1

Paul Sails for

Acts 27

Characters: Narrator, Paul, Julius, Ship Captain, Angel, Roman soldier

Narrator: Paul and have been thrown in jail a few times for preaching the Gospel. God provided Paul and Silas with a way out on both occasions. Once again though, Paul had been arrested for preaching about ’ saving grace. Instead of stand trial in , Paul chose to have his trial in Rome, in front of the Roman Emperor Nero, which was his right to do because he was a Roman citizen. God had told Paul to go to Rome, to preach the Gospel, and Paul followed through. Paul and Silas were sailing to Rome on a Roman ship, which carried cargo, prisoners, and travelers. On the way, the ship encountered a very severe winter storm.

Paul: Julius, we must dock at once. This storm will become very severe, and I can see this voyage killing many and destroying the cargo if we continue it.

Narrator: Julius was the centurion in charge of bringing Paul to Rome for his trial. Because he wasn’t sure if Paul was telling the truth, he asked the ship’s captain.

Julius: Captain, what do you think of this storm? Can we sail through it?

Ship Captain: We must continue sailing—we are not able to stay the winter at if we turn around, because our ship is too big. We will have to continue on, and dock at Phoenix.

Narrator: The Centurion followed the captain’s advice, and allowed him to continue sailing the ship to Rome, instead of turning around. They soon encountered a huge storm that began to toss the ship around like a toy. The crew had to work without rest for 14 days to keep the storm from sinking the ship. On the last day, while Paul was asleep, an angel came to him in a dream:

Angel: Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial in front of Caesar, and God will protect the lives of the people on this ship. They must eat, for that is the only way they can keep the strength to keep everyone alive. Then, they must run the ship aground to save themselves.

Narrator: Paul woke up from his dream, knowing that God still wanted him to go to Rome. He went to the deck to talk to the ship’s crew.

Paul: (to crew) Men, you should have listened to me! We should have stayed in Crete, as I told you this would happen. But, do not fear! God has promised me that no one will die on this voyage. We must eat first, and then run aground—that is the only way we will escape this storm, and save ourselves from drowning!

Narrator: Paul brought the crew some bread, and gave thanks to God. After the meal, the crew began tossing cargo overboard, to lighten the ship. The captain changed the ship’s course to sail for the nearest island to run the ship aground. Some of the men were 2

afraid, and began to prep the lifeboat to abandon the ship. Paul saw this, and warned the centurion:

Paul: (to Julius) If these men flee the ship, then we will all die. You must stop them!

Narrator: The centurion took Paul’s advice, and cut the lifeboat from the ship. Now, the entire crew would be stuck on the ship, until it ran aground. Just before the ship ran aground, the other Roman soldiers began talking with each other.

Roman soldier: We must kill the prisoners before we reach shore—there is too much danger of them escaping.

Narrator: Julius overheard this, and warned the prisoners on the ship. He told them to jump overboard, and swim to the shore, or else the other soldiers would kill them. Paul and the other prisoners took their advice, and there were no lives lost on this voyage.

Eventually, Paul would get to Rome, and stand trial before Nero. Nero agreed with the courts in Jerusalem, and had Paul executed; however, while Paul was in Rome, he brought many citizens to accept Jesus’ saving grace.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Nahum 1:7 7 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,