But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved." Sermons
I. BY THE SHIPMEN. That is, by the "master and owner" of the ship (ver. 11), and evidently the officers and crew (ver. 27) of the ship. Every sentiment of honor, every plain demand of duty, called upon them to stand by their ship to the last, and to be the last to leave it. They now try to do all the reverse of this, competent to purpose it, and taken in the attempt to do it by craft, "under color" of doing something else. They reveal: 1. Cowardice. That they should fear was natural and a sign that nature had not gone callous in them. But cowardice began when they did not face to the end what had now some days been a common danger, one for which they were in part themselves answerable, which they could best meet, and which others must meet. 2. Selfishness. They try to save themselves, (1) regardless of others who belonged to them, as if only so much freight; (2) and yet worse, doubling the risk of them, by (a) withdrawing their own professional help, and (b) withdrawing the boat. 3. The unfaithfulness of the hireling. Seldom could there be found a more typical instance of this (John 10:11-13). They were hired, they "cared nothing" for the lives of those entrusted to their charge, and they did attempt to "flee." 4. The "wisdom in its generation" of human nature. For, baulked of their purpose, and baulked in a most transparent and peremptory manner, they are too "wise" to court lynch law; and they appear to follow the policy at once of saying nothing, and making the best of it. They fall into their places, and do whatever is to be done. So versatile can human nature be when it suits her. II. BY PAUL. Paul under any showing was the character and the hero of the boat. We should not be content without knowing anything of him that opens to our view. A great deal does open to our view. He steps out not now for the first time since the storm began. It would be very far from the truth to say now that it was only human nature that we have the opportunity of seeing. No; the subordination of human nature was, perhaps, not yet perfect. Yet there was no willing strife (Romans 7:15-25), no great strife, no very distorting strife, between the human and the Divine in him. 1. Paul was the one calm watcher of everything that transpired. 2. His was the eye that read and that was then engaged in reading nature in others. It was in very deed, at any time, part of his office to do this very thing. 3. His was the eye that, so clear itself, detected the fraud, the would-be fraud of others. 4. His was the unfaltering tongue that declared it, though probably with no addition of safety to himself. 5. His was the mind conscious in its own rectitude and confident in God's truth and providence, that does not for a moment hesitate to expose itself to being taxed with certain theological inconsistency. Most positively and publicly had he committed himself to the statement that God had promised him himself and "all them that sailed with him." And yet he brings to the fore a condition, a new sort of proviso, and that one that postulated the help and co-operation of a number of godless and inhuman hirelings. These things all show, not only that the truest Christian need be no less a true man, but rather that it is only the true Christian who touches at all sufficiently the possibilities of the true man. For Paul the prisoner, on the way to trial, of many the despised, is nevertheless the man in every essential respect, in that boat, and succeeds in commanding not only a professed respect, but a practical obedience from all the rest. III. BY THE ROMAN CENTURION AND SOLDIERS. 1. So soon as Paul has had his say, they see quickly, because their eyesight is keen by reason of the instinct of self-preservation. 2. They are not nice as to the source from which they derive their clue. Extreme peril has done a great deal to strip off from them all unnecessary artificiality, all dignified ceremony, all officialism and mere sense of authority. Nature itself stares them in the face, and puts not lispingly the alternative - Where may all these be very soon? 3. They act, act at once, and act trenchantly too. They cut off escape from the coward and the knave and the supremely guilty. Let what may be said to them, let what may be threateningly looked at them, they act, for so it is given to human nature to do in the last resort. And those who do not act in the presence of the solemn, supreme dangers of life, cutting off escape from the evil-doers, though these be themselves, are the men who will be left yet more "without excuse" for what is written in the book, in this threefold illustration of human nature in the presence of peril. - B.
