ACC ~ Acts 27 v27 - 32

OVERVIEW:

Paul learns of the sailors’ treachery and once again, in his prophetic authority, he warns the centurion of the consequences of letting the sailors abandon the ship. His authority has grown so that now the centurion listens to him. The Fathers here are concerned to explain the differing motives of the various characters in this episode. Bede sees in the soldiers’ obedience a sign of division on the ship: the sailors with more experience than the soldiers can see no way out of the predicament. Chrysostom sees the differing actions as evidence of belief or disbelief in what Paul has said. As will become clear later, this disbelief is taken as evidence of diabolical action, and so Paul’s efforts to prevent their attempted escape are in fact a battle against the devil’s attempts to foil Paul’s prophecy and thus his credibility. Ammonius continues with his argument against fate; his interpretation of how the soldiers acted, which is almost that of Chrysostom’s, sees their motive as flowing from the realization that their predicament was their own responsibility and that Paul’s words, which the outcome confirmed, had made this evident to them.

27:31 | People Must Stay in the Ship

THE MOTIVES OF THE SOLDIERS. BEDE: Since when there was danger of shipwreck, the knowledge of the sailors, who are familiar with the sea, was more helpful than the arms of the soldiers, they more willingly endured the loss of the skiff than the sailors. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 27.31.

27:32 | The Soldiers Cut Away the Ropes

TAUGHT THE LOVE OF WISDOM. CHRYSOSTOM: Here the text shows that the sailors would have fled, as they did not believe [Paul’s] words; but the centurion believed together with the soldiers. Therefore Paul said, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Not that their escape would have doomed the rest. He said this to stop them, so that the prophecy would not be broken. See how they, as if they were in a church, are taught the love of wisdom by Paul, who pulls them away from dangers. They did not believe Paul through providence, so that they might believe him after the experience of the facts, as happened. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 53.2.

PAUL’S AUTHORITY BRINGS THEIR CONVERSION. AMMONIUS: After they realized that their bad will had caused them to fall into dangers, they began to believe Paul by thinking that the appropriate words of the righteous were more effective for their salvation than the fate in danger, which has no name. In fact, if they had believed in fate, like the Gentiles, after despising the words of that pious man, they would have allowed the sailors to escape by saying, “Let them go. This has nothing to do with our salvation.” But they did not speak nor act so foolishly, neither were they deceived or enticed by ignorance. Therefore, based on these facts, many must reject their opinion about fate and fortune. CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 27.31-32.