Acts 27:43Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They too were saved not simply, but when they contributed their faith. A saint, even if he is a prisoner, accomplishes more than those who are not prisoners. See what happened here. The unbound centurion needed the bound Paul. The skilled pilot received help from one who was not a pilot, or rather, from the true pilot. For Paul governed not such a little boat, but the Church of the whole world. He had been taught by the Master of the sea Himself, not human skill, but spiritual wisdom. This ship too suffers many shipwrecks and many storms, the spirits of wickedness. "Without were conflicts, within were fears" (2 Cor 7:5). Therefore he truly was a pilot. Look also at our whole life. Is it not like this? At one time we enjoy the mercy of God; at another we experience a storm. Sometimes by our own foolishness, sometimes by negligence, we fall into countless calamities. This happens especially because we do not listen to Paul and hasten to go where he does not command. Thus even now he sails with us, only not in chains as then. Even now he admonishes and says to those sailing on this sea, "Take heed to yourselves... after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:28-29). Again, "Know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, impious, without natural affection" (2 Tim 3:1-2). This is more dangerous than every storm. Let us remain, then, where he commands, in faith, that safe harbor. Let us listen to him more than to our own pilot, that is, reason. Let us do not what this pilot suggests, but what Paul proposes, who has passed through thousands of storms. Let us not wait to be instructed by experience. Before experience, let us avoid both griefs and harm. Hear what he says: "Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation" (1 Tim 6:9). Let us believe him. You see what those suffered who did not believe him. In another place he teaches what shipwrecks occur. "Some," he says, "having rejected this, have made shipwreck concerning the faith" (1 Tim 1:19). "Continue in what you have learned and have been entrusted with, knowing from whom you learned it" (2 Tim 3:14). Let us obey Paul. By obeying him, even if we are overtaken by a storm, we will certainly be delivered from danger. Even if we remain without food for fourteen days, even if we lose hope of salvation, even if we are surrounded by complete darkness, we will be delivered from dangers. Let us imagine that the whole universe is a ship. In it there are criminals who have committed many evils. There are rulers and guards. There are righteous men, like Paul, and prisoners bound by sins. If we obey Paul, then even in chains we will not perish, but will be delivered from them. God will entrust us also to him. Do you think sins and passions are not grievous chains? They bind not only the hands, but the whole man. Tell me, when someone has gathered many possessions and neither spends them nor uses them for any good work, but keeps them by him, is he not bound worse than any prisoner by the indissoluble chains of greed? Likewise, is not the man who surrenders himself to fate bound by chains of another kind? Again, when people believe in omens or magical signs, and when they surrender to irrational desire and sensuality, is this not worse than any chains? Who, then, will break these chains of ours? The help of God is necessary to break them. Any one of these things can put us in danger. But when chains and storm are together, consider how many dangers there are. Truly, what cannot destroy us? Hunger, storm, the malice of companions, the hostility of the weather? But the glorious Paul withstood all this. So let us also have communion with the saints, and we shall not suffer a storm. Or rather, even if a storm occurs, we shall have fair weather, calm, and safety. That widow was in friendship with a saint, and her son was released from death. She received her son alive again (4 Kgs 4). Where the feet of the saints tread, nothing grievous will be there. If such a thing happens, it is for trial and for the greater glory of God. Let their feet often tread the floor of your house, and the devil will not enter it. This is certain. As where there is fragrance, stench has no place, so where there is the myrrh of holiness, the demon cannot exist. There is gladness for those present, and pleasure and delight of soul. Where there are thorns, there are wild beasts. But where there is hospitality, there are no thorns. Mercy shown to others is sharper than any sickle and stronger than any fire in destroying thorns. Do not fear. The devil fears the footprints of the saints as foxes fear lions. "The righteous man," says the Wise One, "is bold as a lion" (Prov 28:1). Let us bring these lions into our house, and all beasts will flee. They will not cry out loudly, but will speak simply. The roar of a lion does not put wild beasts to flight as the prayer of a righteous man drives away demons. As soon as he has uttered a word, they have already vanished. Where, then, you ask, are these men? Everywhere, if we believe, if we seek, if we strive to find them. Tell me, where have you looked for them? When have you occupied yourself with this matter? When have you cared for it? If you do not seek, do not be surprised that you do not find. For "he who seeks finds" (Mt 7:8), not the one who does not seek. Hear about those who live in the deserts. Carry gold and silver there. They are throughout the whole world. If you do not receive a saint in your house, go yourself to him. Stay with him and visit his dwelling, so that you may find him and receive a blessing from him. The blessing of the saints is a great thing. Let us strive to receive it, so that by the help of their prayers we may be counted worthy of mercy from the God who strengthens them. By the grace and love for mankind of His Only-begotten Son, with Whom to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, dominion, and honor, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Again the devil tries to hinder the prophecy. They wanted to kill some of them, but the centurion did not permit it, in order to save Paul. So greatly had the centurion become his friend.

Saint John Chrysostom exclaims concerning this: “Again the devil attempts to hinder the fulfillment of the prophecy. The soldiers wished to kill some of the prisoners, but the centurion restrained them in order to save Paul. So he was already attached to him. If the prisoners were saved through Paul from a ship that was in danger and suffered shipwreck, consider what it means to have a holy man in one’s house. Many storms befall us also, and far harsher than those. Yet God can save us also, if only we obey the saints and do what they command. For those men were not saved simply as such, but when they showed their faith. A saint, even if he is a prisoner, can accomplish more than those who are not prisoners. So it happened here. The unbound centurion needed the bound Paul. The skilled pilot received help from one who was not a pilot, or rather, from the true pilot. For Paul governed no such little boat, but the Church of the whole world. He had been taught by the Master of the sea Himself, not human skill, but spiritual wisdom. Many shipwrecks also happen to this ship. Look at our whole life. Is it not like this? At one time we enjoy the mercy of God, and at another we undergo a storm.”