Child of Theos

Facing Your Euroclydon 

By

Patrick Neiswinger

Background/Summary of Passage

 

In acts twenty-seven Luke, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives a very detailed account of the Apostle Paul’s journey to Rome. The Apostle Paul, now a prisoner, boards a ship sailing to Rome. This chapter reads almost like a ships log book and gives incredible detail as to how travel by ship was in his day. The log begins by Paul and some other prisoners boarding a ship along with a centurion named Julius. They sailed one day to the coast of Sidon and landed there for a short period of time. While there Julius allowed Paul to go and visit his friends for a while. They then board the ship and make plans to set sail again. However they ran into some weather problems and had to alter their course. Verse four says that the sailed “under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.” The word under used here is interesting. The word under as used here has the idea of sailing close by or to the leeward of the land. In these days ships would normally sail close to land for several reasons. First of all, in certain times of the year the Mediterranean was very dangerous to travel upon due to the sudden outbreak of storms. Secondly, because the ships were usually smaller, the people would usually pull into a harbor over night and sleep. The ship then reaches Myra and while there, they board another ship headed to Italy. The next several days they sailed on. According to verse seven, they had great difficulty coming around a place called Cnidus. Because the winds were so strong, they decided to sail south to the island of Crete along the cape of Salmone. With great difficulty they finally land at a place called the Fair Havens near the city of Lasea. The apostle Paul, having been on many ships in his life knew all there was to know about Mediterranean travel. The safest time of sea travel was during the summer months. The most dangerous time of travel was from November until around March. Verse nine records the time of the year these men were traveling. It says that “the fast was already past.” This was referring to the Day of Atonement which was at the end of September and beginning of October. This was about the time of which seal travel was pronounced unsafe and the sea passages were often closed. Paul, being aware of this, tries to encourage the shipmen to play it safe and stay at Fair Havens because the seas were beginning to get dangerous. The centurion ignores the advice of Paul and listens to the ships owner and they decide to try to make it to Phenice to spend the winter there. They set sail and sail close to the island of Crete until the storm came. Verse fourteen mentions the sudden outburst of a tempestuous wind called Euroclydon. This word in the original has the idea of “a violent agitation.”[1] This was a south east wind which would come about causing huge waves. These men found themselves in the middle of this huge storm.

 

Explanation of Bible Custom

 

            In verse fifteen there is a very interesting Bible Custom mentioned. Verse fifteen says, “And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.” The phrase “could not bear up into the wind” is where this custom comes from. The ancient Mediterranean ships were very interesting vessels. Fred Wight said in his book on Bible customs that:

Ancient ships were personified, and thus grew the custom of painting an eye on each side of the ship’s bow. This custom has persisted down to modern times among Mediterranean ships. Luke evidently was referring to this custom when he wrote: “When the ship was caught and could not face the wind we gave way to it” (Acts 27:15 A.R.V). Literally translated it would be, “could not look the wind in the face.”[2]

 

As Mr. Wight said, in history ships would have eyes painted upon each side of the bow or front of the ship. It was also customary in these days for ships to have some kind of a figure called a figurehead carved into the front of the bow of the ship. The Encyclopedia Britannica says that:

 The custom of decorating a vessel probably began in ancient Egypt or India, where an eye was painted on either side of the prow, presumably in the belief that the eyes would help a vessel find its way safely over the water. The custom was followed by the Chinese (who painted eyes on their river junks), the Phoenicians, the Greeks, and the Romans.

The ships of the ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, Greeks, and early Romans were constructed with heavy vertical timbers at the bow and stern to which the side planking was attached. These stemposts and sternposts protruded well above the hull, and their prominent and semierect position and form created a focal point of interest and a shape obviously suited for decoration. As early as 1000 B.C., the stem- and sternposts were carved and painted to distinguish one ship from another.[3]

This no doubt was the type of ship that Paul was on during this horrible storm. This ship had great difficulty facing the storm and the sailors decided to let it ride out the storm, lest it be destroyed by the waves.

