Acts 27:1-8 – Paul’s initial journey towards Rome

Paul had appealed to Caesar, so Festus could not do anything more but to send him to the Emperor in Rome. So here Paul began his journey to Rome. In this final stretch we shall see the Gospel being brought all the way to the Imperial city. Luke’s use of the word “we” in verse 1 and throughout the passage, indicates that he was included in the journey. Apparently other prisoners were also being sent to Rome along with Paul. They were all under the custodian of a centurion, Julius. Apart from being mentioned as a member of the Augustan cohort, nothing else was said about him.  

The Adramytian ship which they boarded was probably not a Roman government owned ship. This was a small ship which would stop at major sea ports along the way. Such kind of vessels were used for commercial purposes all over the Roman world. The Roman government had used it as a quick and inexpensive way to convey their prisoners. But being a privately owned ship, anyone who had money to pay for the journey was permitted to board as well. Hence, Paul and his companions, Luke, indicated by the “we”, and Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, took the journey with him to Rome. This Aristarchus continued to be Paul’s close companion for the remaining part of the apostles’ ministry. They boarded the coastal ship at Adramyttium, a seaport in Mysia.

When the ship arrived at Sidon the next day Paul, who was treated with great consideration by Julius, was allowed to visit his friends. They were people whom the apostle must have reached in his missionary journeys. They cared for him, probably giving him food and other provisions for the journey.

From Sidon they continued in their journey, sailing under the shelter of Cyprus to be protected from the strong wind. They sailed along the coasts of Cilicia and Pamphylia, landing at Myra in Lycia. This itinerary took them roughly two weeks. At Myra they found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, so they boarded it. Here we are told that they sailed slowly for many days with difficulty and then arrived at Cnidus. And because of the strong wind that prevented them to sail further, they sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone, arriving at Fair Havens.    

The journey may be rough, but Paul was cared for. The apostle was treated with consideration throughout his journey. How could he be freed to go on shore without any security? The answer is found in the fact that he had proven himself to be a trustworthy man. He became so because he knew His master deeply. What a man to emulate! True to His master and trusted by men!