Tag Archives: Rome

No Holiday Cruise!

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NO HOLIDAY CRUISE!

“As soon as arrangements were complete for our sailing to Italy — Paul and a few other prisoners were placed under the supervision of a centurion named Julius, a member of an elite guard. We boarded a ship from Adramyttium that was bound for Ephesus and ports west. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, went with us.

“The next day we put in at Sidon. Julius treated Paul most decently — he let him get off the ship and enjoy the hospitality of his friends there.

“Out to sea again, we sailed north under the protection of the northeast shore of Cyprus because winds out of the west were against us, and then along westward to the port of Myra. There the centurion found an Egyptian ship headed for Italy and transferred us on board. We ran into bad weather and found it impossible to stay on course. After much difficulty, we finally made it to the southern coast of Crete and docked at Good Harbour (appropriate name).” Acts 27:1-8 (The Message).

This was no pleasure cruise for Paul and his travelling companions! The centurion could not Google “Computicket” and book a ticket to Rome, luxury class, for himself and his prisoners, and enjoy the hospitality of the captain and crew, gourmet meals and first class entertainment during the voyage!

The best he could do was to hitch a ride from port to port on cargo ships manned by rough sailors. He had to find ships that were going along the route to Rome which meant searching for another one every time they reached the next stage of their voyage. These cargo ships probably had no facilities for passengers and, worst of all, passengers would be in the way in port during the loading and offloading operations.

The favour of God was on Paul because the centurion in charge obviously realised that he was no dangerous criminal looking for an opportunity to make a break for it as soon as they hit land. He trusted him enough to allow him to disembark and spend the time in port with friends rather than remain on board in the noise and confusion of offloading cargo.

On top of that they were are the mercy of unfavourable weather. It must have been autumn, when the sailing season was almost at an end. Winter on the Mediterranean was not an appropriate time to go sailing, as they were to find out through a stubborn captain! They had to endure rough and dangerous seas in their effort to get to Rome.

Once again Paul and his company of loyal companions faced the hazards that were part of the package of life. They were not immune to the trials of living in a fallen world. God’s promise was never to protect them from trouble but to be with them in trouble. They had to endure the discomfort of violent storms, howling wind, pounding waves, sea sickness, sleepless nights, hunger and thirst and the frantic efforts of the sailors to keep the ship afloat and on course while they watched – a most distressing scenario.

On top of that they were in the company of rough, crude sailors whose language and behaviour could not have been conducive to a restful time en route. It was fortunate for Paul that he was not alone. He had the comfort of like-minded travelling companions who loved the old man and were there to care for him during this trying time.

All of these circumstances were adding up to a life rich in the wisdom and experience of God’s grace. Where he had been was nothing compared to where he was still to go. He could not share the preciousness of life “hidden with Christ in God” had he not been in every place in life where he found this to be true. The more adversity buffeted him, the more he mellowed in the powerful presence of his Master.

It was out of the severity of experiences like these that he could write, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that nothing…will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37a, 38b (NIV).

Did God Mess Up?

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DID GOD MESS UP?

“But Agrippa did answer: ‘Keep this up much longer and you’ll make a Christian out of me!’

“Paul, still in chains, said, ‘That’s what I’m praying for, whether now or later, and not only you but everyone listening today, to become like me — except, of course, for this prison jewellery!’

“The king and the governor, along with Bernice and their advisors, got up and went into the next room to talk over what they had heard. They quickly agreed on Paul’s innocence, saying, ‘There’s nothing in this man deserving prison, let alone death.’

“Agrippa told Festus, ‘He could be set free right now if he hadn’t requested a hearing before Caesar.'” Acts 26:28-32 (The Message).

What frustration! Why did Paul have to go and appeal for a hearing before Caesar? He could have walked out of there that day a free man. He was jumping from the frying pan into the fire! Caesar meant Nero! Nero meant God-hater, crazy, bully, murderer! What justice would he receive from him, especially when there was no legitimate charge against him?

Had God made a mistake this time? The timing of Agrippa’s visit could have been changed. Why did he not visit during Felix’s governorship and hear Paul’s case then? If only! If only! It sounds so familiar, doesn’t it? Do we not react like that when we land up in a frustrating situation that could have been so different if only…

It all depends on whose viewpoint we take. God said to Paul, ‘Rome!’ Because it was part of his package Paul said, ‘Yes, Lord!’ This was no surprise to him. The fact that he was declared innocent after his appeal did not frustrate him like it is frustrating us. No, He didn’t mess up. God’s plan was right on track — Rome at Rome’s expense because God wanted Paul to stand before Nero.

