Acts 27:1-8 :
When it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band. Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea; Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. The next day, we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself. Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us on board. When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. With difficulty sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
Finally, Paul was on his way to Rome as a prisoner. Although Paul was treated well by the centurion, the ships were not treated well by the weather. It seemed that every attempt to go toward Rome was met with some kind of trouble for them.
I am sure that Paul knew that he would get to Rome no matter what it seemed like since Jesus told him in his vision. Circumstances in life often trick us into thinking that God’s word isn’t coming true. We should pay attention to what God says and ignore the circumstances.
Notice that Luke is an eye witness to these events. He must have been traveling right there with Paul and must have been one of the “friends” that were allowed to “refresh” Paul as a prisoner.