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주석[매튜 헨리] — 사도행전 27장 · 로마행 난파

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매튜 헨리 주석 · 섹션 4개 · 한국어 번역 있음(한국어 우선) · 본문 보기
아래 주석은 원문(및 번역문) 그대로입니다.

1~11절 카드 ↗

Paul's Voyage towards Rome. 1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. 2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. 3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. 4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein. 7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone; 8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea. 9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, 10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. 11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. It does not appear how long it was after Paul's conference with Agrippa that he was sent away for Rome, pursuant to his appeal to Cæsar; but it is likely they took the first convenience they could hear of to do it; in the mean time Paul is in the midst of his friends at Cæsarea--they comforts to him, and he a blessing to them. But here we are told, I. How Paul was shipped off for Italy: a long voyage, but there is no remedy. He has appealed to Cæsar, and to Cæsar he must go: It was determined that we should sail into Italy, for to Rome they must go by sea; it would have been a vast way about to go by land. Hence, when the Roman conquest of the Jewish nation is foretold, it is said ( Numbers 24:24 ), Ships shall come from Chittim, that is, Italy, and shall afflict Eber, that is, the Hebrews. It was determined by the counsel of God, before it was determined by the counsel of Festus, that Paul should go to Rome; for, whatever man intended, God had work for him to do there. Now here we are told, 1. Whose custody he was committed to--to one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus's band, as Cornelius was of the Italian band, or legion, Acts 10:1 ; Acts 10:1 . He had soldiers under him, who were a guard upon Paul, that he might not make his escape, and likewise to protect him, that he might have no mischief done him. 2. What bottom he embarked in: they went on board a ship of Adramyttium ( Acts 27:2 ; Acts 27:2 ), a sea-port of Africa, whence this ship brought African goods, and, as it should seem, made a coasting voyage for Syria, where those goods came to a good market. 3. What company he had in this voyage, there were some prisoners who were committed to the custody of the same centurion, and who probably had appealed to Cæsar too, or were upon some other account removed to Rome, to be tried there, or to be examined as witnesses against some prisoners there; perhaps some notorious offenders, like Barabbas, who were therefore ordered to be brought before the emperor himself. Paul was linked with these, as Christ with the thieves that were crucified with him, and was obliged to take his lot with them in this voyage; and we find in this chapter ( Acts 27:42 ; Acts 27:42 ) that for their sakes he had like to have been killed, but for his sake they were preserved. Note, It is no new thing for the innocent to be numbered among the transgressors. But he had also some of his friends with him, Luke particularly, the penman of this book, for he puts himself in all along, We sailed into Italy, and, We launched, Acts 27:2 ; Acts 27:2 . Aristarchus a Thessalonian is particularly named, as being now in his company. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that Trophimus the Ephesian went off with him, but that he left him sick at Miletum ( 2 Timothy 4:20 ), when he passed by those coasts of Asia mentioned here ( Acts 27:2 ; Acts 27:2 ), and that there likewise he left Timothy. It was a comfort to Paul to have the society of some of his friends in this tedious voyage, with whom he might converse freely, though he had so much loose profane company about him. Those that go long voyages at sea are commonly necessitated to sojourn, as it were, in Mesech and Kedar, and have need of wisdom, that they may do good to the bad company they are in, may make them better, or at lest be made never the worse by them. II. What course they steered, and what places they touched at, which are particularly recorded for the confirming of the truth of the history to those who lived at that time, and could by their own knowledge tell of their being at such and such a place. 1. They touched at Sidon, not far off from where they went on board; thither they came the next day. And that which is observable here is, that Julius the centurion was extraordinarily civil to Paul. It is probable that he knew his case, and was one of the chief captains, or principal men, that heard him plead his own cause before Agrippa ( Acts 25:23 ; Acts 25:23 ), and was convinced of his innocency, and the injury done him; and therefore, though Paul was committed to him as a prisoner, he treated him as a friend, as a scholar, as a gentleman, and as a man that had an interest in heaven: He gave him liberty, while the business of the ship detained it at Sidon, to go among his friends there, to refresh himself; and it would be a great refreshment to him. Julius herein gives an example to those in power to be respectful to those whom they find worthy of their respect, and in using their power to make a difference. A Joseph, a Paul, are not to be used as common prisoners. God herein encourages those that suffer for him to trust in him; for he can put it into the hearts of those to befriend them from whom they least expect it--can cause them to be pitied, nay, can cause them to be prized and valued, even in the eyes of those that carry them captive, Psalms 106:46 . And it is likewise an instance of Paul's fidelity. He did not go about to make his escape, which he might have easily done; but, being out upon his parole of honour, he faithfully returns to his imprisonment. If the centurion is so civil as to take his word, he is so just and honest as to keep his word. 2. They thence sailed under Cyprus, Acts 27:4 ; Acts 27:4 . If the wind had been fair, they had gone forward by direct sailing, and had left Cyprus on the right hand; but, the wind not favouring them, they were driven to oblique sailing with a side wind, and so compassed the island, in a manner, and left it on the left hand. Sailors must do as they can, when they cannot do as they would, and make the best of their wind, whatever point it is in; so must we all in our passage over the ocean of this world. When the winds are contrary yet we must be getting forward as well as we can. 3. At a port called Myra they changed their ship; that which they were in, it is probable, having business no further, they went on board a vessel of Alexandria bound for Italy, Acts 27:5 ; Acts 27:6 . Alexandria was now the chief city of Egypt, and great trading there was between that city and Italy; from Alexandria they carried corn to Rome, and the East-India goods and Persian which they imported at the Red Sea they exported again to all parts of the Mediterranean, and especially to Italy. And it was a particular favour shown to the Alexandrian ships in the ports of Italy that they were not obliged to strike sail, as other ships were, when they came into port. 4. With much ado they made The Fair Havens, a port of the island of Crete, Acts 27:7 ; Acts 27:8 . They sailed slowly many days, being becalmed, or having the wind against them. It was a great while before they made the point of Cnidus, a port of Caria, and were forced to sail under Crete, as before under Cyprus; much difficulty they met with in passing by Salmone, a promontory on the eastern shore of the island of Crete. Though the voyage hitherto was not tempestuous, yet it was very tedious. They many that are not driven backward in their affairs by cross providences, yet sail slowly, and do not get forward by favourable providences. And many good Christians make this complaint in the concerns of their souls, that they do not rid ground in their way of heaven, but have much ado to keep their ground; they move with many stops and pauses, and lie a great while wind-bound. Observe, The place they came to was called The Fair Havens. Travellers say that it is known to this day by the same name, and that it answers the name from the pleasantness of its situation and prospect. And yet, (1.) It was not the harbour they were bound for; it was a fair haven, but it was not their haven. Whatever agreeable circumstances we may be in in this world, we must remember we are not at home, and therefore we must arise and depart; for, though it be a fair haven, it is not the desired haven, Psalms 107:30 . (2.) It was not a commodious haven to winter in, so it is said, Acts 27:12 ; Acts 27:12 . It had a fine prospect, but it lay exposed to the weather. Note, Every fair haven is not a safe haven; nay, there may be most danger where there is most pleasure. III. What advice Paul gave them with reference to that part of their voyage they had before them--it was to be content to winter where they were, and not to think of stirring till a better season of the year. 1. It was now a bad time for sailing; they had lost a deal of time while they were struggling with contrary winds. Sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was already past, that is, the famous yearly fast of the Jews, the day of atonement, which was on the tenth day of the seventh month, a day to afflict the soul with fasting; it was about the 20th of our September. That yearly fast was very religiously observed; but (which is strange) we never have any mention made in all the scripture history of the observance of it, unless it be meant here, where it serves only to describe the season of the year. Michaelmas is reckoned by mariners as a bad time of the year to be at sea as any other; they complain of their Michaelmas-blasts; it was that time now with these distressed voyagers. The harvest was past, the summer was ended; they had not only lost time, but lost the opportunity. 2. Paul put them in mind of it, and gave them notice of their danger ( Acts 27:10 ; Acts 27:10 ): " I perceive " (either by notice from God, or by observing their wilful resolution to prosecute the voyage notwithstanding the peril of the season) "that this voyage will be with hurt and damage; you that have effects on board are likely to lose them, and it will be a miracle of mercy if our lives be given us for a prey." There were some good men in the ship, and many more bad men: but in things of this nature all things come alike to all, and there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked. If both be in the same ship, they both are in the same danger. 3. They would not be advised by Paul in this matter, Acts 27:11 ; Acts 27:11 . They thought him impertinent in interposing in an affair of this nature, who did not understand navigation; and the centurion to whom it was referred to determine it, though himself a passenger, yet, being a man in authority, takes upon him to overrule, though he had not been oftener at sea perhaps than Paul, nor was better acquainted with these seas, for Paul had planted the gospel in Crete ( Titus 1:5 ), and knew the several parts of the island well enough. But the centurion gave more regard to the opinion of the master and owner of the ship than to Paul's; for every man is to be credited in his own profession ordinarily: but such a man as Paul, who was so intimate with Heaven, was rather to be regarded in seafaring matters than the most celebrated sailors. Note, Those know not what dangers they run themselves into who will be governed more by human prudence than by divine revelation. The centurion was very civil to Paul ( Acts 27:3 ; Acts 27:3 ), and yet would not be governed by his advice. Note, Many will show respect to good ministers that will not take their advice, Ezekiel 33:31 . return to ' Top of Page ' <a name="verses-12-20" class="com-number"

Pericope (part_of)

절 (explains)

bible-text/act-27-1, bible-text/act-27-2, bible-text/act-27-3, bible-text/act-27-4, bible-text/act-27-5, bible-text/act-27-6, bible-text/act-27-7, bible-text/act-27-8, bible-text/act-27-9, bible-text/act-27-10, bible-text/act-27-11

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> 우리가 배로 이탈리아를 향해 떠나기로 결정되자, 그들은 바울과 다른 몇몇 죄수를 아구스도 부대 소속의 율리오라는 백부장에게 넘겨주었다. 우리는 아시아 해안의 여러 곳으로 가려는 아드라뭇데노 배에 올라 바다로 나아갔는데, 데살로니가 출신의 마케도니아 사람 아리스다고도 우리와 함께 있었다. 이튿날 우리는 시돈에 닿았다. 율리오가 바울을 친절히 대하여, 그가 친구들에게 가서 보살핌을 받도록 허락해 주었다. 거기서 다시 바다로 나아갔으나, 바람이 거슬러 불었기 때문에 우리는 키프로스 섬을 바람막이 삼아 그 그늘 쪽으로 항해하였다. 길리기아와 밤빌리아 앞바다를 건너 항해하여, 우리는 루기아의 한 성읍인 무라에 이르렀다. 그곳에서 백부장은 이탈리아로 가려는 알렉산드리아 배를 발견하여, 우리를 그 배에 태웠다. 여러 날 동안 더디게 항해하여 간신히 니도 맞은편에 이르렀으나, 바람이 더 나아가지 못하게 하므로, 우리는 크레타 섬을 바람막이 삼아 살모네 맞은편으로 항해하였다. 그 해안을 따라 간신히 항해하여 우리는 라새아 성읍 가까이에 있는 "아름다운 항구"라 불리는 어떤 곳에 이르렀다. 많은 시간이 지나 항해가 이제 위험하게 되었는데, 이는 금식일도 이미 지나갔기 때문이었다. 그래서 바울이 그들에게 경고하여 말하였다. "여러분, 내가 보니 이번 항해는 짐과 배뿐만 아니라 우리의 목숨까지도 상하게 하고 큰 손실을 입게 할 것입니다." 그러나 백부장은 바울이 한 말보다 선장과 선주의 말을 더 신뢰하였다. (행 27:1-11)

바울이 이탈리아로 떠나기까지 가이사랴에서 아그립바와 대화한 이후 얼마나 시간이 흘렀는지는 알 수 없다. 그러나 기회가 생기는 대로 출발했을 것이며, 그 기간 동안 바울은 가이사랴에 있는 친구들 곁에 있었다. 여기서 우리에게 전해지는 내용은 다음과 같다.

