). Now God was keeping His word, one port at a time. We. Luke wrote the book of Acts, and here he says “we.” Most likely Luke was on the ship with Paul. A faithful friend. “Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us” (27:2). He had been with Paul during the riot in Ephesus too (19:29). Care at Sidon. At Sidon, “Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care” (27:3). To receive care means to be looked after. What we learn. Paul was a prisoner, but he was never alone. God gave him friends, and God Himself went with him. When God leads you somewhere new or hard, He goes with you too.

The decision (27:1). “And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.” A centurion commanded about a hundred soldiers. Agrippa had said Paul “might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar” (26:32). Now that appeal carried him toward Rome. The promise behind it. In Jerusalem the Lord had told Paul that he must bear witness at Rome (23:11). Governors, courts and ships were only the means. The plan was God’s. “We.” Luke, the writer of Acts, says “we” again. Most likely he was on board with Paul, and he wrote down what he saw. The first ship (27:2). “So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia.” This ship was working its way along the coast, port by port. Aristarchus. “Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.” He was one of the travel companions seized in the theater at Ephesus (19:29). He stayed with Paul now, when Paul was a prisoner. Sidon (27:3). “Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.” Most likely these friends were believers. They cared for a man in chains as if he were family. Application. Paul did not travel to Rome alone. The Lord who sent him also gave him companions and care along the way. When God leads you somewhere hard, He does not send you alone. Look for the people He has placed beside you, and thank Him for them.

In our last lesson, Paul spoke to King Agrippa. The king said Paul could have gone free. But Paul had asked for Caesar to hear his case. So now Paul had to sail to Italy. Jesus had told Paul he would tell about Him in Rome. Now God was keeping that promise. Paul was still a prisoner. But God did not send him alone. His friends Aristarchus and Luke went with him. At Sidon, other friends took care of him. God takes care of His people too. He gives us friends and family who love us.

God was taking Paul to Rome. God gave Paul friends for the long trip. God never leaves His people alone.

Contrary winds. “When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary” (27:4). Contrary means going against you. The ship stayed close to the island to get out of the wind. Along the coast. “And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia” (27:5). A new ship. At Myra “the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board” (27:6). Alexandria was a great city in Egypt. Slow going. “When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone” (27:7). Permitting means allowing. The wind would not let them go on. With difficulty. “Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens” (27:8). Is God still there? Does a hard wind mean God has gone away? No. Paul was going exactly where God wanted him. The trip was slow, but God’s plan was not late. What we learn. Some things feel like sailing into the wind: a hard subject at school, a family trouble, a long wait. God is with you on slow days. Keep trusting Him, and keep doing what is right.

Against the wind (27:4). “When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.” To sail under the shelter of an island is to keep close to it so that it blocks the wind. Along the coast (27:5). “And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.” These were regions along the southern coast of what is now Turkey. Cilicia was Paul’s home region; Tarsus was its city (21:39). A change of ships (27:6). “There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.” Alexandria was the great harbor city of Egypt. Julius found a ship already headed where his orders sent him. Slowly, with difficulty (27:7). “When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone.” Unable to go on west, they turned south and sheltered along Crete. Fair Havens (27:8). “Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.” Every mile was hard, but they kept going. Providence in slow places. God did not move Paul to Rome by a sudden miracle. He used ordinary ships, ordinary sailors and a centurion following orders. Slow progress is not the same as no progress. God’s purpose for Paul was as sure on a slow day as on a fast one. Application. Faithfulness is often lived out against the wind: steady work, patient waiting, doing the next right thing when nothing seems to move. Keep trusting God when progress is slow; He is still steering your life.

The wind blew against the ship. So the sailors stayed close to the island of Cyprus. At Myra, Julius found a new ship going to Italy. Then the ship sailed slowly for many days. The sailing was hard. Did the wind mean God had forgotten Paul? No! God was still taking Paul where He wanted him. Some things in life feel slow and hard too. Maybe it is a hard page in your schoolwork. Maybe you are waiting for something good. God is with you on slow days. You can keep trusting Him and keep doing right.

The wind blew against the ship. The trip was slow and hard. But God was still with Paul all the way.

