November 4– The Worst Cruise-line Ever and the Results

Today we are going to read the last 2 chapters of Acts. It’s long, but the story is really interesting.

Chapter 27 begins the story of the journey by ship to Rome.  It’s not an easy trip, and in fact, ends in a shipwreck.  After you read this story today, I think you will agree with me when I say that God makes sure His plans are completed.  It doesn’t mean everything is smooth sailing – pardon the pun – but we can be confident that our Heavenly Father does take care of us.

You will also find it interesting as you read this story, that the ship’s captain and crew don’t take Paul seriously when he tells them they are making bad decisions. But as they get closer to being shipwrecked, they start to listen. I’ve found that happens in my life experience as well. People will consider religion to be silly and not very intelligent until they experience something really frightening.  Then they are more willing to listen and ask questions. 

So enjoy reading and knowing that there is nothing that thwarts God’s plans.

Acts 27   (NLT)

“Paul Sails for Rome

27 When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer (centurion) named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia; (now western Turkey) it was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province. “3 The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs.” 

“4 Putting out to sea from there, we encountered strong headwinds that made it difficult to keep the ship on course, so we sailed north of Cyprus between the island and the mainland. Keeping to the open sea, we passed along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, landing at Myra, in the province of Lycia. There the commanding officer found an Egyptian ship from Alexandria that was bound for Italy, and he put us on board.

We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone.We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall, and Paul spoke to the ship’s officers about it.

10 “Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” 11 But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul. 12 And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure.”

Intervarsity Press Commentary talks about the shipping times – when it was safe and when it was dangerous:

“Optimum sea travel could be expected during the summer months, May 15 to September 15. Dangerous times for sailing were September 16 to November 10 and March 11 to May 14. Sea travel on the Mediterranean ceased between November 11 and March 10.

As the ship lies in port at Fair Havens, it is already the dangerous period—after the Fast, the Jewish Day of Atonement, which occurred in the fall, the tenth day of Tishri. In A.D. 59 this would have been October 5 (Marshall 1980:406).

Paul’s warning is well founded (v. 10). Vegetius described the dangers of “winter sailing” as scant daylight, long nights, dense cloud cover, poor visibility and the double raging of winds, showers and snows (Military Institutions of the Romans 4.39). The dangerous period saw the beginning of such conditions.”

“The Storm at Sea

13 When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. 14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. 15 The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.

16 We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us. 17 Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.

18 The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. 19 The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. 20 The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.

21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. 22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

The Shipwreck

27 About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, (the central portion of the Mediterranean)  the sailors sensed land was near.28 They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep.[f] 29 At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.

30 Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship.31 But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.

33 Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said.34 “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” 35 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. 36 Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat— 37 all 276 of us who were on board.38 After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.

39 When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. 40 So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. 41 But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.

42 The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. 43 But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. 44 The others held on to planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.”

Acts 28   (NLT)

Paul on the Island of Malta

28 Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us.

As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.

Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. 10 As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.

Paul Arrives at Rome

11 It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods (Romans gods, Castor and Pollux) as its figurehead. 12 Our first stop was Syracuse, (on the island of Sicily) where we stayed three days. 13 From there we sailed across to Rhegium (southern tip of Italy). A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli. 14 There we found some believers, who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.

15 The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum (about 70 kilometers from Rome) on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. (57 kilometers from Rome) When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.

16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.

Paul Preaches at Rome under Guard

17 Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. 18 The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. 19 But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. 20 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.”

21 They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. 22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”

23 So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. 24 Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. 25 And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,

26 ‘Go and say to this people:
When you hear what I say,
    you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
    you will not comprehend.
27 For the hearts of these people are hardened,
    and their ears cannot hear,
    and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
    and their ears cannot hear,
    and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
    and let me heal them.’ (Isaiah 6: 9 – 10)

28 So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”

(Some manuscripts add verse 29, And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, greatly disagreeing with each other.)

30 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense (in his own rented quarters). He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.

One of the things we learn from Acts is that no one can stop the Good News from spreading around the world.  God used this particular historical period to begin this new work that would include everyone – both Jews and Gentiles. Israel was under Roman rule – an Empire that stretched far and wide.  Roads and sea-shipping lanes fanned out from Rome in all directions. When our family was in Europe we visited several ancient places that were created during the Roman Empire. Walking in those narrow-walled areas, knowing that people lived there when Jesus was alive, seemed so strange. Yet that was the reason that Christianity spread around the known world. People heard the gospel, believed, and told others who moved around the Empire.

Did you notice that when Paul arrived in Puteoli and then Rome, that believers were there to welcome him?  How did that happen?  Wasn’t Paul the first one to bring the salvation news to that area?  Historians say that Christianity first started to spread with the strong persecution right after Jesus ascended to Heaven – the time when Stephen was martyred.  Remember how so many were saved right at the beginning of this new church? On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached to the multitudes gathered in Jerusalem and 3000 believed (Acts 2: 41). In verse 47 of that same chapter, it says “the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved”. These large numbers of new believers ended up leaving for all parts of their world because of that persecution. 

Another thing we learn from Acts is that God uses all kinds of people to spread the Good News. There were some outstanding people like Peter and Paul – men who taught and led that new church. But there were many others who had a significant part in The Way. Paul wouldn’t have found so many believers in the places he went if others weren’t sharing their faith. They may have needed one of the apostles to help them learn all the correct facts (remember they had no Bible as we know it), but they hadn’t heard about The Way from the apostles. They learned from friends and family.

We also see God at work mightily during the early church. Miracles were performed that convinced people that The Way was right. We see the Holy Spirit given to distinct groups of people to confirm this new way was God’s way. 

When God first came to Abraham, the Jewish nation of God’s people began. The nation became populated during their time in Egypt, and then God performed miracles as Moses led them out of Egypt to start the journey to the Promised Land. God did many other miracles as that nation settled in under people like Joshua and later King David.  In Acts we see God at work mightily again. A new people, the church, who belong to God is created, and miracles happen to confirm that this is God’s plan.

In Acts we saw how the early church faced division and differences, how they sought to figure out what God wanted.  We are so fortunate today to have the New Testament and the complete Bible so that we can know more accurately God’s plans for us. Reading Acts has given us insight on the beginning of the faith we know today.  It wasn’t easy. I’m so thankful that the apostles were so dedicated and willing to suffer anything to spread the Good News. I’m so thankful they wrote the New Testament books so we can have accurate information to base our faith on. 

The people in the New Testament faced very difficult times. In some ways our lives today are so much easier- mostly easier because we live in flourishing countries in comparison to Third World countries. But our culture increasingly looks down on religious beliefs. So it’s not always easy. Do we have the faith and conviction to stand up for what we believe the way the early church did?

Our song for today is You Never Let Go by Matt Redman.