Application to Passage

Verse fifteen says that as they were sailing along they were caught by the wind. In the original this word gives the idea of being seized by force, catching or laying hold of (one so that he is no longer his own master), seize by force or carry away.[4] This word is also used in Luke 8:29, “For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.” This is the account of when Christ and the disciples land on the shore of Gadarenes and find a demon possessed man there. It says that the unclean spirit had caught him. This spirit seized him and controlled him. In the same way this storm was so forceful that it seized their boat and they no longer had the control of it.

The verse goes on to say that they could not bear up into the wind. This phrase is one word in the original. It means to look against or straight at.[5] As mentioned earlier quite literally it can be translated that they could not look the wind straight in the face. So with the ancient custom in mind, literally the ship could not glare into the wind.

Because of this the crew of the ship “let her drive.” This phrase is interesting in the original as well. This is taken from the Greek word evpidi,dwmi [epididomi], which means “to hand, give by hand, to give over, or give up to the power or will of one.”[6] These men quit trying to fight against the storm. Realizing they could not fight against they decided to ride it out.

Application of Passage

            The Christian life is a life that is faced with storms. Storms tend to come quickly upon us when we lest expect it, such as these men in the sea. This severe windstorm came upon them completely by surprise; there was nothing they could do about it. The apostle James testifies of this truth in his epistle: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations (James 1:2).” The word fall into has the idea of falling into as to be encompassed. This is the same word that is used in Luke 10:31 where Christ is telling the parable of the good Samaritan. The Bible says that a certain man “fell among thieves.” These thieves completely surrounded him and overtook him. This is the idea that James communicated to the Jewish believers that were scattered regarding their trials. That is essentially what happened to Paul and the crewmen on this ship, the storm completely surrounded and overtook them. They tried everything in their power to fight against the storm. Realizing they could not overcome the storm (i.e. look the storm in the face, v. 15), they decided to ride it out. To many times today, Christians try to fight against the storms of their life. They continue to do so until they flounder. Had these men continued to fight against the storm, the ship would have floundered and they more than likely would have perished. In Northwest Florida, particularly Pensacola there are beautiful white sandy beaches. Thousands of people visit them annually. However there is a very dangerous feature that has cost hundreds of people their lives. Northwest Florida beaches are known for their rip currents. The beaches have such a strong undertow from the ebbing and flowing of the waves that it can literally sweep a person hundreds of feet off shore without them even realizing it at first. This happens even to the most experienced swimmers. There are some instructions that are given to all who visit the beaches of how to handle this phenomenon. The first rule is, don’t panic. Another rule is probably the most important, which is, never try to fight the current by swimming against it. This is how people have lost their lives. They try to swim against the current and loose breath and eventually drown. The key is to let the current take you out as far as it can, swim parallel to the shore and then when the current is over, swim back to shore. We as Christians face storms and we should never try to fight against them, rather we should with the help of the Holy Spirit ride them out.

            How can we then ride the storm out? How can we depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us through it? The key is submission. 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the might hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Quit trying to fight the storm, humbly give it over to the Lord and He will help you ride it out. We read in Acts 27:16 and following that this storm was far from over. The ship is driven and tossed many more days to follow. Eventually the ship runs aground and breaks to pieces. It seems that they had met there doom, but God protected them and saved them. The end result of the storm is found in verse forty four, “…And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.” God brought them through their Euroclydon. They realized they could not face it in their own power. Had they tried, their ship probably would have floundered and they would have lost their lives. But they rode the storm out with God’s help. What about your life? Are you now facing a Euroclydon? What do you do? Don’t fight against it, surrender it to God, and ride it out with His divine hand upon you. May our prayer be that of Mosie Lister, “Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more/ till the clouds roll forever from the sky; / Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of thy hand,/ keep me safe till the storm passes by.” That is how you and I can face our Euroclydon.