“Men,” [Paul said], “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on – shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul.” – Acts 27:10-11
Although not a sailor himself, the Apostle Paul was certainly no stranger to the awesome power of stormy seas. And as the passenger of several sailings, nor was he a stranger to the inexperience of those who were. During his lifetime, Paul would find himself shipwrecked on three occasions. And it’s in this chapter of Acts that we read Luke’s account about one of them.
But Paul wasn’t merely a passenger of this ship heading toward disaster. He was a prisoner. On his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar (the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem accused him of false preaching and teaching, and breaking Roman law), Paul tried to warn them in advance that they were foolish to journey during the stormy season. “I see only disaster ahead for cargo and ship – to say nothing of our lives! – if we put out to see now.” (Acts 27:10, The MSG)
In total, there were 276 people on board, including prisoners, captain and his crew. And every single last one of them, except Paul, truly believed they were going to perish as they found themselves fighting to survive the fiercest of storms.
After 13 exhausting days of battling the winds and the waves, God sent Paul an angel that evening to tell him to not fear. “All of you will survive. And you’re going to have your opportunity to state your case to Caesar.” Paul shared about his visit from the angel with the pagan sailors and passengers. Undoubtedly some of them thought he’d lost his mind. But what did they have to lose? So they listened to Paul’s encouragement.
Despite running headlong into a reef near the shore of Malta the following morning and the ship being destroyed, everyone aboard the ship made it to shore safely, just as the angel said. Not a soul perished that day.
This 27th chapter of Acts challenges us to reflect back on the storms in our own lives. Perhaps some of us are in such a storm currently, waiting for an angel to appear to tell us, “Don’t give up hope. You’re going to get through this.”
Paul was on those stormy seas for weeks. Surely there were times when he too was overcome with fear. But he never stopped praying. He never stopped believing in God. And he even shared his hope with everyone around him. And sure enough, he got through it.
What Paul did is what God calls us to do in the midst of our storms: To pray to Him, to believe in Him, and to continue sharing our hope in Christ with everyone around us, regardless of the weather.
Heavenly Father, we ask for your guidance and protection as we embark on our own journey, just as Paul did in Acts 27. Help us to trust in you and have faith in your plan, even in the midst of stormy seas. Grant us the courage to stand firm in our convictions and the wisdom to make sound decisions. May we always be mindful of your presence with us, and may we follow your lead with grateful hearts. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Former Blackout Artist 