Bible Study - Acts 27
S - The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.
Acts 27:42–44 ESV
O - Commentary:
Because soldiers were accountable with their own lives for any prisoners who escaped (cf. 12:19; 16:27) they planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. For the soldiers this was simply a matter of self-preservation.
The centurion, however, wanted to spare Paul’s life. He saw the value and trustworthiness of this prisoner and so forestalled the soldiers’ plan. Obviously God was sovereignly at work to spare Paul for ministry at Rome and to guarantee the fulfillment of his prediction (v. 24). In the cold rain (28:2) the passengers (soldiers and prisoners) and crewmen who could swim were urged to swim ashore, while the rest held onto the ship’s debris.
As Paul had predicted, the ship was lost (27:22), they ran aground on an island (v. 26), and no one perished (v. 22).
Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 428–429.
A — Paul almost died more times than we can count. And almost every time, God used somebody else to save him. A centurion. A snakebite that didn't kill him. A storm that couldn't sink him. Here's the pattern: God rarely rescues us alone. He sends people. The question isn't whether God will protect you — he will. The question is whether you're staying close enough to his will to recognize the rescue when it shows up. Paul listened. Paul obeyed. That's the whole secret. Do the same, and watch how many "coincidences" turn out to be God.
R — Father, we worship you and surrender to you today. Thank you for protecting and preserving us — even in ways we never see coming. Holy Spirit, lead us. Give us ears to hear and the courage to obey. Accomplish your will in us today.
