Compiled and written by Theresa Lisiecki Paul s Prophecy 27:9-12 Last week we ended our study with Paul and his companions on a boat having just left the city of Fair Haven, a city port on the island of Crete. We had discovered in verse nine of this chapter that the fast had already gone by which places this voyage happening in late October, the season of winter approaching. What we did not discuss was what type of ship St. Paul probably was on. Most scholars believe it was a grain ship, like the one pictured to the right. This ship is a large ship that carried an average of 270 men and 2,600 tons of grain. Many of these boats would have been powered by sail with two oars which would have been used for steering. On the deck was a wooden hut for the helmsman but would also double as a place of worship containing an idol. It is significant that St. Paul, a prisoner under arrest, was allowed to give his advice, opinion and direction. St. Paul, having been shipwrecked before (2 Corinthians 11:25), offers a warning: 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. This is a practical warning. St. Paul will later offer a prophecy about this voyage. The owner and the captain chose not to heed St. Paul s warning, believing that it was wiser to sail a few dozen miles to the port at Phoenix rather than risk wintering in Fair Haven. It is likely they sailed on because Fair Haven was too small a harbor and would give little protection, plus the town was too small to give much entertainment for an entire crew for the entire winter. The sailed on in hopes of getting to a bigger port and a larger town. Storm at Sea 27:13-38 As we study this section of Acts we are reminded of what a word-smith St. Luke is. Scholars point out two important themes 1. St. Luke uses salvation language. Scholars point out that this language is more obvious in Greek that in our English translation, but the words St. Luke uses to describe their survival of the storm and later shipwreck not only are used in describing a physical rescue but are also used to describe salvation in the ultimate sense. As St. Luke is bringing his work to a close he is offering comfort and reminder that in the storms of life to hold on, salvation is coming.
2. Luke is reminding us of our need to be detached from our physical possessions. We read in verse 18 that they jettisoned some cargo and later in verse 19 they threw even the ship s tackle overboard. Tackle is often necessary items to work the ship just as salvation is more important than what we hold dear and deem necessary for our life. And finally, in verse 32 they cut the ropes of the dingy and set it adrift. St. Luke is reminding us all that on the Christian journey there is the need to lighten our load to achieve salvation. 3. Reminder of Christ stilling the waters. (Luke 8:22-25) In looking at this scene; being reminded of our own life experience, St. Luke is also offering the hope, the reminder that just as Jesus quieted the water for the Apostles as they sailed the seas, so too can Jesus be our source of strength and calm in the storms of our lives. Yes, we could read this nautical tale as just a great sea story but scholars agree St. Luke writes it in such a fashion to allow the readers to see an allegory or analogy for our Christian walk. The Storm 27:13-20 27:16 island named Cauda Cauda is probably the modern Gavdos, a small island southwest of Crete. 27:17 undergird the ship As a way to strengthen wooden ships during a storm as waves twist the body of the boat ropes would be passed under the boat and tied off on both sides run on the Syrtis This is a stretch or length of offshore sandbars along the northern coast of Africa. To prevent running a ground on these sandbars they put further out to sea. lowered the gear Scholars believe this is meant to explain the lowering of the sails. Sails in a severe storm are useless and endangers the boat as the further twist the ship as the wind blows on way and the water pushes the other. 27:20 the sun nor the stars were visible The storm had gotten so bad that they could not navigate. Remember in that era the sailors would navigate by the position of the sun during the day and the stars by night. Once again another analogy to how our lives can get so dark that we are disoriented, not sure of our position. St. Josemaria Escriva in his writings Christ is Passing By says of such dark moments in our lives: Christ has given his Church sureness in doctrine and a flow of grace in the sacraments. He has arranged things so that there will always be people to guide and lead us, to remind us constantly of our way. 2
