God’s Grace In The Storm
– Acts Twenty-Seven –
Paul had been judged and found innocent. However, it was God's will
that he preach in
Paul and other
prisoners were put under the charge of Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
Augustus was the Roman Dictator called Caesar. Paul would be allowed to take
the gospel to his palace. Paul was put on a ship of Adramyttium
to make the journey toward
The centurion gave
orders for the journey even over the captain of the ship. He was totally
unwilling to follow the advice Paul gave him. Later, the ship was caught in a
horrible storm and hope of survival was gone. God appeared to Paul and promised
him that there would be no lose of life. The ship and its cargo would be lost
but all the people would be spared.
As the storm raged
some of the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship. Paul spoke ten words
that saved many lives -- "Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be
saved." Paul had been a persecutor, a preacher and now he becomes a
preserver for those that were in the ship. Through the grace of God the two
hundred and seventy six tired and frightened men on that ship were spared.
In the midst of the
storm Paul showed great faith in God. He ate, prayed and talked about God. He
said, "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God,
that it shall
be even as it was told me." The ship was torn apart and the
soldiers suggest
killing the prisoners. "But Julius wanted to save Paul's
life, and he
did
not
let the
soldiers do what they had planned." Remember shipwrecks may come in life
but God never deserts you.
Paul
is taken to
When they stopped
at Sidon Julius was kind to Paul. He allowed him to visit his friends so that
they could minister to his needs. Leaving
They lost a great
deal of time on the trip. The Day of Atonement had now passed and it was
dangerous to sail on. Paul warned the sailors saying, "Sirs, I perceive
that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage." But Julius listened
to the captain of the ship instead of Paul. Almost everyone said that the
"Fair Havens" was not a good place to spend the winter. So they
attempted to reach
The terrible storm at sea –
Acts 27:13-20:
When
a gentle wind from the south blew the sailors thought it was a good time to
sail as they had planned. They pulled up the anchor and sailed along the coast
of
Psalms 107:25-27
described the situation they found themselves in. "For he commandeth, and raiseth the
stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They
mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the
depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and
stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end." The storm was so
fierce that they threw some of the ship's cargo and gear overboard. After not
seeing either stars or sun for many days they gave up hope of being saved. The
storm just kept beating upon them!
Encouragement
from God – Acts 27:21-38: They ate nothing for many days. Afterward
Paul stood and told them that they should have listened to him and not sailed. He
also revealed to them that God had told him the ship would be lost but that
there would be no loss of life. His faith showed as he said,
"I believe God, that it shall be even as it was
told me."
Paul knew that they
would be shipwrecked on some island. For fourteen days and nights they had been
blown about. About
The sailors tried
to escape in the
lifeboat, but Paul told them that they must stay in the ship to be
saved. God has a place of safety today. The place of safety is the church. We
must remain in the church to be saved. (Acts
Paul encouraged
everyone to take some food and assured them that God would spare their lives.
There were 276 people on the ship. After they had eaten they threw the wheat
into the sea to lighten the ship.
The
horrors of a shipwreck – Acts 27:39-44: When morning came they decided
to try to run the ship aground on the beach. They raised the sail and allowed
the wind carry the ship toward the beach. When the ship ran aground the front
stuck in the sand and the "hinder part was broken with the violence of the
waves."
The soldiers
decided to kill the prisoners to keep them from escaping. Julius wanted to save
Paul so he ordered everyone who could swim to head for shore. Others held on to
wood from the ship and all reached safely. Again we see the faithfulness of
God's promise.
Are you willing to
do whatever is necessary to go to heaven? Jesus said, "He who believes and
is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
(Mark