And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship. I. ITS HIDEOUS CHARACTER.1. Its cowardice. They sought to flee out of the ship. 2. Its cunning. "Under colour," pretending "as though they would have cast anchors," they let down the boat into the sea. Selfishness has always a disguise. In all the trades, professions, and interests of life it works under a hypocritical garb. It dares not show itself. 3. Its cruelty. All on board were in the same danger; but what cared they though all perished, so long as they were saved? II. ITS MANLY EXPOSURE (ver. 31). There was one on board whose keen eye penetrated the motives of these men, and exposed their base conduct. Paul was one of those to whom, through the purity of their own motives, and the clearness of their own moral intuitions, it is given to discern spirits. It would be well for selfish men to remember that there are men who can see through them. III. ITS ULTIMATE FRUSTRATION. With that short sword with which the Roman legions cleft their way through every obstacle to victory, they "cut the ropes," and the boat fell off. Thus all selfishness must ultimately be confounded. "He that seeketh his life shall lose it." (D. Thomas, D. D.) Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. A ship is in peril, and in estimating the worth of the passengers, the palm must be given to those who can save it. There are distinguished men on board. The centurion invested with the power and prestige of a Roman officer; the soldiers who have never marched but to conquer; Luke the trained physician and writer; the enterprising and wealthy merchants; the inspired Paul. If it were a question as to the safety of a province, Julius and his warriors could soon settle it; if it were a matter of health or knowledge, it might be confidently left to the beloved physician and evangelist; if it were a matter of food and clothing, none were more competent than the merchants; if it were a matter of doctrine or morals, none could deal with it like the apostle. But it was a matter of getting the ship to land, and here arms, medicine, literature, commerce, theology, each powerful in its own sphere, were at fault. How, then, shall nautical safety be secured? By the sailors? But they were only a few, they were cowardly, they had no knowledge of medicine, literature, business, or religion. True, but they knew how to manage the ship; and if they had all the valour, genius, cleverness, and goodness of those that were left behind, would never get the ship to land. They would have been impotent to fight a battle, prescribe a medicine, write a book, conclude a bargain, or preach a sermon; but they were the only men who understood the one thing needful on this occasion. Apply this to —I. PHYSICAL LIFE. The requirements of human health are few and simple. A little food, drink, exercise, sleep, shelter, clothing. Add to these, and you have striking luxuries, indulgences, adornments; but these are all superfluities. "Except" the fewest and simplest matters "abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved." II. INTELLECTUAL LIFE. A few good books thoroughly digested, quiet and systematic habits of study, are alone requisite to intellectual culture. Sumptuously furnished and well-stocked libraries are all very well to those that can afford them, but you cannot say, "Except these abide in the ship," etc. III. SOCIAL LIFE. How little, comparatively speaking, is necessary to the happiness and prosperity of a community. Obligingness, fairness, affability, so much farther than titles, equipages, and fashionable customs. IV. NATIONAL LIFE. A few good laws, impartially administered, make more for national prosperity than all the trappings of majesty or oratory of statesmen. V. SPIRITUAL LIFE. Whatever else may be added, except "faith, hope, charity" abide, ye cannot be saved. (J. W. Burn.) People Aristarchus, Augustus, Julius, PaulPlaces Adramyttium, Adriatic Sea, Alexandria, Asia, Cauda, Cilicia, Cnidus, Crete, Cyprus, Fair Havens, Italy, Lasea, Lycia, Malta, Myra, Pamphylia, Phoenix, Salmone, Sidon, Syrtis, ThessalonicaTopics Abide, Able, Addressing, Board, Can't, Captain, Centurion, Except, Julius, Paul, Sacrificed, Safe, Saved, Ship, Soldiers, Stay, Unless, YourselvesOutline 1. Paul shipping toward Rome,10. foretells of the danger of the voyage, 11. but is not believed. 14. They are tossed to and fro by a storm; 41. and suffer shipwreck; 44. yet all come safe to land. Dictionary of Bible Themes Acts 27:31Library A Short Confession of Faith'...There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve.'--ACTS xxvii. 23. I turn especially to those last words, 'Whose I am and whom I serve.' A great calamity, borne by a crowd of men in common, has a wonderful power of dethroning officials and bringing the strong man to the front. So it is extremely natural, though it has been thought to be very unhistorical, that in this story of Paul's shipwreck he should become guide, counsellor, inspirer, and a tower of strength; and … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts A Total Wreck, all Hands Saved Tempest and Trust Seasons of Covenanting. The Wyclif of the East --Bible Translation Of the Practice of Piety in Fasting. Spiritual Culture. Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount Appendix xv. The Location of Sychar, and the Date of Our Lord's visit to Samaria. Conversion. Perseverance First Missionary Journey Scripture Pastoral and Personal Second Sunday Before Lent Scriptural Christianity That the Christian Miracles are not Recited, or Appealed To, by Early Christian Writers Themselves So Fully or Frequently as Might have Been Expected. Meditations Before Dinner and Supper. The Wisdom of God The Doctrine of Angels. Links Acts 27:31 NIVActs 27:31 NLT Acts 27:31 ESV Acts 27:31 NASB Acts 27:31 KJV Acts 27:31 Bible Apps Acts 27:31 Parallel Acts 27:31 Biblia Paralela Acts 27:31 Chinese Bible Acts 27:31 French Bible Acts 27:31 German Bible Acts 27:31 Commentaries Bible Hub |