Paul rallies his Companions 27:21-32 27:22 no loss of life St. Paul comforts all those on board by informing them that while this storm is severe it will not bring about the loss of life. 27:27 the sea of Adria Scholars believe that St. Luke is referring to the central waters of the Mediterranean east of Italy. 27:29 dropped four anchors In such a storm, not knowing where the winds and water will take them the sailors put the anchors overboard in hopes that the drag of the anchors will slow their progress. This also speaks of the largeness of this boat that it needed four anchors to fix its position. 27:30 lowered the boat In this we have a high seas drama with a storm and frightened sailors seeking to abandon the ship under the pretense of helping the ship. But St. Paul knows the hearts of men and warns of their departure and the necessity of their remaining on board if all are to survive this storm. St. Luke is truly showing his gift of writing! Point of Reflection: One commentary (the Navarre Bible) makes the observation that it is possible that St. Luke is pointing out the importance of each member of the Body of Christ. We may think that our talents and gifts are unimportant or unnecessary but in truth we need all hands on deck if we are to survive our voyage in life. 27:32 cut the ropes of the dinghy In an act of confidence in St. Paul s promise the sailors cut the rope of the small dinghy used to escape to when they need to abandon ship. In the analogy of this storm to the storms of our life we can liken this moment to placing completely our confidence in the promises of God. St. Paul offers the Breaking of the Bread 27:33-38 27:33 Paul urged them We can get the sense that St. Paul alone remained calm and in control as the rest of the crew and passengers allowed their fears to control the moment. In this we can see the contrast between knowing God and having confidence in God s Word and promise, juxtapose against the despair felt by those on board the ship representing the rest of the world. 27:34 Not a hair of the head of any of you will be lost Once again St. Luke is counting on those faithful listening making the connection between the words of St. Paul and the promise of Jesus in Luke 12:4-7 in the beatitudes as Jesus consoles those facing persecution to have courage for they are so
important that even the hairs on your head have been counted. Do not be afraid. Of Jesus in Luke 21:17-19 warning his disciples of the coming persecution to not worry because; not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives. Those Christian Jews would also remember the promises of God spoke through: Of God to the Israelite army defending Jonathan from his father, King Saul s rathe in 1 Samuel 14:45: As the Lord God lives, not a single hair of his head shall fall to the ground for God was with in in what he did today! Of God to the widow of Tekoa in 2 Samuel 14:11: As the Lord God lives, not a hair of your son shall fall to the ground. and the promise of King Solomon to Adonijah in 1 Kings 1:52: If he proves himself worthy, not a hair shall fall from his head. 27:35 he took the bread It makes sense that after days of storm and sea sickness that St. Paul would encourage the men to eat. These are the words used throughout the scripture and St. Luke used to describe Jesus at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19) in the first Eucharistic meal but there is also a formal blessing before breaking bread at a Jewish meal. Most scholars believe that he is not offering a Eucharistic blessing because his congregation would be over 270 pagans. But St. Luke was savvy enough to realize using these words would remind Christians of a desire to be in union with God through the breaking of the bread after the storms of their lives. 27:38 lighten the ship by throwing the grain into the sea It is most likely this remaining grain was kept as a source of food for those on board. Now that they were leaving the ship they cast it to the sea. The Shipwreck 27:39-44 27:41 striking a shoal Scholars believe that the bay of Malta called St. Paul s Bay is very likely the place of the ship wreck. In the sailors trying to steer into the inlet ended up running aground on hidden sandbanks. While they were close enough to the beach to get to safety the ship was trapped and helpless in the continuing ravages of the storm. ran the vessel aground As the storm continued to rage the crew believed that controlling a shipwreck was better than being lost at sea. 27:42 to kill the prisoners As we have talked about in the past, the punishment on soldiers who allowed prisoners to escape was harsh, death. So rather than risk that those prisoners they are transporting would be able to 4