**I. 바울이 어떻게 이탈리아로 떠났는가.** 그는 황제에게 상소했으므로, 황제에게 가야 했다. 바다로 가는 것은 너무 멀리 돌아가는 육로를 피할 방법이었다. 수로로의 항해는 이미 예언 가운데 예고된 것이었다. 민수기 24:24에 기록된 대로, 이탈리아(깃딤)에서 배들이 와서 히브리인들(에벨)을 괴롭힐 것이라 하였다. 인간의 결정보다 하나님의 섭리가 먼저였다. 페스도가 결정하기 전에, 하나님께서는 이미 바울이 로마에서 할 일을 정해 두셨다. 이에 관한 세부 사항들이 기록되어 있다.

**첫째, 누구의 감독 아래 맡겨졌는가.** 아구스도 부대 소속의 율리오라는 백부장에게 맡겨졌다. 고넬료가 이탈리아 부대 소속이었듯이(행 10:1), 율리오는 아구스도 부대 소속이었다. 그에게는 바울이 도망치지 못하도록 지키는 군사들이 있었으며, 동시에 그를 보호하는 역할도 하였다.

**둘째, 어떤 배에 올라탔는가.** 그들은 아드라뭇데노 배에 탔는데(행 27:2), 이는 아프리카의 항구에서 온 배로, 아시아 해안의 여러 곳을 돌며 교역하는 배였다.

**셋째, 이 항해에 어떤 동행자들이 있었는가.** 같은 백부장에게 맡겨진 죄수들이 있었는데, 그들도 아마 황제에게 상소한 이들이거나, 증인으로 로마에 이송되는 자들이었을 것이다. 바울은 이들과 함께 묶여 마치 십자가에서 강도들 사이에 달리신 그리스도처럼 되었다. 그러나 이 장(행 27:42)에서 보듯이, 죄수들 때문에 바울이 죽을 뻔했으나, 바울 덕분에 그들이 살아남았다. 주목하라. 죄 없는 이가 범죄자들 사이에 끼는 일은 새로운 일이 아니다. 그에게는 또한 친구들도 함께 있었다. 이 책의 저자인 누가도 계속해서 "우리가"라는 표현을 쓰고 있다. 데살로니가 사람 아리스다고도 특별히 이름이 언급된다. 바울에게는 이 긴 항해에서 친구들과 자유롭게 대화할 수 있는 위로가 있었다. 먼 항해를 하는 이들은 흔히 불경건한 사람들 사이에서 지내야 하는 형편이 되므로, 지혜가 필요하다. 그들에게 유익이 되어야 하며, 적어도 그들에게서 해를 입지 않아야 한다.

**II. 어떤 항로를 택했으며 어떤 항구에 들렀는가.** 이는 당시 사람들이 직접 그 장소들을 알고 있었기에, 이 기록의 역사적 사실을 확인해 주기 위한 것이다.

**1. 시돈에 들렀다.** 출발한 다음 날 시돈에 닿았다. 주목할 것은 율리오 백부장이 바울에게 각별히 친절했다는 것이다. 그는 바울의 재판 과정을 직접 들었으므로 그의 무죄를 알고 있었을 것이다(행 25:23). 그래서 바울을 죄수처럼 대하지 않고, 학자로서, 신사로서, 하늘에 연줄이 있는 사람으로 대접했다. 배가 시돈에 정박해 있는 동안, 바울이 친구들에게 가서 보살핌을 받도록 자유를 허락한 것이다. 이것은 권력 있는 자에게 모범이 된다. 하나님께서는 이처럼 포로로 잡혀간 자들도 사람들의 눈앞에서 인정받게 하신다(시 106:46). 또한 이것은 바울의 신실함을 보여 준다. 쉽게 도망칠 수도 있었지만, 보호 관찰 중인 그는 약속대로 돌아왔다. 백부장이 그의 말을 믿고 자유를 줬다면, 그는 그 신뢰를 저버리지 않았다.

**2. 키프로스 섬을 끼고 항해했다(행 27:4).** 바람이 순조로웠다면 키프로스를 오른쪽에 두고 곧바로 나아갔겠지만, 바람이 거슬러 부는 탓에 섬을 돌아가며 왼쪽에 두고 비스듬히 항해하였다. 뱃사람들은 마음대로 되지 않을 때 바람이 허락하는 대로 최선을 다해 나아간다. 우리도 이 세상을 항해하면서 이와 같이 할 수 있다. 바람이 거슬러도 앞으로 나아가야 한다.

**3. 무라에서 배를 갈아탔다(행 27:5-6).** 이전 배의 목적지는 더 이상 없었으므로, 이탈리아로 향하는 알렉산드리아 배에 옮겨 탔다. 알렉산드리아는 이집트의 주요 도시로, 이탈리아와 활발한 교역이 이루어졌다. 이 알렉산드리아 배들은 이탈리아 항구에서 다른 배들과 달리 돛을 내리지 않아도 되는 특권이 있었다고 한다.

**4. 간신히 아름다운 항구에 닿았다(행 27:7-8).** 순풍이 없거나 바람이 맞서는 탓에 여러 날 동안 더디게 항해하며 겨우 니도 맞은편까지 왔고, 또 크레타 섬을 끼고 돌아 살모네를 지나는 데도 많은 어려움을 겪었다. 폭풍이 몰아친 것은 아니었지만, 여전히 험난한 항해였다. 많은 이들이 형편없는 역경에 처한 것은 아니나 순탄한 섭리 속에서도 앞으로 나아가지 못하고 더디기만 한다. 많은 그리스도인들도 영혼의 문제에서 이런 불평을 한다. 그들은 하늘로 가는 길에서 앞으로 나아가지 못하고, 간신히 자리를 지키며 오래도록 바람을 기다린다. 그들이 닿은 곳은 "아름다운 항구"라 불렸다. 여행자들의 말에 의하면 오늘날도 같은 이름으로 알려져 있으며, 아름다운 경치와 전망으로 그 이름에 어울린다고 한다. 그러나 주목할 것이 있다. (1) 그곳은 그들이 목적지로 삼은 항구가 아니었다. 아름다운 항구이지만 원하던 항구는 아니었다. 이 세상에서 아무리 좋은 처지에 있더라도, 우리는 집에 있는 것이 아님을 기억해야 한다. 그러므로 일어나 떠나야 한다(시 107:30). (2) 그곳은 겨울을 나기에 적합하지 않았다(행 27:12). 전망은 아름다웠지만 바람에 노출되어 있었다. 주목하라. 아름다운 항구라고 해서 반드시 안전한 항구는 아니다. 오히려 가장 즐거운 곳이 가장 위험한 곳이 될 수도 있다.

**III. 바울이 준 충고.** 아름다운 항구에 머물며 그곳에서 겨울을 나자는 것이었다.

**1. 항해하기에 좋지 않은 때였다.** 역풍에 맞서며 시간을 많이 허비하였다. 유대인들의 큰 금식일(속죄일, 7월 10일, 지금의 9월 20일경)이 이미 지난 뒤였다. 이 연례 금식일은 매우 경건하게 지켜졌지만, 이상하게도 성경 역사 전체에서 그 준수에 관한 언급이 없다가, 여기서 계절을 표시하는 용도로만 등장한다. 9월 말은 뱃사람들이 가장 항해하기 어려운 시기로 꼽는다. 추수가 끝나고 여름도 지났다. 기회를 잃었을 뿐 아니라 시간까지 잃었다.

**2. 바울이 그들에게 위험을 경고했다(행 27:10).** "내가 보니"—하나님께서 미리 알려 주셨거나, 항해를 강행하려는 그들의 완고한 태도를 보고 깨달은 것으로—"이번 항해는 짐과 배뿐 아니라 우리의 목숨까지 상하게 하고 큰 손실을 입게 할 것입니다." 배에는 선한 사람도 있었고 악한 사람도 있었다. 그러나 이런 일에서는 의인에게나 악인에게나 같은 결과가 온다. 같은 배에 함께 타고 있다면, 같은 위험에 처하게 된다.

**3. 그들은 바울의 말을 듣지 않았다(행 27:11).** 항해를 모르는 바울이 이 문제에 개입하는 것이 주제넘다고 여겼을 것이다. 백부장은 자신이 승객이었지만 권한이 있는 사람으로서, 바울의 말 대신 선장과 선주의 의견에 따르기로 결정하였다. 각자의 분야에서 해당 전문가의 말을 따르는 것이 보통이다. 그러나 하늘과 교통하는 바울 같은 사람은 가장 뛰어난 뱃사람보다도 더 신뢰할 만한 것이다. 주목하라. 하나님의 계시보다 인간의 지혜를 따르는 자는 자신을 어떤 위험에 빠뜨리는지 알지 못한다. 백부장은 바울에게 친절했지만(행 27:3) 그의 충고를 따르지는 않았다. 주목하라. 훌륭한 목회자를 존경하면서도 그들의 조언은 받아들이지 않는 이들이 많다(겔 33:31).

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원주석

1~44절 카드 ↗

A C T S. CHAP. XXVII. This whole chapter is taken up with an account of Paul's voyage towards Rome, when he was sent thither a prisoner by Festus the governor, upon his appeal to Cæsar. I. The beginning of the voyage was well enough, it was calm and prosperous, Acts 27:1-8 . II. Paul gave them notice of a storm coming, but could not prevail with them to lie by, Acts 27:9-11 . III. As they pursued their voyage, they met with a great deal of tempestuous weather, which reduced them to such extremity that they counted upon nothing but being cast away, Acts 27:12-20 . IV. Paul assured them that though they would not be advised by him to prevent their coming into this danger, yet, by the good providence of God, they should be brought safely through it, and none of them should be lost, Acts 27:21-26 . V. At length they were at midnight thrown upon an island, which proved to be Malta, and then they were in the utmost danger imaginable, but were assisted by Paul's counsel to keep the mariners in the ship, and encouraged by his comforts to eat their meat, and have a good heart on it, Acts 27:27-36 . VI. Their narrow escape with their lives, when they came to shore, when the ship was wrecked, but all the persons wonderfully preserved, Acts 27:37-44 . return to ' Top of Page ' <a name="verses-1-11" class="com-number"

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사도행전 27장 전체는 바울이 황제에게 상소하여 로마로 압송될 때의 항해 이야기로 채워져 있다. 이 장은 여섯 단락으로 나뉜다. 첫째, 항해 초반은 순탄하고 평온했다(행 27:1-8). 둘째, 바울이 폭풍이 닥칠 것을 경고했으나 사람들이 그 말을 듣지 않았다(행 27:9-11). 셋째, 항해를 계속하던 중 사나운 풍랑을 만나 배가 난파될 것이라는 절망에 빠졌다(행 27:12-20). 넷째, 바울은 자신의 충고를 듣지 않아 이 위험에 빠졌지만, 하나님의 선하신 섭리로 모두 안전하게 살아남을 것이라고 확신을 주었다(행 27:21-26). 다섯째, 자정에 어느 섬에 좌초하였는데, 그곳이 몰타로 밝혀졌다. 극도의 위험 속에서 바울의 조언으로 선원들을 배에 머물게 하고, 그의 위로로 음식을 먹고 힘을 내었다(행 27:27-36). 여섯째, 배는 난파되었으나 사람들은 기적적으로 모두 살아서 뭍에 올랐다(행 27:37-44).

