Paul Sails for Rome - Acts 27

27 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. ² We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.

Luke uses personal pronouns throughout this trip of Paul’s to Rome.  It is obvious that Luke accompanied Paul on the trip.  This trip could be called Paul’s 4^th missionary journey.  While he is bound by chains, the gospel message and Spirit of God within him is not bound.

³ The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.  

I imagine that families or friends of prisoners were responsible for clothing and food for them, otherwise they were getting rags and scraps.  In Haiti, which is what I imagine the standard of living to be somewhat like, family members and friends are responsible for welfare of you in the hospital and prison.  Otherwise, you are not taken care of.   

⁴ From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. ⁵ When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. ⁶ There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. ⁷ We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. ⁸ We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

They are having an extraordinary difficult time sailing across the Adriatic.  They are moving very slow, even for a sailing ship. 

⁹ 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, ¹⁰ “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.” ¹¹ But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. ¹² Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.

Because of the slow trip, they are now sailing at a time of the year when the winds and storms are known to be difficult and dangerous.  Also, Paul is a prophet.  He is given glimpses into the future by God as he walks with God.  So, out of concern for the men with regards to their profits in trade and their very lives, he advises them not to travel.  However, the centurion listens not to the prisoner, but to the captain of the ship, which is reasonable by man's wisdom. 

People do this every day.  They listen to the wisdoms of the world and take their best guess on if they should go or not go.  The world is doomed without God.  Only God knows when we should go or not go.  He alone holds the future in His hand.  He alone protects us and guides us in tomorrow.