Acts 27:1,2

g.

Preparations for leaving. Acts 27:1-2.

1

And when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.

2

And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

1. Once again the pronoun we comes to the forefront. Luke has evidently been with Paul during the two years imprisonment in Caesarea. Some suggest that it was at this time that Luke wrote his former treatise. It could very well have been so.

Luke was not the only one to accompany the apostle on the trip. certain other prisoners were to go to Rome. Among them was Aristarchus, Paul's fellow-prisoner. The man into whose hands these persons were placed was named Julius. It is of interest to note that he was of that group who served as special cohort of the emperor. What more appropriate person to take Paul to the imperial city?

2. The ship in which they were to sail was from the little coastal town of Adramyttium. This town was located on the coast of Mysia. Evidently the boat on which they were to embark was one of the smaller local merchant vessels, and this was its return trip on its commercial run. The hope of Julius was that they would find another ship somewhere on the coast of Asia that was going to Rome, At any rate, baggage was packed and put on board and farewells were said at the dock, Maybe Philip, the evangelist, was in the group that waved farewell to the apostle and his companions.

If Rome were to be reached action must be taken. The time for sailing on the open sea was fast drawing to a close. According to the closest calculations it was late in the month of August when they put out from the harbor of Caesarea. Perchance the lateness of the season accounted for the willingness of Julius to sail on a vessel that was only going part of the way to their destination.

963.

What does the use of the pronoun we suggest?

964.

How does the former treatise enter the thought here?

965.

What do you know of Julius?

966.

Why take a ship that was not going all the way to Rome?

967.

Who might have been at the dock to say goodbye? Prove your answer.

968.

Why the haste at this time?