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원주석

12~20절 카드 ↗

Paul's Voyage towards Rome. 12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. 13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. 18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; 19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. In these verses we have, I. The ship putting to sea again, and pursuing her voyage at first with a promising gale. Observe, 1. What induced them to leave the fair havens: it was because they thought the harbour not commodious to winter in; it was pleasant enough in summer but in the winter they lay bleak. Or perhaps it was upon some other account incommodious; provisions perhaps were scarce and dear there; and they ran upon a mischief to avoid an inconvenience, as we often do. Some of the ship's crew, or of the council that was called to advise in this matter, were for staying there, rather than venturing to sea now that the weather was so uncertain: it is better to be safe in an incommodious harbour than to be lost in a tempestuous sea. But they were outvoted when it was put to the question, and the greater part advised to depart thence also; yet they aimed not to go far, but only to another port of the same island, here called Phenice, and some think it was so called because the Phenicians frequented it much, the merchants of Tyre and Sidon. It is here described to lie towards the south-west and north-west. Probably the haven was between the two promontories or juttings-out of land into the sea, one of which pointed to the north-west and the other to the south-west, by which it was guarded against the east winds. Thus hath the wisdom of the Creator provided for the relief and safety of those who go down to the sea in ships, and do business in great waters. In vain had nature provided for us the waters to sail on, if it had not likewise provided for us natural harbours to take shelter in. 2. What encouragement they had at first to pursue their voyage. They set out with a fair wind ( Acts 27:13 ; Acts 27:13 ), the south wind blew softly, upon which they should gain their point, and so they sailed close by the coast of Crete and were not afraid of running upon the rocks or quicksands, because the wind blew so gently. Those who put to sea with ever so fair a gale know not what storms they may yet meet with, and therefore must not be secure, nor take it for granted that they have obtained their purpose, when so many accidents may happen to cross their purpose. Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast as though he had put it off. II. The ship in a storm presently, a dreadful storm. They looked at second causes, and took their measures from the favourable hints they gave, and imagined that because the south wind now blew softly it would always blow so; in confidence of this, they ventured to sea, but were soon made sensible of their folly in giving more credit to a smiling wind than to the word of God in Paul's mouth, by which they had fair warning given them of a storm. Observe, 1. What their danger and distress was, (1.) There arose against them a tempestuous wind, which was not only contrary to them, and directly in their teeth, so that they could not get forward, but a violent wind, which raised the waves, like that which was sent forth in pursuit of Jonah, though Paul was following God, and going on in his duty, and not as Jonah running away from God and his duty. This wind the sailors called Euroclydon, a north-east wind, which upon those seas perhaps was observed to be in a particular manner troublesome and dangerous. It was a sort of whirlwind, for the ship is said to be caught by it, Acts 27:15 ; Acts 27:15 . It was God that commanded this wind to rise, designing to bring glory to himself, and reputation to Paul, out of it; stormy winds being brought out of his treasuries ( Psalms 135:7 ), they fulfil his word, Psalms 148:8 . (2.) The ship was exceedingly tossed ( Acts 27:18 ; Acts 27:18 ); it was kicked like a football from wave to wave; its passengers (as it is elegantly described, Psalms 107:26 ; Psalms 107:27 ) mount up to the heavens, go down again to the depths, reel to and fro, stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. The ship could not possibly bear up into the wind, could not make her way in opposition to the wind; and therefore they folded up their sails, which in such a storm would endanger them rather than to them any service, and so let the ship drive, Not whither it would, but whither it was impelled by the impetuous waves--Non quo voluit, sed quo rapit impetus undæ. Ovid. Trist. It is probable that they were very near the heaven of Phenice when this tempest arose, and thought they should presently be in a quiet haven, and were pleasing themselves with the thought of it, and wintering there, and lo, of a sudden, they are in this distress. Let us therefore always rejoice with trembling, and never expect a perfect security, nor a perpetual security, till we come to heaven. (3.) They saw neither sun nor stars for many days. This made the tempest the more terrible, that they were all in the dark; and the use of the loadstone for the direction of sailors not being then found out (so that they had no guide at all, when they could see neither sun nor stars) made the case the more hazardous. Thus melancholy sometimes is the condition of the people of God upon a spiritual account. They walk in darkness and have no light. Neither sun nor stars appear; they cannot dwell, nay, they cannot fasten, upon any thing comfortable or encouraging; thus it may be with them, and yet light is sown for them. (4.) They had abundance of winter-weather: No small tempest -- cheimon ouk oligos, cold rain, and snow, and all the rigours of that season of the year, so that they were ready to perish for cold; and all this continued many days. See what hardships those often undergo who are much at sea, besides the hazards of life they run; and yet to get gain there are still those who make nothing of all this; and it is an instance of divine Providence that it disposes some to this employment, notwithstanding the difficulties that attend it, for the keeping up of commerce among the nations, and the isles of the Gentiles particularly; and Zebulun can as heartily rejoice in his going out as Issachar in his tents. Perhaps Christ therefore chose ministers from among seafaring men, because they had been used to endure hardness. 2. What means they used for their own relief: they betook themselves to all the poor shifts (for I can call them no better) that sailors in distress have recourse to. (1.) When they could not make head against the wind, they let the ship run adrift, finding it was to no purpose to ply either the oar or the sail. When it is fruitless to struggle, it is wisdom to yield. (2.) They nevertheless did what they could to avoid the present danger; there was a little island called Clauda, and when they were near that, though they could not pursue their voyage, they took care to prevent their shipwreck, and therefore so ordered their matters that they did not run against the island, but quietly ran under it, Acts 27:16 ; Acts 27:16 . (3.) When they were afraid they should scarcely save the ship, they were busy to save the boat, which they did with much ado. They had much work to come by the boat ( Acts 27:16 ; Acts 27:16 ), but at last they took it up, Acts 27:17 ; Acts 27:17 . This might be of use in any exigence, and therefore they made hard shift to get it into the ship to them. (4.) They used means which were proper enough in those times, when the art of navigation was far short of the perfection it is now come to; they undergirded the ship, Acts 27:17 ; Acts 27:17 . They bound the ship under the bottom of it with strong cables, to keep it from bulging in the extremity of the tempest. (5.) For fear of falling into the quicksands they struck sail, and then let the ship go as it would. It is strange how a ship will live at sea (so they express it), even in very stormy weather, if it have but sea-room; and, when the sailors cannot make the shore, it is their interest to keep as far off it as they can. (6.) The next day they lightened the ship of its cargo, threw the goods and the merchandises overboard (as Jonah's mariners did, Acts 1:5 ; Acts 1:5 ), being willing rather to be poor without them than to perish with them. Skin for skin, and all that a man has, will he give for his life. See what the wealth of this world is; how much soever it is courted as a blessing, the time may come when it will be a burden, not only too heavy to be carried safe of itself, but heavy enough to sink him that has it. Riches are often kept by the owners thereof to their hurt ( Ecclesiastes 5:13 ); and parted with to their good. But see the folly of the children of this world, they can be thus prodigal of their goods when it is for the saving of their lives, and yet how sparing of them in works of piety and charity, and in suffering for Christ, though they are told by eternal Truth itself that those shall be recompensed more than a thousand fold in the resurrection of the just. Those went upon a principle of faith who took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing in themselves that they had in heaven a better and a more enduring substance, Hebrews 10:34 . Any man will rather make shipwreck of his goods than of his life; but many will rather make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience than of their goods. (7.) The third day they cast out the tacklings of the ship --the utensils of it, Armamenta (so some render it), as if it were a ship of force. With us it is common to heave the guns over-board in the extremity of a storm; but what heavy artillery they had then which it was necessary to lighten the ship of I do not know; and I question whether it was not then a vulgar error among seamen thus to throw every thing into the sea, even that which would be of great use in a storm, and no great weight. 3. The despair which at last they were brought to ( Acts 27:20 ; Acts 27:20 ): All hope that we should be saved was then taken away. The storm continued, and they saw no symptoms of its abatement; we have known very blustering weather to continue for some weeks. The means they had used were ineffectual, so that they were at their wits' end; and such was the consternation that this melancholy prospect put them into that they had no heart either to eat or drink. They had provision enough on board ( Acts 27:38 ; Acts 27:38 ), but such bondage were they under, through fear of death, that they could not admit the supports of life. Why did not Paul, by the power of Christ, and in his name, lay this storm? Why did he not say to the winds and waves, Peace, be still, as his Master had done? Surely it was because the apostles wrought miracles for the confirmation of their doctrine, not for the serving of a turn for themselves or their friends. return to ' Top of Page ' <a name="verses-21-44" class="com-number"

Pericope (part_of)

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bible-text/act-27-12, bible-text/act-27-13, bible-text/act-27-14, bible-text/act-27-15, bible-text/act-27-16, bible-text/act-27-17, bible-text/act-27-18, bible-text/act-27-19, bible-text/act-27-20

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> 그 항구가 겨울을 나기에 적합하지 않았으므로, 대다수가 거기서 떠나 어떻게든 뵈닉스에 이르러 거기서 겨울을 나자고 권하였다. 뵈닉스는 크레타의 항구로, 북동쪽과 남동쪽을 바라보고 있었다. 남풍이 부드럽게 불자, 그들은 자기들의 뜻을 이루었다고 여기고 닻을 올려 크레타 해안을 따라 바싹 붙어 항해하였다. 그러나 오래지 않아 유라굴로라 불리는 광풍이 섬 쪽에서 몰아쳐 내려왔다. 배가 휩쓸려 바람을 맞설 수 없게 되자, 우리는 배를 바람에 내맡기고 떠밀려 갔다. 글라우다라 불리는 작은 섬을 바람막이 삼아 그 그늘 아래로 달려가, 우리는 간신히 거룻배를 단단히 붙들 수 있었다. 사람들이 거룻배를 끌어올린 뒤, 밧줄을 사용하여 배를 둘러 묶어 보강하였다. 그리고 스르디스 모래톱에 걸려 좌초될까 두려워하여, 그들은 바다 닻을 내리고 그렇게 떠밀려 갔다. 우리가 폭풍과 더불어 심하게 시달리니, 이튿날 그들은 짐을 바다에 던지기 시작하였다. 셋째 날에는 그들이 자기들 손으로 배의 기구를 던져 버렸다. 여러 날 동안 해도 별도 보이지 않고 적지 않은 폭풍이 우리를 짓누르니, 우리가 구원받으리라는 모든 희망이 이제 사라져 버렸다. (행 27:12-20)

여기서 두 가지 내용이 나온다.

**I. 배가 다시 항해를 시작하여 처음에는 순조로운 바람 속에 나아간 것이다.**

**1. 아름다운 항구를 떠나게 된 이유.** 그 항구는 겨울을 나기에 불편하였다. 여름에는 쾌적했지만 겨울에는 바람이 몰아쳤다. 또는 물자가 부족하고 비쌌기 때문이었을 수도 있다. 그들은 불편함을 피하려다 재앙을 자초했다. 흔히 그런 일이 있다. 배에 탄 일부는 머무는 편이 낫다고 했다. 불확실한 날씨에 바다로 나가는 것보다 불편한 항구에 있는 것이 낫다고 여겼다. 그러나 표결에서 지고 말았다. 대다수가 떠나기로 결의하였다. 그러나 그들은 멀리 가려 한 것이 아니라, 크레타의 다른 항구인 뵈닉스까지만 가려 했다. 이 항구는 북서쪽과 남서쪽으로 열려 있어, 두 돌출된 육지가 동풍을 막아 주는 구조였다. 이처럼 창조주의 지혜는 바다에 나가는 사람들의 안전을 위해 자연 항구들을 마련해 주셨다. 항해를 가능하게 하는 바다를 주신 것만으로는 부족하지 않아, 피할 수 있는 항구들도 아울러 주신 것이다.

**2. 처음에 항해를 격려했던 것.** 남풍이 부드럽게 불었다(행 27:13). 그들은 목적지에 곧 닿을 것이라 여기며, 크레타 해안을 바짝 끼고 항해하였다. 그러나 아무리 순풍을 받아 출발해도 앞으로 어떤 폭풍이 기다리는지 알 수 없다. 따라서 남풍이 부드럽게 분다고 해서 목적을 이루었다고 단정해서는 안 된다. "갑옷을 입는 자는 갑옷을 벗는 자처럼 자랑하지 말라."

**II. 배가 곧 극심한 폭풍을 만난 것이다.** 그들은 두 번째 원인들을 살피고 그것이 주는 유리한 신호를 따라 항해를 결정했다가, 바울의 말보다 웃는 바람을 더 믿은 어리석음을 곧 깨달았다.

**1. 그들이 처한 위험과 고통.**

(1) 유라굴로라 불리는 광풍이 불어왔다. 이 바람은 순풍이 아니라 바로 그들을 향해 불어오는 맞바람이요 격렬한 바람이었다. 파도를 일으켜 배가 쌓아 올라가듯 위태로워졌다. 요나의 경우처럼 이 바람도 하나님이 보내신 것이었다. 다만 요나는 하나님을 피해 도망치는 중이었지만, 바울은 하나님의 뜻을 따르는 중이었다는 차이가 있다. 이 바람은 유라굴로, 즉 북동풍으로, 그 바다에서 특히 위험한 것으로 알려져 있었다. 일종의 회오리바람으로, 배가 휩쓸렸다(행 27:15)고 한다. 하나님께서 자신의 창고에서 이 바람을 꺼내 보내신 것으로(시 135:7; 148:8), 하나님께 영광을 드리고 바울의 명성을 높이려는 뜻이 있었다.

