But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights how readily we favor the "experts" – the ship's pilot and owner, those with practical, worldly knowledge – over the insights of someone perceived as an outsider, like Paul, even when that outsider carries divine wisdom. It's easy for the centurion, and for us, to default to the authority of perceived competence in a particular domain, overlooking potential deeper truths.
But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul, a prisoner on his way to Rome, warns the centurion in charge that continuing the voyage will bring disaster, but the centurion, prioritizing the expertise of the ship's pilot and owner, dismisses Paul's counsel. This sets the stage for the perilous storm that is about to engulf them, testing their faith and resolve.
Why did the centurion trust the sailors over Paul, even when Paul had a divine warning?
This verse highlights a clash of authorities. The centurion, a military man in charge of prisoners, naturally leaned on the expertise of the ship's captain (the pilot or master) and the owner. These men were seasoned professionals, deeply familiar with the sea, winds, and the ship itself. Their advice was based on practical knowledge and experience, which the centurion deemed more reliable for navigating the physical dangers of their journey.
It's a common human tendency to defer to perceived experts, especially in matters of practical skill or physical risk. The centurion's decision wasn't necessarily malicious; it was a logical choice based on the information and people available to him. He was responsible for the prisoners and the journey, and he chose the counsel of those who made their living from the sea.
Paul, a prisoner, offered a prophetic warning. Why was it ignored, and what does this tell us about human limitations?
While the centurion’s reliance on experienced sailors was logical from a worldly perspective, the text immediately shows its fatal flaw. Paul, guided by divine insight, saw a danger the experienced mariners missed – a storm that would bring 'hurt and great loss.' His warning was not based on weather patterns or charts, but on a spiritual discernment of impending disaster.
This situation starkly reveals the limits of human wisdom and experience. Expertise can prepare us for known risks, but it cannot account for divine pronouncements or unforeseen calamities. The 'master' and 'owner' were experts in sailing, but Paul was an expert in God’s will. The tragedy that unfolds demonstrates that even the most seasoned human judgment can be tragically wrong when it disregards spiritual counsel.
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Understand the original words
hekatontarchos · Greek Noun
A Roman military officer in charge of a hundred soldiers, often used in the New Testament to describe officials who interact with Jesus or the apostles in an administrative or security capacity.
kybernētēs · Greek Noun
One who steers a ship; in a metaphorical or leadership sense, it refers to one who provides direction or guidance for a course of action.
The centurion's decision highlights the tragic disconnect between spiritual insight and worldly authority, a common tension when faith encounters established power structures.
c. AD 57
Paul appeals to Caesar
After being arrested in Jerusalem and imprisoned, Paul appeals his case to Emperor Nero, initiating his journey to Rome.
c. AD 59
Paul's voyage begins
Paul sets sail from Caesarea Maritima, accompanied by the centurion Julius and other prisoners, intending to reach Rome.
c. AD 59
Passage becomes dangerous
As autumn progresses, sailing conditions worsen due to the approaching winter and the Jewish Day of Atonement having passed.
c. AD 59— this verse
Centurion disregards Paul's warning
Despite Paul's prophetic warning about the impending storm and loss, the centurion Julius defers to the ship's pilot and owner.
c. AD 59
Shipwreck near Malta
The ship is caught in a violent storm (Euroclydon) and eventually wrecks off the coast of Malta, though all on board survive.
c. AD 60
Arrival in Rome
After a period on Malta, Paul and his companions continue their journey and finally arrive in Rome to await his trial.
This passage highlights how wisdom, even if valuable, can be overlooked or forgotten in times of crisis, paralleling the centurion's dismissal of Paul's prophetic warning in favor of expert opinion.
Proverbs 14:15This verse speaks to the danger of being easily swayed by popular opinion or immediate appearances rather than discerning what is truly wise, much like the centurion trusted the ship's experts over Paul's divinely-inspired counsel.
Jeremiah 17:5This verse warns against trusting in human strength or making flesh our arm, reflecting the centurion's reliance on the ship's 'master' and 'owner' (human expertise) instead of the divine protection Paul represented.
Luke 12:48While not a direct parallel, Jesus' teaching that 'to whom much is given, from him much will be required' underscores the responsibility that comes with leadership and the potential consequences of poor decisions, as seen in the centurion's choice.
barnesActs 27:11: "Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul."
The master - The person who is here meant was the helmsman, who occupied in ancient ships a conspicuous place on the stern, and steered the ship, and gave directions to the crew. The owner of the ship - Probably a different person from "the master." He had the general command of the ship as his own property, but had employed "the master," or the pilot, to dir…
henryActs 27:1-11: "And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band."
27:1-11 It was determined by the counsel of God, before it was determined by the counsel of Festus, that Paul should go to Rome; for God had work for him to do there. The course they steered, and the places they touched at, are here set down. And God here encourages those who suffer for him, to trust in him; for he can p…
The verse highlights how readily we favor the "experts" – the ship's pilot and owner, those with practical, worldly knowledge – over the insights of someone perceived as an outsider, like Paul, even when that outsider carries divine wisdom. It's easy for the centurion, and for us, to default to the authority of perceived competence in a particular domain, overlooking potential deeper truths.
Paul, a prisoner on his way to Rome, warns the centurion in charge that continuing the voyage will bring disaster, but the centurion, prioritizing the expertise of the ship's pilot and owner, dismisses Paul's counsel. This sets the stage for the perilous storm that is about to engulf them, testing their faith and resolve.
Paul, a prisoner on his way to Rome, warns the centurion in charge that continuing the voyage will bring disaster, but the centurion, prioritizing the expertise of the ship's pilot and owner, dismisses Paul's counsel. This sets the stage for the perilous storm that is about to engulf them, testing their faith and resolve.
"But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said." — The verse highlights how readily we favor the "experts" – the ship's pilot and owner, those with practical, worldly knowledge – over the insights of someone perceived as an outsider, like Paul, even…
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Last reviewed October 2026