Acts 27:11
Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
The verse belongs to Paul's voyage to Rome as a prisoner, with Julius the centurion responsible for escorting Paul and other prisoners. Sea travel at that time was perilous, with mariners relying largely on the sun and stars to navigate, fearing storm signs that warned against venturing into open water, and with safe navigation nearly impossible during part of the year. The ship had been compelled to remain at Fair Havens waiting for favoring winds, while winter was approaching rapidly, sailing had become dangerous, and hope of reaching the destination before the season for sea travel closed had to be given up, leaving only whether to remain at Fair Havens or attempt to reach a more favorable place to winter.
After earnest discussion the centurion referred the question to Paul, who had won the respect of both sailors and soldiers, and Paul unhesitatingly advised remaining at Fair Havens, perceiving that continuing the voyage would bring hurt and much damage not only to the lading and the ship but also to lives. The master and owner of the ship, with the majority of passengers and crew, were unwilling to accept that counsel because the haven was not commodious to winter in, and urged departing to Phenice, a haven of Crete lying toward the southwest and northwest, as a better-protected and more suitable place in which to winter. The centurion believed and trusted the master and owner of the ship more than what Paul spoke, giving greater weight to their judgment and to the majority's wish to leave Fair Havens than to Paul's warning and counsel to remain. God carried forward His special work through Paul's long sea journey as a prisoner, making his bonds the means of spreading the knowledge of Christ and glorifying God, designing that the ship's crew would witness God's power through Paul, that the heathen would hear the name of Jesus, and that many, even thousands, would be converted through Paul's teaching and the miracles he wrought and would rejoice in His name.