Download PowerPoint Here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/n6oq7dz2f0idwwcxg1wem/ACTS-27-PPNT.pptx?rlkey=dqk8varrsbewjoppwbpb697t0&st=hn15utsb&dl=0
Review: Last week we looked at how when we share the gospel it’s not enough just to share information about the gospel with someone else, but—like Paul—we must call others to respond to the gospel.
- Paul made a clear appeal that he wished everyone would repent and believe in Jesus.
- Festus made a careless attack on Paul’s gospel presentation accusing him of too much study; but Paul was not distracted by Festus. Pivoting his gospel presentation to Agrippa who was Jewish and had heard the prophecies about the coming Messiah.
- When Paul carefully asked Agrippa if he did believe the prophets, Agrippa knew where Paul was headed with this leading question and Paul responded to Agrippa’s defensiveness with a statement of [paraphrased] I just want everyone to experience the same thing I have, how Jesus changed my life!
As Acts 26 wraps up, Festus and Agrippa confer with each other that Paul was innocent, but that they were duty-bound to honor his appeal to Caesar.
Title: “Trust”
Text: Acts 27:31-44
Memory verse: Acts 27:25, “So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.”
Theme: Believers find joy through trusting God In all circumstances.
Introduction: Paul went through a lot of persecutions, shipwrecks, storms, chaos all around him, but even in these darkest of times he maintained a steadfast joy and calmness rooted in the protection of His God. We can too.
We hear these two options always presented when folks face challenges: Fight or Flight. But there’s a 3rd option: FAITH.
Discussion Question #1: How do you respond when confronting serious problems?
Optional Answer: Some of our groups have been discussing this as it relates to marriage in the “How We Love” Study: There’s the pleaser, the avoider, the vacillator, the controller, the victim, and the avoider…
Your Thoughts: _ Discussion Question #2: What makes it difficult to trust God in every circumstance? Optional Answer: We can be more focused on pleasing man than pleasing God in the circumstance… Maybe we can be more focused on our comfort… Maybe we just get so overwhelmed by the difficult circumstance, rather than choosing to be uplifted and truly-fortified In our soul by the promises of God and His character. Your Thoughts: _ Even though it’s maybe difficult to trust God in the circumstances, we can—not only that—but we must by FAITH. This really brings us back to the theme of our lesson: Believers find joy through trusting God In all circumstances.
Context:
Paul was on his way to Rome to appeal his case to Caesar.
Paul hoped he could use this as a chance to share the good news with Caesar of how Jesus changed his life
Aristarchus (a Thessalonian brother in Christ) accompanied Paul.
The Roman centurion Julius had Paul in custody on the journey to Rome.
It would have been wiser to wait to continue the travel over sea until spring, but Julius pushed on ahead only listening to the ship’s captain, ignored Paul’s warning, and they sailed into a terrible storm. In the midst of the storm, Paul boldly encouraged everyone with a promise an angel had given them that all aboard would come through it safe and sound.
They went two weeks without food, and Julius had to stop an attempted escape of one of the prisoners. And throughout all he chaos, Paul was calmly trusting Gid, reassuring everyone, even caring for physical needs around him. By FAITH, God enabled Paul with calm care in the chaos.
The storm hurled them onto a sandbar right where God wanted them off the coast of Malta. They all made it ashore safely, just like God said they would.
Their journey eventually resumed. Paul made it to Rome. While under a light arrest and still in Roman custody, Paul meet with friends and the leadership of the Roman church, made disciples, strengthened others, and kept lifting up Jesus until his final days.
Main Points:
I. Call to Trust (Acts 27:31-34)
A. The Centurion (v. 31a) “31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers,..”
o Paul is assigned to Julius, a centurion who would normally command 100 men. They were, as Lifeway says, “the backbone of the Roman military establishment” (p. 144).
o The New Testament portrays centurion’s positively, healing a centurion’s servant in Matthew 8 and allowing the centurion Cornelius to be honored as the 1st Gentile convert to Christianity.
o This centurion is depicted with “respect and benevolence” (p. 144).
B. The Storm (v. 31b-33) “ ‘Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.’ 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go. 33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.”
o They got caught in a “northeaster,” a storm so powerful that it was like a hurricane.
o The other prisoners went into panic mode, but listening to the warning to stay on the boat for safety that Paull received form the angel. All who stayed would be saved.
o The centurion cut the ropes to remove the temptation of anyone to leave.
o Paul encouraged the crew to stop and eat. They may have been religiously fasting, too busy working he sales, or were seasick.
C. The Survival (v. 34) “34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength,[a] for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.”
o In verse 34 Paul urges them to eat for their strength. The HCSB uses the phrase, “…For this is for your survival…” using the word soteria, which is used elsewhere for salvation from sin in Jesus Christ.
o Verse 34 goes on, “…for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” Using a proverbial phrase Paul comforts them. Our lostness and brokenness are like a spiritual storm that rages, and for those who repent and believe in Jesus, they can recover God’s original design and pursue God. (3 Circles)
o God’s Word promises those troubled by life’s storms that God can give us the same peace we see Paul had in this northeaster:
o Listen to these verses and let their truth sweep over your heart and mind. Go ahead and pull your phone out maybe and take a picture of these verses on the PowerPoint and revisit them throughout this week.
o Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.”
Isaiah 26:3, “You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.”
Application/Discussion Question: This would be a good time for you to pause and share some testimonies of how Jesus calmed the raging internal storm within you, how Jesus saved you and brought you out of broken lostness to pursue His design?
Discussion Question #2: What makes God worthy of our trust?
He’s in control, even in the storms. If He sent His Son to save us on the cross and in his resurrection, He has demonstrated how worthy He is of our trust. God takes care of us in so many ways. His faithful character is unchanging.
