Luke describes in some detail the initial sea journey from Caesarea to Myra in Lycia (the ship sailed past modern-day Israel and part of Lebanon and then along the coast of southern Turkey). In Myra, they changed ships and boarded one that was heading to Rome. The plan was to sail past Crete to Sicily and then north along the west coast of Italy to Rome.
They had been held up on the first part of the journey, which meant that winter was approaching. It would be dangerous to try and sail to Rome, but despite Paul’s warning about the likely loss of everything, the decision was made to go. Paul’s warning here was not based on a secret message from God, but on his awareness of the sea in winter. However, the centurion was probably under orders to get to Rome as quickly as possible, and the boat’s owners would have wanted to deliver their cargo quickly and get more trade. So they decided to sail on to a harbour in Crete and winter there, because it was closer to Rome.
Things turned out as Paul feared. Instead of reaching the harbour in Crete, they were caught in a storm and despite their best efforts they had to jettison the cargo. The storm lasted for many days, with no sign of its ceasing. Paul, however, had been praying about the situation and about the people on the ship; and God had sent an angel to inform Paul that, while the ship would be lost, the life of all on board would be saved. The apostle was a man like us and he was afraid of the storm, but the angel also told him that he would yet stand before Caesar. Paul also knew that the way of rescue would involve running aground on some island.
The day arrived for their deliverance. Paul urged them to take some food because it would give them strength. It was another opportunity for him to show his faith in God. Having spent thirty-six verses describing the journeys, Luke now mentions the detail we have all been asking: how many people were on the ship? It is important to ask that question because the angel had told Paul that everyone on board would be saved in answer to his prayers.
As Paul had predicted, the vessel ran aground. The crew and passengers had to get to shore as best they could. Some of the passengers were prisoners, like Paul, and the soldiers wanted to kill them. But Paul had a special court appearance waiting for him, and that ensured that since he could not be killed, neither could the rest. But where had they all arrived? None of them knew. But we can say that they had reached the place where Jesus, in his providence, wanted them to be.
What lessons can we take from all this? One is that sometimes we have no idea what God is doing in providence. A second is that we can pray effectively in storms. A third is that angels are around God’s people. A fourth is that consistency, as seen in Paul, wins the respect of others, as seen in the centurion. A fifth is that changes in our plans, such as what to do with the ship, do not bring about any changes in God’s plans. A sixth is that believing prayer can deliver everyone on a ship even although the ship is lost.
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