Acts 27: When Things Don’t Go As Planned

“When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.” — Acts 27:1-2 

In Acts 27, we follow Paul as a prisoner. He's awaiting trial and has appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen, so he's put on a ship bound for Italy. That's when things stop going according to plan.

“Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship” (Acts 27:9-11). 

Paul is right. A storm rages for days. In a panic, the crew throws the cargo overboard, and the soldiers even consider executing the prisoners. Yet through the whole ordeal, Paul encourages everyone on board and steadies them in the storm. He tells them God has promised that not one person on the ship will perish—and God keeps his word. From start to finish, Paul stays peaceful, clear-headed, encouraging, and centered. Here are five things we can take away from his example.

Paul’s journey to Rome was filled with storms, destruction, and fear. The crew was caught off guard, but God wasn't. What looked like a detour or a disaster was something God used for his glory.

For us, it’s easy to look at a hard season or what feels like a wrong turn and assume something has gone wrong. But what if the delay, the detour, the things you didn't see coming, are exactly where God wants you to be?

When our plans get interrupted or rerouted, God can still use them for his glory. Sometimes what feels like an interruption is the very thing he intends to use.

In the middle of a ship being torn apart, Paul could’ve easily panicked with everyone around him. He could have been bitter and frustrated. He could have said, "I told you so." Instead, he was the calmest person on board.

“After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: ‘Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me'” (Acts 27:21-25).

In this passage, Paul’s peace doesn’t come from his circumstances—it comes from God. He knew that whatever happened, God was holding the situation. When our peace is rooted in God, the waves and storms of life can’t sway us. We stay strong, steady, and clear-minded because we have nothing to fear.

Paul was in chains. He was being transported on the ship as a prisoner. But he didn’t let that define him or stop him from speaking out. 

He spoke up when the leaders made a bad call (v. 10). He rallied the crew when morale was gone. He directed action when the ship was breaking apart. When the sailors tried to slip away in the lifeboat, it was Paul, the prisoner, who sounded the alarm, and the soldiers acted on his word:

“Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, ‘Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.' So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away” (Acts 27:31-32).

Paul didn’t let his circumstances or his title stop him from honoring God and speaking up. He knew who he was in Christ, and that quiet confidence was exactly what drew people to him. 

It’s a good reminder that the labels we carry—our job title, relationship status, or financial circumstances—don’t define who we are. How we show up and honor God does. 

What I found interesting in this chapter was that Paul didn't stand up on the deck and preach the gospel. He talked about God, but he didn't spend the entire chapter monologuing about his testimony or laying out the gospel story. We know he isn’t afraid to do that—it’s how he keeps getting arrested in the first place. So why doesn’t he here?

For one thing, I'm not sure how that would have gone over. People are panicking and afraid, scrambling just to stay alive. A sermon on the deck of a sinking ship wouldn't have landed.

“Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. ‘For the last fourteen days,' he said, ‘you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food — you haven't eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.' After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves” (Acts 27:33-36).

Paul gave thanks in front of everyone, and a frightened, exhausted crew is encouraged enough to eat. His faith is simply part of who he is.

You don't always have to preach to point people to God. More often than not, the deepest impact comes not from the words we plan but from who we consistently are in the ordinary moments, in hard circumstances, and when no one's watching.

Paul received a promise from an angel that no one on that ship would die. He was also told exactly what would happen: "Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island" (Acts 27:26). The shipwreck wasn't a failure of God's promise. It was part of it.

Even when the soldiers decided to take matters into their own hands and kill the prisoners to keep them from escaping, God protected every person on board the ship. The centurion stepped in and stopped them because of Paul. 

“The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely” (Acts 27:42-44).

God was faithful to His word. Every person made it to shore, just as promised. The promises God makes, He keeps—even when our circumstances appear otherwise.

Where in your life might something that feels like an interruption actually be exactly where God has you—and what would it look like to show up with peace that’s rooted in God?

Kali Gibson is the Editor-in-Chief for So We Speak and a senior copywriter for the YouVersion Bible App.