(2) 배가 심하게 흔들렸다(행 27:18). 마치 공처럼 파도에서 파도로 내동댕이쳐졌다. 시편 107:26-27에 아름답게 묘사된 것처럼, 하늘까지 솟아오르고 깊음 속으로 내려가다가, 비틀거리며 술 취한 사람처럼 넘어지려 하는 형국이었다. 배는 바람을 맞서 나아갈 수 없어서, 돛을 내리고 파도에 배를 맡겨 버렸다. 원하는 곳으로 가는 것이 아니라, 거센 파도가 미는 대로 떠밀리게 된 것이다.

(3) 여러 날 동안 해도 별도 보이지 않았다. 이것이 폭풍을 더욱 두렵게 만들었다. 당시는 나침반이 아직 발명되지 않아 해와 별을 보지 못하면 방향을 전혀 잡을 수 없었기 때문에, 더욱 위험한 상황이었다. 때로 하나님의 백성도 영적으로 이런 처지에 빠진다. 그들은 어둠 속을 걷고 빛이 없다. 해도 별도 보이지 않는다. 위로가 되거나 격려가 되는 것들을 붙잡을 수가 없다. 그러나 그들을 위해 빛이 뿌려져 있다.

(4) 겨울 날씨가 맹위를 떨쳤다. "적지 않은 폭풍", 즉 차가운 비와 눈과 그 계절의 모든 혹독함이 몰아쳐, 추위에 죽을 지경이었고 그것이 여러 날 계속되었다. 바다에서 많은 시간을 보내는 사람들이 겪는 고생이 얼마나 심한지를 보라. 이런 어려움을 무릅쓰고도 이익을 위해 아무렇지 않게 뛰어드는 이들이 있다. 이것은 하나님의 섭리가 어떤 이들을 이 직업으로 이끌어, 어려움에도 불구하고 나라들 사이의 교역을 유지하게 하신다는 증거이기도 하다. 그리스도께서 어부들 중에서 제자들을 택하신 것은, 그들이 고난에 단련되어 있었기 때문이었을 것이다.

**2. 그들이 스스로를 구하기 위해 취한 조처들.**

(1) 바람을 맞설 수 없어 배를 흘러가게 내버려 두었다. 노를 저어도, 돛을 달아도 소용이 없으므로, 저항하는 것이 쓸모없을 때는 양보하는 것이 지혜이다.

(2) 그럼에도 할 수 있는 것은 다 하였다. 글라우다 섬이 가까워졌을 때, 거기서 좌초하지 않도록 방향을 잡고 섬 그늘로 달려가 피하였다(행 27:16).

(3) 배를 구하기 어렵다고 여겨, 거룻배라도 건지려 하였다. 거룻배를 끌어올리는 데 힘이 들었으나(행 27:16) 결국 끌어올렸다(행 27:17). 긴급한 상황에서 쓸모 있을 것이므로 어렵게나마 배 안으로 끌어들였다.

(4) 당시 항해술로서는 적절한 조처를 취하였다. 배를 밑에서 밧줄로 단단히 둘러 묶어(행 27:17) 극심한 폭풍에도 밑창이 터지지 않도록 보강하였다.

(5) 모래톱에 걸릴까 두려워 돛을 내리고, 배가 가는 대로 두었다. 뱃사람들 사이에 "바다를 산다"는 표현이 있듯이, 비록 폭풍이 몰아쳐도 뻗어 나갈 공간만 있으면 배는 살아남는다. 육지로 가지 못할 때는 육지에서 최대한 멀리 있는 것이 최선이다.

(6) 다음 날 짐을 바다에 내버렸다. 요나의 뱃사람들처럼(욘 1:5), 재물을 잃더라도 목숨을 건지는 편이 낫다고 여긴 것이다. 죽을 때에 가장 소중한 재산도 짐이 된다. 세상의 부는 복으로 여겨지지만, 그것 때문에 죽을 수도 있는 순간이 온다. 부자들이 자신에게 해가 되도록 재물을 지키는 경우가 있다(전 5:13). 그러나 버림으로써 복을 받기도 한다. 세상 사람들은 목숨을 살리기 위해 재물을 이렇게 아낌없이 버리면서, 의와 자선을 위해서는, 또 그리스도를 위해 고난당할 때는 얼마나 인색한지 이상한 일이다. 의로운 자들의 부활에서 천 배로 갚아 주신다고 하였건만(히 10:34). 짐을 잃는 것은 누구라도 원하지만, 믿음과 선한 양심을 잃는 것은 재물보다 훨씬 중요한 것임에도 불구하고 그것을 가볍게 여기는 이들이 많다.

(7) 셋째 날에는 배의 기구들까지 바다에 던졌다. 무거운 무기들을 폭풍에 바다로 던지는 것은 우리 시대에도 흔한 일이다. 선원들이 폭풍에 쓸모 있는 것들조차 던져 버리는 것이 당시 뱃사람들의 관행인지는 모르겠으나, 아마도 그러한 과도한 공황 상태였을 것이다.

**3. 그들이 마침내 절망에 빠진 것(행 27:20).** 구원받으리라는 모든 희망이 사라져 버렸다. 폭풍이 계속되었고 잦아들 기미가 보이지 않았다. 취한 조처들도 소용이 없어, 그들은 어쩔 줄을 몰랐다. 이 처참한 전망 때문에 넋이 나가서, 먹지도 마시지도 못하게 되었다. 배에는 식량이 충분히 있었지만(행 27:38), 죽음의 공포 아래에서 삶을 지탱해 주는 것들을 받아들일 마음의 여유가 없었다.

바울이 왜 그리스도의 권능으로 이 폭풍을 잔잔케 하지 않았는가 하는 의문이 있다. 주님께서 "잠잠하라, 고요하라"고 말씀하셨듯이(막 4:39). 분명히 사도들이 기적을 행한 것은 교리를 확증하기 위한 것이지, 자신이나 친구들의 편의를 위한 것이 아니었기 때문이다.

