Acts 27:1-8
1 When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius. 2 And embarking in an Adramyttian ship, which was about to sail to the regions along the coast of Asia, we put out to sea accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul with consideration and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care. 4 From there we put out to sea and sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were contrary. 5 When we had sailed through the sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 7 When we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone; 8 and with difficulty sailing past it we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.
Despite King Agrippa’s understanding of Paul’s explanation, Paul’s appeal to receive the audience of Caesar resulted in being boarded on a ship to begin the journey to Rome. Agrippa even said, “We could have let this guy go free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.” Some consider this Paul’s fourth and final “missionary journey” because of how he witnessed to his travelling companions and captors along the way. We could all learn from this example as we most likely, bound in chains and put on a ship, wouldn’t see it as an opportunity to share the Gospel with others. Yet Paul continued to cling to God’s promise from Acts 23:11
[quote]But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.” [/quote]
So, instead of worry about what would happen to him, Paul worried about taking advantage of the new relationships he was forming by revealing the Kingdom of God to them along the way. This description of the beginning of their journey (the author, Luke, was accompanying Paul) seems a bit boring and only useful for historical purposes. Yet, as I mentioned before in regards to the Old Testament, the foundation of the story is necessary in order for us to understand everything that is happening; it creates significance for what is to come later. We see that Paul is still receiving kind treatment from those guarding him, as he was able to leave the ship when they docked.
How often in life do you feel like you are sailing against the wind? I don’t know a whole lot about sailing, but I know that the best wind for sailing is the wind that is at your back pushing you to where you are trying to go, not the other way around. Despite the challenges that lied ahead, Paul kept pushing forward. As he wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:
[quote]6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.[/quote]
Despite the turbulence and seemingly unfortunate events of his unjust imprisonment, Paul knew that all he was experiencing was for the glory of God and he felt fortunate to be a part of it. He not only clung to the promise spoken to him about making it safely to Rome, but also knowing that God was in control of everything and he willingly submitted to that authority. How often do we miss this step in our spiritual lives? Why is it so hard for us to trust God?
