What does Acts 27:9 mean?
Paul was arrested for crimes he didn't commit (Acts 26:31–32). When two years passed without justice, Paul appealed his case to Caesar (Acts 25:6–12). It seems Aristarchus did the same (Colossians 4:10). They're both in custody of a centurion who is charged with bringing them to trial in Rome. Luke is accompanying them (Acts 27:1).Traveling from Caesarea Maritima to Rome is safer by land but faster by sea—if the weather cooperates. On their first leg, they hit contrary winds that forced them to detour around Cyprus. Now, they've been pushed farther south than they wished, to the southern shore of Crete. They find mooring in Fair Havens, just past Lasea. Lasea has a good, sheltered port where ships can sit out the winter storms; Fair Havens doesn't. Further on, Phoenix also has a winter port. Paul wants to stay where they are. The owner of the ship and the shipmaster want to go on to Phoenix (Acts 27:10–12).
The tense of the Greek word translated "advised" is imperfect; this implies something ongoing and incomplete. Paul isn't thoughtfully sharing his point of view; he's been nagging them. Ordinarily, it would be wise to do as the shipmaster says, but either the Holy Spirit is warning Paul or he's relying on extensive travel experience. He later specifies when God has spoken to him (Acts 27:23), so this instance is likely just a gut feeling. Although the centurion sides with the owner and the pilot this time, he quickly learns to trust Paul (Acts 27:30–32, 42–43).
The "Fast" is the Day of Atonement. The description given in the Mosaic law says on the Day of Atonement, observants must "afflict" themselves (Leviticus 23:27). The Jews interpret this to mean abstaining from food, although the law doesn't explicitly mention fasting. The Day of Atonement falls at the end of September or beginning of October; storms in the Mediterranean start in mid-September. Scholars have worked through Luke's narrative—including the arrival of Governor Festus (Acts 24:27)—and determined that this is probably AD 59. The group left Caesarea in August or early September and didn't arrive at Rome until the following March.
Acts 27:9–12 turns from the description of the sea voyage Luke, Paul, and Aristarchus are taking to Paul's words of caution. The ship they boarded at Myra has seen nothing but contrary winds since they set sail. Now they're moored in Fair Havens, on the southern shore of Crete. Paul knows winter is coming and wants to stay where they are. The ship owner and pilot know this port isn't good shelter for winter and want to go on. The centurion chooses to trust the crew; he chooses poorly.
Acts 27 is an account of a famous sea voyage. Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus travel from Caesarea Maritima on their way to Rome. False charges and two years of imprisonment in Caesarea led Paul to appeal his case to a higher Roman court, and he is now on his way to that court. The chapter can be divided into seven paragraphs, alternating between descriptions of the sea voyage and Paul trying to keep everyone alive during a horrific storm. Eventually, they shipwreck on Malta. The ship and cargo are a complete loss, but no one dies.