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원주석

21~44절 카드 ↗

Paul's Voyage towards Rome. 21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. 22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. 26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. 27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; 28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. 29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. 30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. 33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. 34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not a hair fall from the head of any of you. 35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. 36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. 37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. 39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. 40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. 41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. 42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. 43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: 44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. We have here the issue of the distress of Paul and his fellow-travellers; they escaped with their lives and that was all, and that was for Paul's sake. We are here told ( Acts 27:37 ; Acts 27:37 ) what number there were on board--mariners, merchants, soldiers, prisoners, and other passengers, in all two hundred and seventy-six souls; this is taken notice of to make us the more concerned for them in reading the story, that they were such a considerable number, whose lives were now in the utmost jeopardy, and one Paul among them worth more than all the rest. We left them in despair, giving up themselves for gone. Whether they called every man on his God, as Jonah's mariners did, we are not told; it is well if this laudable practice in a storm was not gone out of fashion and made a jest of. However, Paul among these seamen was not, like Jonah among his, the cause of the storm, but the comforter in the storm, and as much a credit to the profession of an apostle as Jonah was a blemish to the character of a prophet. Now here we have, I. The encouragement Paul gave them, by assuring them, in the name of God, that their lives should all be saved, even when, in human appearance, all hope that they should be saved was taken away. Paul rescued them from their despair first, that they might not die of that, and starve themselves in that, and then they were in a fair way to be rescued from their distress. After long abstinence, as if they were resolved not to eat till they knew whether they should live or die, Paul stood forth in the midst of them. During the distress hitherto Paul hid himself among them, was one of the crowd, helped with the rest to throw out the tackling ( Acts 27:19 ; Acts 27:19 ), but now he distinguished himself, and, though a prisoner, undertook to be their counsellor and comforter. 1. He reproves them for not taking his advice, which was to stay where they were, in the road of Lasea ( Acts 27:8 ; Acts 27:8 ): " You should have hearkened to me and not have loosed from Crete, where we might have made a shift to winter well enough, and then we should not have gained this harm and loss, that is, we should have escaped them." Harm and loss in the world, if sanctified to us, may be truly said to be gain; for if they wean us from present things, and awaken us to think of a future state, we are truly gainers by them. Observe, They did not hearken to Paul when he warned them of their danger, and yet if they will but acknowledge their folly, and repent of it, he will speak comfort and relief to them now that they are in danger, so compassionate is God to those that are in misery, though they bring themselves into it by their own incogitancy, nay, by their own wilfulness, and contempt of admonition. Paul, before administering comfort, will first make them sensible of their sin in not hearkening to him, by upbraiding them with their rashness, and probably, when he tells them of their gaining harm and loss, he reflects upon what they promised themselves by proceeding on their voyage, that they should gain so much time, gain this and the other point: "But," says he, "you have gained nothing but harm and loss; how will you answer it?" That which they are blamed for is their loosing from Crete, where they were safe. Note, Most people bring themselves into inconvenience, because they do not know when they are well off, but gain harm and loss by aiming against advice to better themselves. 2. He assures them that though they should lose the ship yet they should none of them lose their lives: "You see your folly in not being ruled by me:" he does not say, "Now therefore expect to fare accordingly, you may thank yourselves if you be all lost, those that will not be counselled cannot be helped." No, "Yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing; your case is sad, but it is not desperate, now, I exhort you to be of good cheer. " Thus we say to sinners that are convinced of their sin and folly, and begin to see and bewail their error, " You should have hearkened unto us, and should have had nothing to do with sin; yet now we exhort you to be of good cheer: though you would not take our advice when we said, Do not presume, yet take it now when we say, Do not despair. " They had given up the cause, and would use no further means, because all hope that they should be saved was taken away. Now Paul quickens them to bestir themselves yet in working for their own safety, by telling them that it they would resume their vigour they should secure their lives. He gives them this assurance when they were brought to the last extremity, for now it would be doubly welcome to them to be told that not a life should be lost when they were ready to conclude they must inevitably be all lost. He tells them, (1.) That they must count upon the loss of the ship. Those who were interested in that and the goods were probably those greater part that were for pushing forward the voyage and running the venture, notwithstanding Paul's admonition, and they are made to pay for their rashness. Their ship shall be wrecked. Many a stately, strong, rich, gallant ship is lost in the mighty waters in a little time; for vanity of vanities, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. But, (2.) Not a life shall be lost. This would be good news to those that were ready to die for fear of dying, and whose guilty consciences made death look very terrible to them. 3. He tells them what ground he had for this assurance, that it is not a banter upon them, to put them into humour, nor a human conjecture, he has a divine revelation for it, and is as confident of it as that God is true, being fully satisfied that he has his word for it. An angel of the Lord appeared to him in the night, and told him that for his sake they should all be preserved ( Acts 27:23-25 ; Acts 27:23-25 ), which would double the mercy of their preservation, that they should have it not only by providence, but by promise, and as a particular favour to Paul. Now observe here, (1.) The solemn profession Paul makes of relation to God, the God from whom he had this favourable intelligence: It is he whose I am, and whom I serve. He looks upon God, [1.] As his rightful owner, who has a sovereign incontestable title to him, and dominion over him: Who I am. Because God made us and not we ourselves, therefore we are not our own but his. His we are by creation, for he made us; by preservation, for he maintains us; by redemption, for he bought us. We are more his than our own. [2.] As his sovereign ruler and master, who, having given him being, has right to give him law: Whom I serve. Because his we are, therefore we are bound to serve him, to devote ourselves to his honour and employ ourselves in his work. It is Christ that Paul here has an eye to; he is God, and the angels are his and go on his errands. Paul often calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ; he is his, and him he serves, both as a Christian and as an apostle; he does not say, "Whose we are, and whom we serve," for most that were present were strangers to him, but, "Whose I am, and whom I serve, whatever others do; nay, whom I am now in the actual service of, going to Rome, not as you are, upon worldly business, but to appear as a witness for Christ." Now this he tells the company, that, seeing their relief coming from his God whose he was and whom he served, they might thereby be drawn in to take him for their God, and to serve him likewise; for the same reason Jonah said to his mariners, I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land, Jonah 1:9 . (2.) The account he gives of the vision he had: There stood by me this night an angel of God, a divine messenger who used formerly to bring him messages from heaven; he stood by him, visibly appeared to him, probably when he was awake upon his bed. Though he was afar off upon the sea ( Psalms 65:5 ), on the uttermost parts of the sea ( Psalms 139:9 ), yet this could not intercept his communion with God, nor deprive him of the benefit of divine visits. Thence he can direct a prayer to God, and thither God can direct an angel to him. He knows not where he is himself, yet God's angel knows where to find him out. The ship is tossed with winds and waves, hurried to and fro with the utmost violence, and yet the angel finds a way into it. No storms nor tempests can hinder the communications of God's favour to his people, for he is a very present help, a help at hand, even when the sea roars and is troubled, Psalms 46:1 ; Psalms 46:3 . We may suppose that Paul, being a prisoner, had not a cabin of his own in the ship, much less a bed in the captain's cabin, but was put down into the hold (any dark or dirty place was thought good enough for him in common with the rest of the prisoners), and yet there the angel of God stood by him. Meanness and poverty set none at a distance from God and his favour. Jacob, when he has no pillow but a stone, no curtains but the clouds, yet has a vision of angels. Paul had this vision but this last night. He had himself been assured by a former vision that he should go to Rome ( Acts 23:11 ; Acts 23:11 ), from which he might infer that he himself should be safe; but he has this fresh vision to assure him of the safety of those with him. (3.) The encouragements that were given him in the vision, Acts 27:14 ; Acts 27:14 . [1.] He is forbidden to fear. Though all about him are at their wits' end, and lost in despair, yet, Fear not, Paul; fear not their fear, nor be afraid, Isaiah 8:12 . Let the sinners in Zion be afraid, but let not the saints be afraid, no, not at sea, in a storm; for the Lord of hosts is with them, and their place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks, Isaiah 33:14-16 . [2.] He is assured that for his part he shall come safely to Rome: Thou must be brought before Cæsar. As the rage of the most potent enemies, so the rage of the most stormy sea, cannot prevail against God's witnesses till they have finished their testimony. Paul must be preserved in this danger, for he is reserved for further service. This is comfortable for the faithful servants of God in straits and difficulties, that as long as God has any work for them to do their lives shall be prolonged. [3.] That for his sake all that were in the ship with him should be delivered too from perishing in this storm: God hath given thee all those that sail with thee. The angel that was ordered to bring him this message could have singled him out from this wretched crew, and those that were his friends too, and have carried them safely to shore, and have left the rest to perish, because they would not take Paul's counsel. But God chooses rather, by preserving them all for his sake, to show what great blessings good men are to the world, than by delivering him only to show how good men are distinguished from the world. God has given thee all those that sail with thee, that is, spares them in answer to thy prayers, or for thy sake. Sometimes good men deliver neither sons nor daughters, but their own souls only, Ezekiel 14:18 . But Paul here delivers a whole ship's crew, almost three hundred souls. Note, God often spares wicked people for the sake of the godly; as Zoar for Lot's sake, and as Sodom might have been, if there had been ten righteous persons in it. The good people are hated and persecuted in the world as if they were not worthy to live in it, yet really it is for their sakes that the world stands. If Paul had thrust himself needlessly into bad company, he might justly have been cast away with them, but, God calling him into it, they are preserved with him. And it is intimated that it was a great favour to Paul, and he looked upon it to be so, that others were saved for his sake: They are given thee. There is no greater satisfaction to a good man than to know that he is a public blessing. 4. He comforts them with the same comforts wherewith he himself was comforted ( Acts 27:25 ; Acts 27:25 ): " Wherefore, Sirs, be of good cheer, you shall see even this will end well; for I believe God, and depend upon his word, that it shall be even as it was told me. " He would not require them to give credit to that to which he did not himself give credit; and therefore solemnly professes that he believes it himself, and the belief of it makes him easy: "I doubt not but it shall be as it was told me." Thus he staggers not at the promise of God through unbelief. Hath God spoken, and shall he not make it good? No doubt he can, no doubt he will; for he is not a man that he should lie. And shall it be as God hath said? Then be of good cheer, be of good courage. God is ever faithful, and therefore let all that have an interest in his promise be ever cheerful. If with God saying and doing are not two things, then with us believing and enjoying should not. 5. He gives them a sign, telling them particularly what this tempestuous voyage would issue in ( Acts 27:26 ; Acts 27:26 ): " We must be cast upon a certain island, and that will both break the ship and save the passengers; and so the prediction in both respects will be fulfilled." The pilot had quitted his post, the ship was left to run at random, they knew not what latitude they were in, much less how to steer their course; and yet Providence undertakes to bring them to an island that shall be a refuge for them. When the church of God, like this ship, is tossed with tempests, and not comforted, when there is none to guide her of all her sons, yet God can bring her safely to shore, and will do it. II. Their coming at length to an anchor upon an unknown shore, Acts 27:27-29 ; Acts 27:27-29 . 1. They had been a full fortnight in the storm, continually expecting death: The fourteenth night, and not sooner, they came near land; they were that night driven up and down in Adria, not in the Adriatic Gulf on which Venice stands, but in the Adriatic Sea, a part of the Mediterranean, containing both the Sicilian and Ionian seas, and extending to the African shore; in this sea they were tossed, and knew not whereabouts they were. 2. About midnight the mariners apprehended that they drew near to some shore, which confirmed what Paul had told them, that they must be driven upon some island. To try whether it was so or no, they sounded, in order to their finding the depth of the water, for the water would be shallower as they drew nearer to shore; by the first experiment they found they drew twenty fathoms deep of water, and by the next fifteen fathoms, which was a demonstration that they were near some shore; God has wisely ordered such a natural notice to sailors in the dark, that they may be cautious. 3. They took the hint, and, fearing rocks near the shore, they cast anchor, and wished for the day; they durst not go forward for fear of rocks, and yet would not go back in hope of shelter, but they would wait for the morning, and heartily wished for it; who can blame them when the affair came to a crisis? When they had light, there was no land to be seen; now that there was land near them, they had no light to see it by; no marvel then they wished for day. When those that fear God walk in darkness, and have no light, yet let them not say, The Lord has forsaken us, or, Our God has forgotten us; but let them do as these mariners did, cast anchor, and wish for the day, and be assured that the day will dawn. Hope is an anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast, entering into that within the veil. Hold fast by that, think not of putting to sea again, but abide by Christ, and wait till the day break, and the shadows flee away. III. The defeating of the sailors' attempt to quit the ship; here was a new danger added to their distress, which they narrowly escaped. Observe, 1. The treacherous design of the seamen, and that was to leave the sinking ship, which, though a piece of wisdom in others, yet in those that were entrusted with the care of it was the basest fraud that could be ( Acts 27:30 ; Acts 27:30 ): They were about to flee out of the ship, concluding no other than that when it ran ashore it must be broken all to pieces; having the command of the boat, the project was to get all of them into that, and so save themselves, and leave all the rest to perish. To cover this vile design, they pretended they would cast anchors out of the fore-ship, or carry them further off, and in order to this they let down the boat, which they had taken in ( Acts 27:16 ; Acts 27:17 ), and were going into it, having agreed among themselves, when they were in to make straight for the shore. The treacherous seamen are like the treacherous shepherd, who flees when he sees the danger coming, and there is most need of his help, John 10:12 . Thus true is that of Solomon, Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint. Let us therefore cease from man. Paul had, in God's name, assured them that they should come safely to land, but they will rather trust their own refuge of lies than God's word and truth. 2. Paul's discovery of it, and protestation against it, Acts 27:31 ; Acts 27:31 . They all saw them preparing to go into the boat, but were deceived by the pretence they made; only Paul saw through it, and gave notice to the centurion and the soldiers concerning it, and told them plainly, Except these abide in the ship, you cannot be saved. The skill of a mariner is seen in a storm, and, in the distress of the ship, then is the proper time for him to exert himself. Now the greatest difficulty of all was before them, and therefore the seamen were now more necessary than ever yet; it was indeed not by any skill of theirs that they were brought to land, for it was quite beyond their skill, but, now that they are near land, they must use their art to bring the ship to it. When God has done that for us which we could not, we must then in his strength help ourselves. Paul speaks humanly, when he says, You cannot be saved except these abide in the ship; and he does not at all weaken the assurances he had divinely given that they should infallibly be saved. God, who appointed the end, that they should be saved, appointed the means, that they should be saved by the help of these seamen; though, if they had gone off, no doubt God would have made his word good some other way. Paul speaks as a prudent man, not as a prophet, when he says, These are necessary to your preservation. Duty is ours, events are God's; and we do not trust God, but tempt him, when we say, "We put ourselves under his protection," and do not use proper means, such as are within our power, for our own preservation. 3. The effectual defeat of it by the soldiers, Acts 27:32 ; Acts 27:32 . It was not time to stand arguing the case with the seamen, and therefore they made no more ado, but cut the ropes of the boat, and though it might otherwise have done them service in their present distress, they chose rather to let it fall off, and lose it, than suffer it to do them this disservice. And now the seamen, being forced to stay in the ship whether they would or no, are forced likewise to work for the safety of the ship as hard as they could, because if the rest perish they must perish with them. IV. The new life which Paul put into the company, by cheerfully inviting them to take some refreshment, and by the repeated assurances he gave them that they should all of them have their lives given them for a prey. Happy they who had such a one as Paul in their company, who not only had correspondence with Heaven, but was of a hearty lively spirit with those about him, that sharpened the countenance of his friend, as iron sharpens iron. Such a friend in distress, when without are fightings and within are fears, is a friend indeed. Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel, Proverbs 27:9 . Such was Paul's here to his companions in tribulation. The day was coming on: those that wish for the day, let them wait awhile, and they shall have what they wish for. The dawning of the day revived them a little, and then Paul got them together. 