38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. 39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. 40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. 41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. 42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. 43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: 44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. (Acts 27:38-44 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Here observe, 1. How willing men in distress are to part with all things for the preservation of life; these sea-faring men are here found three times lightening their ship of her lading and burden; first the merchandise was cast overboard, Ac 27:18, next all the ship’s furniture was heaved over, Ac 27:19, and now in Ac 27:38 they threw overboard the very wheat, which they had provided for their daily bread; future provision is cast away to save life at present: life is the most precious treasure, the most excellent thing in nature; a man will part with all the comforts and supports of life, rather than with life itself.
Observe, 2. What a wonderful work of God was here upon the hearts of these poor Pagans, thus to venture their lives by parting with their food which they had to live upon, barely upon St. Paul’s word, that they should want wheat no more in the ship. Such an influence has God upon the hearts and minds of men, when he pleases to make use of it.
Observe, 3. How God’s delivering power is most gloriously manifest in the most deplorable extremities of his people.
Now, when the ship was fallen into a place where two seas met, when she ran aground, and was broken with the violence of the waves, this extremity was God’s opportunity; and this strait was the season of his succour.
Observe, 4. What horrid and cruel ingratitude was found with these wretched soldiers towards the apostle: they design to take away his life, who had taken such care of them, and for whose sake all their lives were preserved!
It is no new thing for an unkind world to return evil for good, and hatred for good-will; but to do good and to suffer evil is the Christian’s exercise at present. They consulted to kill the prisoners, (of whom the apostle was chief,) lest any of them should swim out and escape.
Observe, 5. How God put it into the centurion’s heart to defeat their barbarity and bloody counsel, and to save the apostle, for whose sake the centurion and all in the ship were saved.
Many are the wicked devices in the heart of man, but the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
Observe, 6. How God performed his promise to the apostle to the very tittle: they were all saved, not a man drowned, no not any one of the bloody soldiers who gave counsel to kill Paul.
O how good is God to the unthankful and unholy! His tender mercies are over all his works; and how well do sinners fare sometimes for the saints’ sake.
Thus, after a long and dangerous voyage, the providence of God brought St. Paul, with the rest of the passengers at last safe to shore.