ACTS THE SEQUEL…THE STORM – 62
“When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us….Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship….When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.”
Acts 27:1-2, 9-11, 13 NIV
…And so began the long voyage to Rome. Everything depended on the wind since sailing was the method ancient sailors were compelled to use. There were no diesel engines that could propel the boat regardless of the weather.
Unfortunately, this voyage was due to be undertaken during the change of seasons, when the winds were uncertain and stormy seas were the norm on the Mediterranean Sea during the winter. Paul warned d about impending danger…but what did he know? He was only a passenger.
So, when the winds were favourable and the weather deceptively calm, the captain, on the advice of the centurion in charge of the prisoners, decided to set sail but…it was not long before the vessel ran into trouble. A violent storm blew up, the winds so strong that the boat was in danger of being blown apart.
“Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along.”
Acts 27:14-17 NIV
The sailors were helpless, simply allowing the wind to blow the boat along. They did their best to secure the ship but they were at the mercy of the storm.
“We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.”
Acts 27:18-20 NIV
Well! So much for the hope of reaching Rome! It seems that Paul’s destiny and those of all the souls on this ship was the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea…except, of course, that Paul had God’s promise. He was going to Rome…and that settled it.
In all this pandemonium, Paul was missing. Where was he when everyone else was trying to save the ship?
Paul was somewhere else…waiting…listening for the Lord’s instructions. He needed more than a miracle at this time. He needed a word from the Lord. As at other times of crisis, it was God’s promise that steadied him. Dotted along this tortuous journey were those moments when the Lord Himself appeared to him with words of encouragement and promise.
We can take a leaf out of Paul’s book. How much more secure is God’s promise in times of trouble than our pleas for a miracle. Yes God does miracles but…His word carries us in times and seasons when there is no miracle or when the miracle we desire is delayed because God works to His own timetable.
So, instead of anguish and despair, why not wait for a word from the Lord? God’s promise is the most reliable rock to stand on when your world is shaking.
Paul’s quiet reassurance in the midst of the chaos set the course for hope and direction. Some, as usual, refused to take Paul seriously. They tried their own method of self-preservation…steal the lifeboat and try to save themselves. They were not prepared to trust the word of a mere passenger.
“In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow.”
Acts 27:30 NIV
Paul intervened smartly to nip their escape in the bud. That stopped their clandestine plan…Paul’s ringing authority cut them short.
“Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.”
Acts 27:31-32 NIV
After a hurried meal to give them strength, they ditched the rest of the cargo and waited for the inevitable. Then…land! They saw land! A new danger arose…shipwreck on the rocks. Finally, the boat crashed on a sandbar and broke apart. Gone was their hope of weathering the storm. They were now at the mercy of the sea.
“When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf. The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.”
Acts 27:39-44 NIV
Thank God for Julius! Roman centurion though he was, he also had a kind heart. He was well disposed towards Paul, showing him favour and saving his life in this time of crisis.
Against all odds, exactly as Paul had promised, everyone aboard the ship was accounted for…not a single one missing! Wet…cold…and thoroughly shaken by the ordeal, they struggled ashore to look for help. Just imagine…276 shipwrecked foreigners…intruders…arriving on a foreign island…wet, cold, hungry…and unpredictable! What would happen next?
To be continued