1. He chid them for their neglect of themselves, that they had so far given way to fear and despair as to forget or not to mind their food: This is the fourteenth day that you have tarried, and continued fasting, having taken nothing; and that is not well, Acts 27:33 ; Acts 27:33 . Not that they had all, or any of them, continued fourteen days without any food, but they had not had any set meal, as they used to have, all that time; they ate very little, next to nothing. Or, " You have continued fasting, that is, you have lost your stomach; you have had no appetite at all to your food, nor any relish of it, through prevailing fear and despair." A very disconsolate state is thus expressed ( Psalms 102:4 ), I forget to eat my bread. It is a sin to starve the body, and to deny it its necessary supports; he is an unnatural man indeed that hateth his own flesh, and does not nourish and cherish it; and it is a sore evil under the sun to have a sufficiency of the good things of this life, and not to have power to use them, Ecclesiastes 6:2 . If this arise from the sorrow of the world, and from any inordinate fear or trouble, it is so far from excusing it that it is another sin, it is discontent, it is distrust of God, it is all wrong. What folly is it to die for fear of dying! But thus the sorrow of the world works death, while joy in God is life and peace in the greatest distresses and dangers. 2. He courts them to their food ( Acts 27:34 ; Acts 27:34 ): " Wherefore I pray you to take some meat. We have a hard struggle before us, must get to shore as well as we can; if our bodies be weak through fasting, we shall not be able to help ourselves." The angel bade Elijah, Arise and eat, for otherwise he would find the journey too great for him, 1 Kings 19:7 . So Paul will have these people eat, or otherwise the waves will be too hard for them: I pray you, parakalo, " I exhort you, if you will be ruled by me, take some nourishment; though you have no appetite to it, though you have fasted away your stomach, yet let reason bring you to it, for this is for your health, or rather your preservation, or safety, at this time; it is for your salvation, you cannot without nourishment have strength to shift for your lives." As he that will not labour, let him not eat; so he that means to labour must eat. Weak and trembling Christians, that give way to doubts and fears about their spiritual state, continue fasting from the Lord's supper, and fasting from divine consolations, and then complain they cannot go on in their spiritual work and warfare; and it is owing to themselves. If they would feed and feast as they ought, upon the provision Christ has made for them, they would be strengthened, and it would be for their souls' health and salvation. 3. He assures them of their preservation: There shall not a hair fall from the head of any of you. It is a proverbial expression, denoting a complete indemnity. It is used 1 Kings 1:51 ; Luke 21:18 . "You cannot eat for fear of dying; I tell you, you are sure of living, and therefore eat. You will come to shore wet and cold, but sound wind and limb; your hair wet, but not a hair lost." 4. He himself spread their table for them; for none of them had any heart to do it, they were all so dispirited: When he had thus spoken, he took bread, fetched it from the ship's stores, to which every one might safely have access when none of them had an appetite. They were not reduced to short allowance, as sailors sometimes are when they are kept longer at sea than they expected by distress of weather; they had plenty, but what good did that do them, when they had no stomach? We have reason to be thankful to God that we have not only food to our appetite, but appetite to our food; that our soul abhors not even dainty meat ( Job 33:20 ), through sickness or sorrow. 5. He was chaplain to the ship, and they had reason to be proud of their chaplain. He gave thanks to God in presence of them all. We have reason to think he had often prayed with Luke and Aristarchus, and what others there were among them that were Christians, that they prayed daily together; but whether he had before this prayed with the whole company promiscuously is not certain. Now he gave thanks to God, in presence of them all, that they were alive, and had been preserved hitherto, and that they had a promise that their lives should be preserved in the imminent peril now before them; he gave thanks for the provision they had, and begged a blessing upon it. We must in every thing give thanks; and must particularly have an eye to God in receiving our food, for it is sanctified to us by the word of God and prayer, and is to be received with thanksgiving. Thus the curse is taken off from it, and we obtain a covenant-right to it and a covenant-blessing upon it, 1 Timothy 4:3-5 . And it is not by bread alone that man lives, but by the word of God, which must be met with prayer. He gave thanks in presence of them all, not only to show that he served a Master he was not ashamed of, but to invite them into his service too. If we crave a blessing upon our meat, and give thanks for it in a right manner, we shall not only keep up a comfortable communion with God ourselves, but credit our profession, and recommend it to the good opinion of others. 6. He set them a good example: When he had given thanks, he broke the bread (it was sea-biscuit) and he began to eat. Whether they would be encouraged or no, he would; if they would be sullen, and, like froward children, refuse their victuals because they had not every thing to their mind, he would eat his meat, and be thankful. Those that teach others are inexcusable if they do not themselves do as they teach, and the most effectual way of preaching is by example. 7. It had a happy influence upon them all ( Acts 27:36 ; Acts 27:36 ): Then were they all of good cheer. They then ventured to believe the message God sent them by Paul when they plainly perceived that Paul believed it himself, who was in the same common danger with them. Thus God sends good tidings to the perishing world of mankind by those who are of themselves, and in the same common danger with themselves, who are sinners too, and must be saved, if ever they be saved, in the same way in which they persuade others to venture; for it is a common salvation which they bring the tidings of; and it is an encouragement to people to commit themselves to Christ as their Saviour when those who invite them to do so make it to appear that they do so themselves. It is here upon this occasion that the number of the persons is set down, which we took notice of before: they were in all two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. See how many may be influenced by the good example of one. They did all eat, nay, they did all eat enough ( Acts 27:38 ; Acts 27:38 ), they were satiated with food, or filled with it; they made a hearty meal. This explains the meaning of their fasting before for fourteen days; not that they did not eat during all that time, but they never had enough all that time, as they had now. 8. They once more lightened the ship, that it might escape the better in the shock it was now to have. They had before thrown the wares and the tackle overboard, and now the wheat, the victuals and provisions they had; better they should sink the food than that it should sink them. See what good reason our Saviour had to call our bodily food meat that perishes. We may ourselves be under a necessity of throwing that away to save our lives which we had gathered and laid up for the support of our lives. It is probable that the ship was overloaded with the multitude of the passengers (for this comes in just after the account of the number of them) and that this obliged them so often to lighten the ship. V. Their putting to shore, and the staving of the ship in the adventure. It was about break of day when they ate their meat, and when it was quite day they began to look about them; and here we are told, 1. That they knew not where they were; they could not tell what country it was they were now upon the coast of, whether it was Europe, Asia, or Africa, for each had shores washed by the Adriatic Sea. It is probable that these seamen had often sailed this way, and thought they knew every country they came near perfectly well, and yet here they were at a loss. Let not the wise man then glory in his wisdom, since it may perhaps fail him thus egregiously even in his own profession. 2. They observed a creek with a level shore, into which they hoped to thrust the ship, Acts 27:39 ; Acts 27:39 . Though they knew not what country it was, nor whether the inhabitants were friends or foes, civil or barbarous, they determined to cast themselves upon their mercy; it was dry land, which would be very welcome to those that had been so long at sea. It was a pity but they had had some help from the shore, a pilot sent them, that knew the coast, who might steer their ship in, or another second ship, to take some of the men on board. Those who live on the sea-coast have often opportunity of succouring those who are in distress at sea, and of saving precious lives, and they ought to do their utmost in order to it, with all readiness and cheerfulness; for it is a great sin, and very provoking to God, to forbear to deliver those that are driven unto death, and are ready to be slain; and it will not serve for an excuse to say, Behold, we knew it not, when either we did, or might, and should, have known it, Proverbs 24:11 ; Proverbs 24:12 . I have been told there are some, and in our own nation too, who when from the sea-coast they see a ship in distress and at a loss will, by misguiding fires or otherwise, purposely lead them into danger, that the lives may be lost, and they may have the plunder of the ship. One can scarcely believe that any of the human species can possibly be so wicked, so barbarously inhuman, and can have so much of the devil in them; if there be, let them know of a truth that they shall have judgment without mercy who have shown no mercy. 3. They made straight to the shore with wind and tide ( Acts 27:40 ; Acts 27:40 ): They took up the anchors, the four anchors which they cast out of the stern, Acts 27:29 ; Acts 27:29 . Some think that they took pains to weigh them up, hoping they should have use for them again at the shore; others that they did it with such precipitation that they were forced to cut the cables and leave them; the original will admit either. They then committed themselves to the sea, the wind standing fair to carry them into the port, and they loosed the rudder-bands, which were fastened during the storm for the greater steadiness of the ship, but, now that they were putting into the port, were loosed, that the pilot might steer with the greater freedom; they then hoisted up the main-sail to the wind, and made towards shore. The original words here used for the rudder-bands and the main-sail find the critics a great deal of work to accommodate them to the modern terms; but they need not give us any difficulty who are content to know that when they saw the shore they hastened to it as fast as they could, and perhaps made more haste than good speed. And should not a poor soul that has long been struggling with winds and tempests in this world long to put into the safe and quiet haven of everlasting rest? Should it not get clear from all that which fastens it to this earth, and straitens the out-goings of its pious and devout affections heavenward? And should it not hoist up the main-sail of faith to the wind of the Spirit, and so with longing desires make to shore? 4. They made a shift among them to run the ship aground, in a shelf or bed of sand, as it should seem, or an isthmus, or neck of land, washed with the sea on both sides, and therefore two seas are said to meet upon it, and there the forepart stuck fast; and then, when it had no liberty to play, as a ship has when it rides at anchor, but remained immovable, the hinder part would soon be broken of course by the violence of the waves. Whether the seamen did not do their part, being angry that they were disappointed in their design to escape, and therefore wilfully ran the ship aground, or whether we may suppose that they did their utmost to save it, but God in his providence overruled, for the fulfilling of Paul's word, that the ship must be lost ( Acts 27:22 ; Acts 27:22 ), I cannot say; but this we are sure of that God will confirm the word of his servants, and perform the counsel of his messengers, Isaiah 44:26 . The ship, that had strangely weathered the storm in the vast ocean, where it had room to roll, is dashed to pieces when it sticks fast. Thus if the heart fixes in the world, in love and affection, and adherence to it, it is lost. Satan's temptations beat against it, and it is gone; but, as long as it keeps above the world, though it be tossed with its cares and tumults, there is hope of it. They had the shore in view, and yet suffered shipwreck in the harbour, to teach us never to be secure. VI. A particular danger that Paul and the rest of the prisoners were in, besides their share in the common calamity, and their deliverance from it. 1. In this critical moment, when every man hung in doubt of his life, the soldiers advised the killing of the prisoners that were committed to their custody, and whom they were to give an account of, lest any of them should swim out and escape, Acts 27:42 ; Acts 27:42 . There was no great danger of that, for they could not escape far, weak and weary as they were; and, under the eye of so many soldiers that had the charge of them, it was not likely they should attempt it; and if it should so happen, though they might be obnoxious to the law for a permissive escape, yet in such a case as this equity would certainly relieve them. But it was a brutish barbarous motion, and so much the worse that they were thus prodigal of other people's lives when without a miracle of mercy they must lose their own. 2. The centurion, for Paul's sake, quashed this motion presently. Paul, who was his prisoner, had found favour with him, as Joseph with the captain of the guard. Julius, though he despised Paul's advice ( Acts 27:11 ; Acts 27:11 ), yet afterwards saw a great deal of cause to respect him, and therefore, being willing to save Paul, he prevented the execution of that bloody project, and in favorem vitæ--from a regard to his life, he kept them from their purpose. It does not appear that they were any of them malefactors convicted, but only suspected, and waiting their trial, and in such a case as this better ten guilty ones should escape than one that was innocent be slain. As God had saved all in the ship for Paul's sake, so here the centurion saves all the prisoners for his sake; such a diffusive good is a good man. VII. The saving of the lives of all the persons in the ship, by the wonderful providence of God. When the ship broke under them, surely there was but a step between them and death; and yet infinite mercy interposed, and that step was not stepped. 1. Some were saved by swimming: The centurion commanded his soldiers in the first place, as many of them as could swim, to get to land first, and to be ready to receive the prisoners, and prevent their escape. The Romans trained up their youth, among other exercises, to that of swimming, and it was often of service to them in their wars: Julius Caesar was a famous swimmer. It may be very useful to these who deal much at sea, but otherwise perhaps more lives have been lost by swimming in sport, and learning to swim, than have been saved by swimming for need. 2. The rest with much ado scrambled to the shore, some on boards that they had loose with them in the ship, and others on the broken pieces of the ship, every one making the best shift he could for himself and his friends, and the more busy because they were assured their labour should not be in vain; but so it came to pass that through the good providence of God none of them miscarried, none of them were by accident turned off, but they escaped all safely to land. See here an instance of the special providence of God in the preservation of people's lives, and particularly in the deliverance of many from perils by water, ready to sink, and yet kept from sinking, the deep from swallowing them up and the water-floods from overflowing them, the storm turned into a calm. They were rescued from the dreaded sea, and brought to the desired haven. O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness! Psalms 107:30 ; Psalms 107:31 . Here was an instance of the performance of a particular word of promise which God gave, that all the persons in this ship should be saved for Paul's sake. Though there be great difficulty in the way of the promised salvation, yet it shall without fail be accomplished; and even the wreck of the ship may furnish out means for the saving of the lives, and, when all seems to be gone, all proves to be safe, though it be on boards, and broken pieces of the ship. return to ' Top of Page ' Acts Act 26 Acts Act Acts Act 28 Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that is available on the Christian Classics Ethereal Library Website. Bibliographical Information Henry, Matthew. "Complete Commentary on Acts 27". 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keys=t.split(',');keys.forEach(function(key){if(key==='com'){_ts_loadCom();}if(key==='bib'){_ts_loadBib();}});} function _ts_loadCom(){var commEl=document.querySelector('.commentary');comsec=commEl?commEl.getAttribute('data-com-sec'):'';comlang=commEl?commEl.getAttribute('data-com-lang'):'';comabbr=commEl?commEl.getAttribute('data-com-abbr'):'';var qs='bk='+encodeURIComponent(cur_com_bn)+'&ch='+encodeURIComponent(cur_com_cn)+'&vs='+encodeURIComponent(cur_com_vs)+'&cs='+encodeURIComponent(comsec)+'&cl='+encodeURIComponent(comlang)+'&ca='+encodeURIComponent(comabbr);fetch('/cgi-bin/bible/getBible_data.cgi?'+qs).then(function(r){return r.text();}).then(function(text){var doc=new DOMParser().parseFromString(text,'text/xml');var sn=_ts_xmlSplit(doc,'sn');var sa=_ts_xmlSplit(doc,'sa');var sf=_ts_xmlSplit(doc,'sf');for(var i=0;i u?o(n,r,t,e,u+1):0:0==i?1:-1}(o,n,r,t,0)})} var TS_PARENT_MODE={commentary:'section',translation:'language',chapter:'book',verse:'chapter'}; function _ts_isPerVerseUrl(path){var slash=path.lastIndexOf('/');if(slash =stem.length-1){return false;}return _ts_isAllDigits(stem.substring(0,dash))&&_ts_isAllDigits(stem.substring(dash+1));} function _ts_isAllDigits(s){if(!s||!s.length){return false;}for(var i=0;i 57){return false;}}return true;} function _ts_buildOverlay(){document.documentElement.style.overflowY='hidden';document.body.style.overflowY='hidden';updateSizes('470','650');var overlay=_ts_el('div',{cls:'overlayMaster',style:{top:curTop+'px',left:curLeft+'px',width:'100%',height:'100%'}});document.body.appendChild(overlay);var popup=_ts_el('div',{cls:'popupDiv noselect',style:{left:popLeft+'px',top:popTop+'px',width:popWidth+'px',height:popHeight+'px'}});overlay.appendChild(popup);} function _ts_buildHeader(mode){var parent=TS_PARENT_MODE[mode];var popup=document.querySelector('.popupDiv');var titleBar=_ts_el('div',{cls:'popupDiv-title'});popup.appendChild(titleBar);var prevBtn=_ts_el('span',{cls:'popupDiv-title-prev 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0);}else{takesVerse=(parseInt(verse,10)>0);}if(takesVerse){translationSelector_menu('verse');}else{_ts_sendThemBack('reference-noverse');}}});}if(mode==='verse'){return _ts_el('div',{cls:'popupDiv-item clickable selector-chapter',data:{number:o},html:o,click:function(){_ts_removeOverlay();verse=parseInt(this.getAttribute('data-number'),10);_ts_sendThemBack('reference-verse');}});}if(mode==='language'){return _ts_el('div',{cls:'popupDiv-item clickable selector-languages',data:{'trans-lang':items[o].abbr},html:items[o].name,click:function(){_ts_removeOverlay();translang=this.getAttribute('data-trans-lang');translationSelector_menu('translation');}});}if(mode==='translation'){return _ts_el('div',{cls:'popupDiv-item clickable selector-translation',data:{'trans-abbr':items[o].trans},html:items[o].name,click:function(){_ts_removeOverlay();transabbr=this.getAttribute('data-trans-abbr');_ts_sendThemBack('translation');}});}} function _ts_sendThemBack(reason){var origPath=window.location.pathname;var parts=origPath.split('/');var noVerse=(reason==='reference-noverse');var inputIsPerVerse=_ts_isPerVerseUrl(origPath);if(parts[1]==='interlinear-study-bible'){parts=parts.slice(0,5);parts[3]=book_data[book].url;parts[4]=noVerse?(chapter+'.html'):(chapter+'-'+verse+'.html');}else if(parts[1]==='commentary'){parts=parts.slice(0,4);parts[2]=book_data[book].url;parts[3]=noVerse?(chapter+'.html'):(chapter+'-'+verse+'.html');}else if(parts[1]==='commentaries'){parts[2]=comlang;parts[3]=comabbr;if(inputIsPerVerse){parts=parts.slice(0,6);parts[4]=book_data[book].url;parts[5]=noVerse?(chapter+'.html'):(chapter+'-'+verse+'.html');}else{parts=parts.slice(0,5);parts[4]=book_data[book].url+'-'+chapter+'.html';}}else if(parts[1]==='bible'){parts=parts.slice(0,6);parts[2]=translang;parts[3]=transabbr;parts[4]=book_data[book].url;parts[5]=(verse duction ","Verses 1-11","Verses 12-20","Verses 21-44"]; function