escape in the confusion, to save their own necks it would be better off to kill them. 27:43 but the centurion, wishing to save Paul Once again we see the hand of God through the actions of others. Paul on the Island of Malta 28:1-10 So our travelers are safe once again on land. As we read to the end we will never hear of the trail of St. Paul before the highest authority of the secular world. But, what we have here is a judgement offered by the people represented by the natives of Malta which reflects the highest, divine judgement of God. From ancient times survival of any disaster was understood as the gods favor on those persons. 28:1 island of Malta This is a small island 60 south of Sicily 28:2 the natives showed us unusual kindness What extraordinary hospitality did these islanders offer! For the next three months they would harbor 276 strangers taking care of their needs. At that time the Maltese were Phoenicians by race and did not speak Greek. 28:3 Paul gathered a bundle of wood Once again we see the nature of St. Paul in the small things. There were soldiers and sailors by the dozens to gather the wood but St. Paul does not sit idle. He too gets about gathering wood in hopes of building a warming and drying fire. a viper It is said that there are no longer any poisonous snakes on the island of Malta so we have no sure way of knowing what type of poisonous snake actually struck St. Paul. 28:4 Justice has not let him remain alive In Greek mythology the goddess of justice is Astraea. The natives believed that the storm was sent to kill this man and since he escaped the viper was sent to do the job. 28:6 he was a god What a change in attitude did the islanders make. First he was a murderer and now because God has protected St. Paul from the venom of the snake they think him a god. Once again we can see St. Luke making the connection that just as the divinity of Jesus was vindicated through his resurrection, St. Luke is vindicated from the islanders assumption that he was a murderer by his surviving the viper s bite. 28:9 came and were cured Publius, the Chief offers hospitality to St. Paul and crowd. St. Paul heals Publius ill father who lay sick. The verse says that the rest of the people, who had ailments came and were healed. The word used is the word for receiving medical attention. It may be that in those three months
they were on the island St. Luke made use of his medical skills in helping the islanders with their ailments. Paul Comes to Rome 28:11-16 28:11 ship with Dioscuri as its figurehead Dioscuri is actually an image of the twin brothers Castor and Pollux, the sons of Zeus and the patrons of sailors. This is most likely another cargo ship sailing from Egypt to Italy. 28:13 came to Puteoli This was a major commercial seaport. 28:14 found brethren there The fact that when they land they find Christian fellowship means that the message of Jesus Christ had preceded them and that there were Romans who had embraced the gospel. How the message has gotten here scholars cannot say for certain. It could be that some of those who were gathered in the Temple at Pentecost some were Romans who carried back the message of Christ establishing communities. It is also though that St. Peter, who preceded St. Paul to Italy by two decades (Acts 12:17) established these communities of Christians. 28:15 came as far as The Roman believers had heard that St. Paul had been arrested and was on his way to Rome for trial. News travels fast because the news of his arrival in Italy reached Rome before St. Paul did. So, the Christians set out to meet him along the Appian Way, a famous Roman road which ran south from Rome to Puteoli. Forum of Appius Three Taverns The Forum of Appius was really a market that was found in the town of Appius on the Appian Way. It was about 55 miles from Rome and a brisk day s walk from Puteoli, where St. Paul s put into port. Three Taverns or more accurately Three Inns was a town about 10 miles closer to Rome. Both were popular destinations for sailors, peddlers, merchants and the like. 28:16 Paul was allowed to live by himself Possibly for his conduct on during the storm. Maybe he was attributed by the Roman soldiers as to the cause of their safety. Whatever the reason for two years, while St. Paul awaited his trial, he was under house arrest which provided him much more freedom that he would have had in prison. We read in 28:30 that not only did St. Paul rent this house, he did so at his own expense. While we know that St. Paul was chained at all times (28:20), history shows that he was mostly likely chained to a Roman soldier. During these two years he busied himself with evangelizing all who would and could come to him as well as writing his captivity letters to the Ephesians, the Philippians, the Colossians and to Philemon. 6
Reflection Questions: 1. We have all weathered storms in our faith life. What was the worst storm of your life that tested your faith and what were or who were your safe harbors? 2. What part did prayer play in getting you through this difficulty? 3. St. Paul eventually landed safely on the Island of Malta. Where did you land and how did you get there? Catechism of the Catholic Church Bibliography: The Catholic Study Bible NAR The New Daily Study Bible: The Acts of the Apostles by William Barclay The Navarre Bible: Acts of the Apostles New Collegeville Bible Commentary: The Acts of the Apostles by Dennis Hamm Ignatius Catholc Study Bible: Acts of the Apostles by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch Agape Bible Study: Gospel of Luke by Michal Hunt. Agapebiblestudy.com Acts: The Spread of the Kingdom b y Jeff Cavins and Sarah Christmyer