Transition: When we look at the centurion, the storm, and God’s plan of survival—ultimately through salvation in His Son—we are called to trust God. Second, we see…
II. Acts in Faith (Acts 27:35-38)
A. The Bread (v. 35) “35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.”
o Paul doesn’t just tell them to eat, but he takes bread and blesses it much like Jesu did when He instituted the Lord’s Supper as a reminder of His broken body and shed blood; although this was not communion because there were unbelievers in the mix. When he blessed it in public it was like he was praying in public to draw attention to Christ.
B. The Blessing (vv. 36-37)
“36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276[b] persons in the ship.)”
o Because of Paul’s faith rooted in God and his prayer, everyone around him was encouraged and blessed. God enabled Paul with calm care in the chaos.
o The fact that the specific number of souls on board was numbered to 276 is significant. Paul encouraged 276 people, broke bread with 276 people, lifted up Jesus in the eyes of 276 people. Even if he didn’t get to preach to Caesar, the trip was already worth it given how many people were being witnessed to. All 276 people were filled and satisfied.
o Doctrine: We really can rest in the doctrine of God the Father and His sovereignty in this passage.
Lifeway says, “God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace.” They cite Psalm 9:7-10, “But the LORD sits enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness.
9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
Review: The bread, the Blessing, and now…
C. The Boat (v. 38)
“38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.”
o Then they lightened the ship even throwing out the grain, which was a step of faith, to be blown aground closer to land.
Application/Discussion Question: “When have you stepped out in faith, trusting God to provide for your needs?”
Transition: When we look at the centurion, the storm, and God’s plan of survival—ultimately through salvation in His Son—we are called to trust God. Second, when we see Paul breaking the bread and blessing it and then they lightened the boat we’re reminded to act in faith, rather than mere sight.
III. Persistent Trust (Acts 27:39-44)
A. The sea (vv. 39-40)
“39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.”
o The light of day must have uplifted their spirits as they landed in Malta.
B. The shore (vv. 41-44)
41 But striking a reef,[c] they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf.
42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.”
o They crashed, swam ashore, and were ministered to by Paul.
o The soldiers were fixing to execute all of the prisoners, but they were spared because the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life.
o God fulfilled His promise to Paul and God was exalted before everyone on board. Once again, God enabled Paul with calm care even though here the chaos escalated.
Discussion Question: What spiritual disciplines or habits have helped you trust God in the face of ongoing difficulty?
Here is a list of some that I find helpful from Donalds S. Whitney’s book, “Spiritual Disciplines”:
- Bible intake
- Prayer
- Worship
- Evangelism
- Serving
- Stewardship
- Fasting
- Silence and Solitude
- Journaling
- Learning
Follow up Discussion Question: What is one spiritual discipline you will step out in faith and put into practice this week, so that you can be enabled by God—like Paul—with calm care even there will be chaos?
I would encourage us to step out in pour evangelism. When we look up from the chaotic circumstances and look around us we’ll see lost people and our perspective will change. Rather than being overwhelmed by the storm, let’s bring Jesus into the storm.
Doctrine: We really can rest in the doctrine of God the Father and His sovereignty in this passage.
Lifeway says, “God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace.” They cite Psalm 9:7-10, “But the LORD sits enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,
8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness.
9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
Harkening back to our key doctrine of God the Father and His sovereignty, they also cite Romans 8:28 (which if you haven’t memorized this one yet, make it your goal to memorize this verse this week. It will transform your perspective and fill you with faith and hope even in the most chaotic and troubled storms of life, “28 And we know [Can you say “know” out loud together in your group? And we “know”] that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.”
As we conclude, please click in the description to access this week’s devotional resource to help prepare you & your group’s hearts for this passage, entitled, “Calm in the Chaos.”
General Outline:
Title: “Trust”
Text: Acts 27:31-44
Memory verse: Acts 27:25, “So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.”
Discussion Question #1: How do you respond when confronting serious problems?
Discussion Question #2: What makes it difficult to trust God in every circumstance?
I. Call to Trust (Acts 27:31-34)
A. The Centurion (v. 31a) “31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers,..”
B. The Storm (v. 31b-33) “ ‘Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.’ 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go. 33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.”
C. The Survival (v. 34) “34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.”
Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.”
Isaiah 26:3, “You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.”
Discussion Question #1: How has Jesus saved you and brought you out of broken lostness to pursue His design?
Discussion Question #2: What makes God worthy of our trust?
II. Acts in Faith (Acts 27:35-38)
A. The Bread (v. 35) “35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.”
B. The Blessing (vv. 36-37) “36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.)”
Doctrine: God the Father and His sovereignty
Psalm 9:7-10, “But the LORD sits enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,
8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness.
9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
C. The Boat (v. 38) “38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.”
Application/Discussion Question: “When have you stepped out in faith, trusting God to provide for your needs?”
III. Persistent Trust (Acts 27:39-44)
A. The sea (vv. 39-40)
“39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.”
B. The shore (vv. 41-44)
41 But striking a reef,[c] they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf.
42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.”
Discussion Question: What spiritual disciplines or habits have helped you trust God in the face of ongoing difficulty?
Here is a list of some that I find helpful from Donald S. Whitney’s book, “Spiritual Disciplines”:
- Bible intake
- Prayer
- Worship
- Evangelism
- Serving
- Stewardship
- Fasting
- Silence and Solitude
- Journaling
- Learning
Follow up Discussion Question: What is one spiritual discipline you will step out in faith and put into practice this week, so that you can be enabled by God—like Paul—with calm care even there will be chaos?
Romans 8:28, “28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
-Drawn from Lifeway Explore the Bible Leaders Guide Acts 13-28, pages 141-150
Caleb Walker 
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