Pericope (part_of)

절 (explains)

bible-text/act-27-21, bible-text/act-27-22, bible-text/act-27-23, bible-text/act-27-24, bible-text/act-27-25, bible-text/act-27-26, bible-text/act-27-27, bible-text/act-27-28, bible-text/act-27-29, bible-text/act-27-30, bible-text/act-27-31, bible-text/act-27-32, bible-text/act-27-33, bible-text/act-27-34, bible-text/act-27-35, bible-text/act-27-36, bible-text/act-27-37, bible-text/act-27-38, bible-text/act-27-39, bible-text/act-27-40, bible-text/act-27-41, bible-text/act-27-42, bible-text/act-27-43, bible-text/act-27-44

Source

> 사람들이 오래도록 먹지 못하였을 때, 바울이 그들 가운데 일어서서 말하였다. "여러분, 마땅히 내 말을 들어 크레타에서 떠나지 않았어야 했습니다. 그랬다면 이런 상함과 손실을 면하였을 것입니다. 그러나 이제 나는 여러분에게 기운을 내라고 권합니다. 여러분 가운데 목숨을 잃을 사람은 없고, 다만 배만 잃을 것입니다. 내가 속한 하나님, 곧 내가 섬기는 그분의 천사가 이 밤에 내 곁에 서서 말하기를 '바울아, 두려워하지 말라. 너는 반드시 카이사르 앞에 서야 한다. 보라, 하나님께서 너와 함께 항해하는 모든 사람을 네게 주셨다' 하였습니다. 그러므로 여러분, 기운을 내십시오! 나는 내게 말씀하신 그대로 이루어질 것을 하나님을 믿습니다. 다만 우리는 어떤 섬에 좌초하게 될 것입니다." 열나흘째 밤이 되어 우리가 아드리아 바다에서 이리저리 떠밀려 다니던 자정쯤에, 선원들은 어떤 육지에 가까워지고 있다고 짐작하였다. 그들이 물 깊이를 재어 보니 스무 길이었고, 조금 더 가서 다시 재어 보니 열다섯 길이었다. 바위가 많은 곳에 좌초할까 두려워하여, 그들은 고물에서 닻 넷을 내리고 날이 새기를 기다렸다. 그때 선원들이 배에서 도망하려고, 이물에서 닻을 내리는 척하면서 거룻배를 바다에 내렸다. 바울이 백부장과 군인들에게 말하였다. "이 사람들이 배에 머물러 있지 않으면, 여러분은 구원받을 수 없습니다." 그러자 군인들이 거룻배의 밧줄을 잘라 떨어져 나가게 하였다. 날이 밝아 올 무렵, 바울이 모두에게 음식을 좀 먹으라고 간청하며 말하였다. "여러분이 기다리며 아무것도 먹지 못하고 굶은 지 오늘로 열나흘째입니다. 그러므로 음식을 좀 드시기를 간청합니다. 이는 여러분의 안전을 위함입니다. 여러분 가운데 누구도 머리카락 하나 잃지 않을 것입니다." 바울은 이렇게 말하고 떡을 들어 모두 앞에서 하나님께 감사를 드린 뒤, 떼어 먹기 시작하였다. 그러자 모두가 기운을 내어 그들도 음식을 먹었다. 배에 탄 우리는 모두 이백칠십육 명이었다. 사람들이 배불리 먹은 뒤, 밀을 바다에 던져 배를 가볍게 하였다. 날이 밝았을 때 그들은 그 땅을 알아보지 못하였으나, 해변이 있는 어떤 만을 발견하고 거기로 배를 몰아 대기로 결정하였다. 그들은 닻을 끊어 바다에 버리는 동시에 키 줄을 풀고, 앞 돛을 바람에 올려 해변을 향해 나아갔다. 그러나 두 바닷물이 만나는 곳에 이르러 배가 좌초하니, 이물은 부딪쳐 박혀 움직이지 않고 고물은 파도의 거센 힘에 부서지기 시작하였다. 군인들은 죄수들 가운데 누구도 헤엄쳐 도망하지 못하도록 그들을 죽이려고 의논하였다. 그러나 백부장은 바울을 구하고자 하여 그들의 뜻을 막고, 헤엄칠 수 있는 사람들은 먼저 바다에 뛰어들어 육지로 나아가게 하고 나머지는 더러는 널빤지로, 더러는 배의 다른 물건으로 뒤따르게 하였다. 그리하여 모두가 안전하게 육지에 이르게 되었다. (행 27:21-44)

여기에 바울과 그 동료 여행자들이 위기에서 빠져나오는 이야기가 나온다. 그들은 목숨만 건졌고, 그것도 바울 덕분이었다. 행 27:37에 배에 탄 이들이 총 이백칠십육 명이었다고 기록되어 있다. 선원, 상인, 군인, 죄수, 그 밖의 승객들을 합한 것이다. 이렇게 많은 수의 목숨이 극도의 위험에 처했으며, 그 가운데 바울이 있었는데, 다른 모든 사람을 합친 것보다 더 귀한 한 사람이었다. 우리는 그들이 절망 가운데 있는 것을 보았다. 폭풍 속에서 요나의 뱃사람들처럼 저마다 자기 신에게 부르짖었는지는 알 수 없다. 폭풍 속에서 이런 경건한 실천이 사라져 버린 것이 아닌지 모르겠다. 그러나 이 뱃사람들 사이에서 바울은 요나처럼 폭풍의 원인이 아니라, 폭풍 속에서의 위로자였으며, 선지자 요나보다 사도 바울이 훨씬 더 빛나는 모범이었다. 여기서 우리는 다음의 내용들을 살펴본다.

**I. 바울이 하나님의 이름으로 그들의 목숨이 모두 살아날 것을 확신시켜 그들을 절망에서 건져 낸 것이다.** 바울은 먼저 그들을 절망에서 건져 내어 그 절망으로 굶어 죽거나 생명을 포기하는 일이 없도록 한 뒤, 그다음 실질적인 위험에서도 구원받을 준비를 갖추게 하였다. 오랫동안 먹지 못한 끝에, 사람들이 살지 죽을지 알게 될 때까지는 아무것도 먹지 않겠다는 듯, 바울이 그들 가운데 나섰다. 지금까지 위기 동안 바울은 모습을 감추고 있었다. 군중 속의 한 사람으로서, 배의 기구들을 던져 버리는 것도 함께 도왔다(행 27:19). 그러나 이제 그는 두드러지게 나서서, 죄수의 신분이지만 그들의 조언자와 위로자가 되었다.

**1. 충고를 듣지 않은 것을 꾸짖었다(행 27:8의 라새아 항구에 있을 때를 가리키며).** "마땅히 내 말을 들어 크레타에서 떠나지 않았어야 했습니다. 그랬다면 이런 상함과 손실을 면하였을 것입니다." 세상에서 겪는 상함과 손실도 하나님께서 역사하시면 참된 유익이 될 수 있다. 현재 것들로부터 마음을 떼어 놓고 미래를 생각하게 만들면, 그 손해도 참된 이익이기 때문이다. 주목하라. 그들이 바울이 위험을 경고할 때는 듣지 않았지만, 만약 이제라도 그들이 어리석음을 인정하고 회개한다면, 바울은 지금 위험에 처한 그들에게 위로와 구원의 말을 전할 것이다. 하나님께서는 비참한 처지에 있는 이들에게 자신들이 어리석음과 완고한 충고 무시로 스스로 그 처지를 초래했음에도 불구하고, 긍휼히 여기신다. 바울은 위로를 전하기 전에, 무모함을 꾸짖어 경솔히 떠난 것을 깨닫게 하였다. 아마도 그들의 목적했던 이익을 언급하며 이렇게 말했을 것이다. "그 시간을 얻겠다, 이것저것을 얻겠다고 했지만, 지금은 상함과 손실만 얻었습니다." 주목하라. 많은 사람들이 충고를 무시하며 어리석게 처신하는 것은, 현재 처지에 만족하지 못하고 더 나아지려 하다가 상함과 손실만 자초하기 때문이다.

