I. The Voyage and Shipwreck. Chapter 27.
A. First Stage – top Fair Havens: 27:1-8
1. Who is included in “we”, vs. 1?
a. When was this “we” narrative dropped previously?
b. Why is it resumed now?
c. Did Aristarchus make the whole journey or was he on his way home? cf. Col. 4:10 and Philem. 24
2. Under whose charge was Paul on this journey? Is anything more known of him?
3. Trace this first stage of the journey:
a. In what kind of ship was it made, vs. 2?
b. Where was the first stop? vs. 3
1) What kindness was shown Paul? Why?
2) Who were “his friends”?
3) What is meant by the “lee of Cyprus”?
c. Locate Myra, the second stop:
1) To what ship was Paul transferred here?
2) What kind of ship was this ship from Alexandria? cf. vs. 38
3) How far did Paul sail on this ship?
d. Locate Cnidus, the third stop. What slowed their journey?
e. Where did they sail from Cnidus?
1) What is meant by the lee of Crete:
2) Where is Salmone?
3) Where did they stop? Why here?
B. The Storm: 27:9-26
1. What time of year did the journey from Fair Havens begin? What fast is meant in vs. 9?
2. What was Paul’s advice? vs. 10
a. Was this warning of human origin or by divine revelation?
b. What purpose did this advice later serve:
c. Was Paul’s warning true? Was there loss of life?
3. Whose advice did the centurion follow?
a. What reason did the ship’s master have: What port did he aim to reach?
b. Why did the centurion listen to the advice of the ship’s master
c. What encouraged them to set sail?
d. Was there a divine purpose in this? What was it?
4. The storm:
a. What kind of wind came against them? What is the meaning of “Euroclydon”?
b. What was the immediate effect of this tempest? vs. 15
c. Locate Clauda. What did they do in the lee of this island?
d. Of what were they afraid, vs. 17-b? What was done?
e. On the next two days what was done?
f. For the next 11 days what was their situation? Vs. 20. What was the effect of the storm upon those on ship?
g. Paul’s message of encouragement:
c.1.1) What does he say in effect, “I told you so”?
c.1.2) What message had Paul received?
c.1.2.a) Why must Paul surely survive?
c.1.2.b) What is meant by “God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee”?
c.1.2.c) What prophecy does Paul make on the basis of the revelation by the angel?
c.1.3) What testimony of faith does Paul make before those on the ship with him?
c.1.4) What impression do you suppose Paul made by his behavior in the apparently hopeless situation?
h. To whom would the centurion from now on listen?
C. The Shipwreck: 27:27-44
1. How far did they drift with the storm?
a. What land were they approaching
b. What is meant by the sea of Adria?
c. How could they tell at midnight that they approached land?
2. What did they do before morning?
a. Why did they anchor the ship?
b. What did the sailors plan to do?
1) Who detected them?
2) Why must they stay aboard?
3) How is their plan foiled by the centurion? Why?
c. What further encouragement does Paul give?
1) What advice does he give them? Why had they not eaten?
2) How does Paul give testimony of his faith?
3) How many were aboard the ship? Why is this number given?
d. What is done to lighten the ship? Why is this done now?
3. The wreck: 27:39, ff.
a. What plan did the sailors try to follow?
b. What happened instead? What was the effect on the ship?
c. What was the soldiers’ counsel at this time? Why?
d. Why did the centurion stop them? Explain.
e. Was Paul’s prophecy of vss. 22-26 carried out?
II. At Malta: 28:1-10.
A. The Viper Incident: 28:1-6
1. Among what kind of people were they stranded?
2. How were they treated by the Maltese: Why?
3. What happened to Paul while gathering sticks for the fire? How did the natives interpret this?
4. How did they interpret it when Paul survived the viper attack?
5. What does this incident show concerning the natives?
B. Deeds of healing at Malta: 7-10
1. What important man was healed by Paul? How?
2. What was the effect of this on the other inhabitants?
3. Did Paul do any preaching here?
4. Did the people here believe? Explain.
5. How were Paul and his fellows treated at their departure?
III. To Rome: 2:11-31
A. The Last Stage of the Journey 28:11-16
1. Trace the journey from Malta to Rome:
a. By what ship did they travel?
b. Locate: Syracuse, Rhegium, Puteoli.
c. What happened at Puteoli? How is it to be explained that Paul could stay there a whole week when they wished him to do so? Was this not unusual liberty for a prisoner:
d. How did they travel from Puteoli to Rome?
e. Locate: Apii Forum and The Three Taverns.
f. Who came to meet Paul here: How is this to be explained : Did they know of Paul’s arrival:
g. Did these incidents mean much to Paul?
2. How was Paul treated at Rome? vs. 16
a. What special privilege did Paul have?
b. How is this special treatment to be explained?
c. Who was Paul’s constant company during this time? What was the only evidence of Paul’s being a prisoner?
B. At Rome: 28:17-31
1. With whom did Paul seek contact upon his arrival?
2. Were they acquainted with Paul’s case? How does Paul present his case to
them?
3. Were they acquainted with the Christian faith? cf.vs.22, Rom. 1:8
4. How did Paul preach to them at his house in Rome?
5. What was the effect of his preaching?
6. What prophecy does Paul apply to them? To what then does Paul ascribe their unbelief? Was this pleasant for Paul?
7. Were Paul’s labors hindered while in Rome? vss. 30, 31
C Conclusion:
1. What became of Paul after this? Was he set at liberty?
2. What is known of the labors of the other apostles?
3. What does the Acts of the Apostles end here? Is not the history incomplete? Is the book of Acts incomplete? On what would you base the claim that it presents a finished narrative/? Where does its history begin? Where does it end?
4. What is the main lesson of the entire book?

Originally Published in:
Vol. 19 No. 5 June-July 1959