But why Nero? God knew very well that Nero would never respond positively to Paul’s message. In fact, He knew that Nero would condemn Paul to death! He should have sent Paul scurrying in the other direction, as far from Nero as he could possibly get. But that is not God’s way. He was not out to save Paul’s bacon. Nero had to be given the opportunity to make his choice, just as Felix, Festus and Agrippa and all the august assembly that heard Paul that day.

This is the mystery of God’s ways. Although he did not know it, in Paul’s package was a violent death at the hands of a cruel and unscrupulous king. But in the mercy of God, He had to give Nero an opportunity to hear the truth about Jesus and make a decision which would affect his eternal destiny and Paul was the one He chose to do it.

As far as Paul was concerned, he had accepted without reservation his package for life, no matter what it held for him. He died on the day he met Jesus. His life was no longer his to control. He belonged to Another and he was at His beck and call to carry out His command.

Think of the benefits to every succeeding generation of Paul’s incarceration in Caesar’s palace in Rome. How many letters did Paul write from his prison cell, chained day and night to a Roman guard? What treasures of truth he learned in those lonely and uncomfortable days and nights which he generously imparted to the many believers he had left behind on his travels in Europe and Asia! How much poorer would we be without Paul’s experience and wisdom to which we have access two thousand years later!

Did God mess up? Definitely not! He knew what He was doing when Paul could have been set free but was sent to Rome to face Nero!

If God Be For Us

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IF GOD BE FOR US

“The captain came up and put Paul under arrest. He first ordered him handcuffed and then asked who he was and what he had done. All he got from the crowd were shouts, one yelling this, another that. It was impossible to tell one word from another in the mob hysteria, so the captain ordered Paul taken to the military barracks. But when they got to the Temple steps, the mob became so violent that the soldiers had to carry Paul. As they carried him away, the crowd followed, shouting, ‘Kill him! Kill him!'” Acts 21:33-36 (The Message).

How many times had Paul been in a similar situation? In almost every city he had preached in, he had faced being lynched, either by Jews or enraged Gentiles stirring up violence against him for some perceived grievance. This was religious bigotry at its worst.

His ploy to appease the opposition hadn’t worked. They were not taken in by his shaved head and pathetic attempt to convince them that he was a good Jew. His reputation had gone before him and it took only one tiny spark of hatred to set the whole city alight. Roman soldiers or no Roman soldiers, the mob was determined to get him this time, once and for all.

It was only divine intervention that could save him, and it came to him in the form of Roman authority which, at this moment, was on his side. This little Jewish colony was a constant thorn in Rome’s side. There had to be a strong military presence here to keep the volatile crowd from erupting over any little religious nit-picking especially when it came to the issue of Jesus of Nazareth.

Some thirty years before, representatives of the city had made their choice. ‘His blood be upon us and upon our children,’ they had yelled at Pilate. Not only had they chosen to speak for themselves but they had also implicated their descendants in their decision to reject their Messiah and consign themselves to the unbelief that has dogged their nation down the centuries.

For Paul there was one tiny light at the end of the tunnel — Rome. He was not going to die here at the hands of the Jews, no matter their intention, because God had assured him that he would testify to His grace in Rome. As scary as his situation was, he was assured of divine protection and he could rest in the presence and promise of God.

“When they got to the barracks, and were about to go in, Paul said to the captain, ‘Can I say something to you?’

“He answered, ‘Oh, I didn’t know you spoke Greek. I thought you were an Egyptian who not long ago started a riot here and then hid out in the desert with his four thousand thugs.’

“Paul said, ‘No, I am a Jew, born in Tarsus. And I’m a citizen still of that influential city. I have a simple request. Let me speak to the crowd.'” Acts 21:37-39 (The Message).

Surprise! The Roman captain thought he had to do with yet another marauding gang leader, not an educated, Greek speaking, respectable citizen of an influential city in the Roman Empire. That put a different slant on things. God was slowly building His protective shield around Paul, growing respect for him in the heart of the Roman captain which would stand him in good stead in days to come.

Once again Paul was learning that the safest place to be was in the will of God because he was untouchable in the worst of circumstances as God’s plan for him unfolded. When David was a fugitive from the murderous hatred of Saul, he also experienced a safe place in God.

To Abiathar, son of the murdered priest, Ahimelech, he said, “‘Stay with me, don’t be afraid. The man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me.” 1 Samuel 22:23 (NIV).