**2. 목숨은 잃지 않지만 배는 잃게 될 것을 확신시켰다.** "여러분의 어리석음을 보았습니다." 그는 "이제 그대로 되리니 스스로 자초한 것입니다"라고 하지 않았다. 오히려 "이제 희망이 있습니다. 기운을 내십시오."라고 하였다. 이렇게 우리는 자신의 죄와 어리석음을 깨닫고 한탄하는 죄인들에게 말할 수 있다. "죄를 지을 때 우리의 말을 들었어야 했다. 그러나 이제 우리는 여러분에게 기운을 내라고 권합니다. 죄를 짓지 말라고 할 때는 듣지 않았으나, 절망하지 말라고 할 때는 들으십시오." 그들이 포기하고 더 이상 생명을 위한 조처를 취하려 하지 않았다. 구원의 희망이 사라졌기 때문이었다. 이제 바울은 여전히 희망이 있다고 깨우쳐 주어, 그들이 힘을 내어 안전을 위해 적극적으로 나서도록 격려하였다. 그는 그들이 막다른 절망에 있을 때 이 확신을 주었기에, 그 말이 더욱 반갑게 들렸을 것이다. 희망이 전혀 없다고 결론 내린 그 순간에, 한 사람도 죽지 않을 것이라는 말을 듣는다는 것이 어찌 반갑지 않겠는가. 그는 그들에게 배의 손실은 각오해야 한다고 말했다. 배와 물건에 이해관계가 있던 이들은 이것을 아쉽게 여겼을 것이다. 그러나 "이보다 더 큰 것을 잃지 않겠습니까?"라고 위로하였다.

(2) 그 근거는 하나님의 특별한 계시였다. 내가 속한 하나님, 내가 섬기는 그분의 천사가 이 밤에 내 곁에 서서 말하였다(행 27:23). 주목하라. 하나님의 사람에게는 하늘에서 오는 즉각적인 도움이 있다. 그들은 천사의 섬김을 받는다(히 1:14). 천사가 이 밤에 내 곁에 서서, 즉 바로 이 폭풍이 치던 밤에, 내 침대 곁에 서서, 내가 잠들어 있는지 깨어 있는지 알 수 없지만, 나타나서 말하였다. 이것이 바울에게 얼마나 큰 위로였을까. 천사의 방문이 그의 특별한 위로가 되었다.

가. 그 계시는 바울 자신에게 주어졌다. "바울아, 두려워하지 말라." 이는 단지 동행자들을 위한 것이 아니라, 특별히 바울을 위한 것이었다. 그는 다른 사람들보다 더 많은 두려움을 가졌거나, 아니면 하나님의 개인적인 배려와 보살핌이 그에게 향하였거나, 아니면 두 가지 다였을 것이다. "두려워하지 말라"는 말씀은 폭풍의 위험을 느끼는 사람에게 꼭 필요한 말씀이다.

나. 그에게는 로마에서 해야 할 일이 있었다. "너는 반드시 카이사르 앞에 서야 한다." 하나님께서는 바울을 위해 그곳에서 할 일을 남겨 두셨다. 그 일이 아직 이루어지지 않았으므로, 그는 살아남을 것이다. 바울이 황제에게 상소한 것은 하나님의 뜻에 어긋나지 않았다. 오히려 천사를 통해 그것이 확인되었다. "너는 반드시 카이사르 앞에 서야 한다"고 하셨으니, 이는 하나님의 뜻과 일치한다. 이 위험한 여행에서 그가 살아남을 것은 하나님이 보장하신다.

다. 함께 있는 모든 이들에게도 자비가 베풀어졌다. "하나님께서 너와 함께 항해하는 모든 사람을 네게 주셨다." 그들의 목숨이 바울에게 주어진 선물이었다. 그것은 하나님께서 바울에게 주신 것이었다. 그들의 목숨은 하나님의 섭리로 지켜지는 것이지만, 그것이 바울에게 주어진 것으로 표현된 것은 그들이 바울을 통해 보존된다는 것을 나타낸다. 바울은 그들에게 위안이 되고, 그들의 목숨을 위한 기도를 드렸다. 기도가 응답받으면, 이를 통해 그들이 구원을 받는 것이다. 악인들이 선인들과 함께 있는 것이 그들의 복이 될 수 있다. 요셉이 그 주인과 함께 있었을 때 그 집이 복을 받은 것처럼(창 39:5). 주목하라. 진정으로 선하고 거룩한 사람들은 그들이 사는 사회에 복이 된다. 그들로 인해 다른 사람들이 해를 면하는 것이다. "그들이 고통을 당하고 있는 곳에서도 그들이 있는 것이 이웃에게 복이 된다."

**3. 이 확신을 확고히 믿음으로 선포하였다(행 27:25).** "나는 내게 말씀하신 그대로 이루어질 것을 하나님을 믿습니다." 바울은 천사가 전한 하나님의 말씀을 굳게 믿었다. 비록 자연 현상은 그 약속에 반하는 것처럼 보였지만, 그는 약속의 진실함을 믿었다. 이것이 믿음의 영웅적인 행위이다. 주목하라. 하나님의 약속은 어떤 장애물 앞에서도 그것이 반드시 이루어질 것이라는 확신의 근거가 된다. 이것이 우리의 믿음을 지탱하게 한다. 바울은 또한 "우리는 어떤 섬에 좌초하게 될 것입니다"라고 예고하였다(행 27:26). 모든 것이 잘 될 것이지만, 항해는 쉽지 않을 것이다. 하나님께서는 자기 백성을 구원하실 때, 흔히 고난의 시험을 통과하게 하신다. 구원하시기 전에 두렵게 하신다. 그러나 어떤 섬에 좌초하게 될 것이니, 완전히 바다에 빠져 죽는 것은 아니다.

**II. 선원들이 도망치려 하는 것을 막은 것이다.**

열나흘째 밤이 되었다. 폭풍에 떠밀리며 아드리아 바다를 이리저리 표류한 지 이주일이 되었다. 자정쯤 선원들이 육지에 가까워지는 것을 감지하였다. 아마도 파도 소리가 달라지는 것으로 알아챘을 것이다. 그들은 줄로 물 깊이를 재어 스무 길에서 열다섯 길로 얕아지는 것을 확인하였다. 이는 육지에 가까워지고 있다는 증거였다. 바위가 많은 곳에 좌초할까 두려워하여, 그들은 닻 넷을 내리고 날이 새기를 기다렸다. 그동안 선원들이 배에서 몰래 탈출하려고 이물에서 닻을 내리는 척하면서 거룻배를 바다에 내렸다. 그러나 바울이 이것을 알아차리고 백부장과 군인들에게 경고하였다. "이 사람들이 배에 머물러 있지 않으면, 여러분은 구원받을 수 없습니다."

이것도 하나님께서 직접 바울에게 알려 주신 것이거나, 바울이 선원들의 움직임을 보고 알아챈 것이었다. 어떻든 이것은 주목할 만한 일이다.

(1) 선원들이 배를 버리고 도망하려 하였다. 배를 잘 아는 사람들이 배가 버려질 것을 느꼈을 것이다. 자신들만 살려는 비겁하고 배은망덕한 짓이었다. 그들은 다른 사람들의 안전에 책임이 있는 사람들이었는데, 몰래 도망하려 하였다.

(2) 바울이 그것을 막았다. 하나님의 약속이 있다 하더라도, 그 약속이 이루어지기 위해서는 배가 통째로 좌초해야 하며, 그러기 위해서는 선원들이 배 안에 있어야 한다. 하나님의 은혜와 사람의 수단은 함께 협력한다. 하나님의 약속은 우리를 나태하게 만들지 않는다. 주님의 약속이 있다 하더라도, 우리는 그 약속이 이루어지는 데 필요한 방편들을 사용해야 한다. 주목하라. 우리의 안전을 위해 협력해야 할 사람들이 우리를 버리고 도망간다면, 우리가 처한 위험은 더 커진다.

(3) 군인들이 즉시 거룻배의 밧줄을 잘라 버렸다. 선원들은 작은 배가 없어졌으니 달리 도망할 방법이 없어, 큰 배에 머물 수밖에 없었다. 선원들이 쓸 방편을 빼앗아 버림으로써, 그들을 강제로 그 자리에 머물게 한 것이다. 이처럼 때로는 유혹의 수단과 기회를 끊어 버리는 것이 죄를 이기는 가장 현명한 방법이다.

**III. 바울이 모두에게 음식을 먹도록 격려한 것이다.**

날이 밝아 올 무렵, 바울이 모두에게 음식을 먹으라고 간청하였다. "여러분이 기다리며 아무것도 먹지 못하고 굶은 지 오늘로 열나흘째입니다." 14일 동안의 굶주림, 그리고 그 앞의 불안과 지침으로 그들은 매우 쇠약해져 있었다. 이제 위기의 끝이 다가오고 있으며, 거기서 살아남기 위해 힘이 필요하다. 그러므로 "음식을 좀 드시기를 간청합니다."

"여러분 가운데 누구도 머리카락 하나 잃지 않을 것입니다." 하나님께서 친히 그들의 안전을 보장하셨다. 비록 배는 잃어도, 사람은 하나도 잃지 않을 것이다. 이 말씀은 다윗이 요나단에게 한 약속(삼상 14:45), 그리고 주님께서 자기 백성에게 하신 말씀(눅 21:18)을 상기시킨다.

바울은 말한 다음 몸소 행동으로 보였다. 떡을 들어 모두 앞에서 하나님께 감사를 드리고, 떼어 먹기 시작하였다. 이것은 세상 사람들이 가득한 자리에서 식전 기도를 드리는 것을 부끄러워하지 않는 모범이다. 우리가 받은 것에 대해 하나님께 감사하는 것은 언제나 옳고, 어떤 자리에서도 그것을 부끄러워해서는 안 된다. 이것이 모두를 격려하였다. 그러자 모두가 기운을 내어 음식을 먹었다.

**IV. 그들이 어떻게 좌초하여 해변에 닿았는가.**

식사 후에 그들은 밀을 바다에 던져 배를 가볍게 하여 얕은 물에도 들어갈 수 있도록 하였다. 날이 밝았을 때 그 땅이 어디인지 알아볼 수 없었지만, 모래 해변이 있는 만을 발견하였다. 그리하여 닻을 끊어 버리고, 키 줄을 풀고, 앞 돛을 올려 해변으로 향하였다. 그러나 두 바닷물이 만나는 곳, 즉 조류가 교차하는 부분에서 배가 좌초하였다. 이물이 박혀 움직이지 않고, 고물이 파도에 부서지기 시작하였다.

그때 군인들이 죄수들을 죽이려고 의논하였다. 죄수들이 헤엄쳐 도망할까 봐 두려웠기 때문이었다. 만약 죄수가 도망하면, 감시하던 군인들이 그 죄수 대신 죽어야 하는 규정이 있었다(행 12:19). 그러므로 그들을 죽이려는 것은 자기 목숨을 지키기 위한 것이었다. 그러나 이 경우에는 그것이 불필요하였다. 하나님께서 바울을 통해 모두가 살 것이라고 약속하셨기 때문이다.

그러나 백부장은 바울을 구하고자 하여 그들의 뜻을 막았다. 바울을 존중하는 마음이 모든 죄수들의 목숨을 살렸다. 주목하라. 악인들은 흔히 자신들과 동행하는 선인들 덕분에 구원을 받는다. 바울이 율리오와 함께 있지 않았다면, 율리오는 폭풍에서 살아남지 못했을 것이다.

백부장의 명령에 따라, 헤엄칠 수 있는 사람들은 먼저 바다에 뛰어들어 육지로 나아갔다. 나머지는 널빤지나 배의 부서진 조각들에 의지하여 뒤따랐다. 이처럼 모두가 안전하게 육지에 이르렀다. 배는 잃었지만, 이백칠십육 명이 한 사람도 빠짐없이 살아남았다. 이것은 순전히 하나님의 기적적인 보호였다. 바울이 받은 계시와 선포한 확신이 그대로 이루어진 것이다. 주목하라. 하나님의 말씀은 반드시 이루어진다. 어떤 위험도 하나님의 약속을 좌절시킬 수 없다.

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