Time was running out. “Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them” (27:9). The Fast was a fall holy day, so sailing season was most likely ending. Paul’s warning. Paul said, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives” (27:10). To perceive means to see or understand. The first part of what Paul said is our memory verse. A prisoner who spoke up. Paul was not the captain. He was a prisoner. Most likely he knew the sea well, because he had traveled by ship many times. He gave his advice honestly, and he left the choice to the men in charge (27:11). He cared. Paul did not only think about himself. He talked about “our lives.” He cared about the sailors, the soldiers and the other prisoners. A loving warning. A warning can be one of the kindest things a person gives. Parents warn their children because they love them. God’s warnings. Many Christians see Paul’s warning as a picture of the way God warns us. His Word tells us the truth about sin because He loves us and wants to rescue us. What we learn. When a parent, a teacher or God’s Word gives you a warning, do not brush it off. Listen, thank them and do what is right.

Late in the season (27:9). “Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them.” The Fast was a fall holy day, so sailing season was most likely ending. Paraineo. “Advised” is paraineo (say: par-eye-NEH-oh), to urge or warn someone strongly. Paul did not shout or take charge. He gave earnest advice. The warning (27:10). “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” To perceive is to see something clearly. Paul most likely spoke from long experience at sea; Acts records many voyages he had made. Hybris. “Disaster” is hybris (say: HOO-bris), harm or damage. Paul named the danger plainly: the cargo, the ship and the people on board. “Our lives.” Paul included himself, and he counted every life on the ship as worth protecting: soldiers, sailors and prisoners alike. Love tells the truth when the truth is unwelcome. A later reading. Many Christians see in Paul’s warning a picture of the gospel: God warns about sin because He loves sinners and has provided a way of rescue. Humble boldness. A prisoner advised a centurion, a helmsman and a ship owner. He gave his advice and left the decision to those in charge. Application. An honest warning is a gift. When you hear one, from a parent, a teacher or the Scriptures, weigh it humbly. When you need to give one, give it with respect and love.

The trip had taken a long time. A fall holy day called the Day of Cleansing had passed. So sailing season was most likely ending. Paul warned the men. He said there would be a lot of trouble on this trip. He said, “Even our lives may be lost!” Paul was a prisoner. But he spoke up because he cared about everyone. Good warnings help keep us safe. Moms and dads warn us because they love us. God’s Word warns us too. Many Christians see Paul’s warning as a picture of God’s warnings. God warns us about sin because He wants to save us.

Paul warned the men about danger. Paul cared about every one of them. God warns us because He loves us.

Who was believed? “Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul” (27:11). A helmsman steers a ship. The owner is the person the ship belongs to. It made sense to them. Julius listened to the men who knew ships. That probably seemed like the smart thing to do. Most people. “And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix” (27:12). The majority means most of the people. Phoenix. Phoenix was “a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest.” They hoped to spend the winter there. Are most people always right? No. Experts can be wrong, and a crowd can be wrong. A choice is wise when it is true and good, not just when it is popular. The best voice. God’s Word is always true. Jesus never gives bad advice. What we learn. When you have a choice to make, do not just ask what most people are doing. Ask what is wise. Listen to good warnings, and listen to Jesus most of all.

The decision (27:11). “Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.” Julius had the authority, and he weighed the voices he heard. Kybernetes. “Helmsman” is kybernetes (say: koo-ber-NAY-tace), the one who steers the ship and guides its course. With him stood the owner, the man the ship belonged to. On sailing, they were the experts. A reasonable choice. To trust the professionals over a prisoner seemed sensible. Julius chose what seemed wise to him. The majority (27:12). “And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.” They had a real reason, and most of them agreed. If by any means. They were hoping, not certain. They were reaching for a better harbor. Truth is not a vote. Experience and numbers matter, but neither one makes a choice right. A true warning stays true even when most people set it aside. The final voice. For a follower of Jesus, the last word belongs to God. His Word is the standard by which every other voice is weighed. Application. When friends, experts or the crowd all lean one way, ask what is true and what God says. Listen to wise warnings, and listen to Christ most of all.

The captain and the owner did not agree with Paul. Julius believed them instead of Paul. That harbor was not a good place to stay for the winter. So most of the men decided to leave. They hoped to reach Phoenix. Is something right just because most people want it? No! It is wise to listen to good warnings. The wisest words of all are in God’s Word. Jesus always tells the truth. You can trust what He says. Trust Him even when most people choose something else.

Most of the men did not listen to Paul. They wanted to sail on. We can listen to wise words.