Acts Chapter Twenty Seven
There are only two more chapters in the book of Acts. I think this time has gone by quickly. Thanks to all who have been following along with this blog. Please note that this blog web site existed before I started using it to write about Acts, and will continue afterwards. Please be sure to check on February 1 for some more thoughts.
Now, chapter twenty seven.
This chapter would make a great TV special. Coming, Friday night, the story of shipwreck and intrigue. Will the criminals make it to trial? Did the military guards fail in their mission? Will all 276 on the ship survive? Don’t miss it. Friday night at 9.
After the long and drawn out debacle that started with a mob scene in Jerusalem, murder pacts, political games and languishing for two years in Caesarea, Paul is finally sent on a journey to Rome. We don’t know the exact setting in Caesarea, we don’t know exactly how much freedom Paul had there. There is speculation that he was held right near the Mediterranean Sea. There are ruins of a major building right on the shore and there is speculation this is where he was held. If he had a window view it would have been an amazing location. I’ve seen the location and it is beautiful. He was finally ready to head across those waters.
After all the political games and legal jokes played on Paul, he was given to the custody of a centurion named Julius for transfer to Rome to make his appeal to Caesar. This would be a long and arduous journey. It started out fine and Julius was kind to Paul. He allowed friends to provide for him along the way. They passed through a variety of ports. Eventually their trip started to slow down because they were dependent on wind to move the ship along. The shipping season was winding down and they had to find a safe port for winter.
This trip was not one where they bought a ticket and had a guaranteed time of arrival. It was a journey at the whim of wind and wave. It would take a long time. We are spoiled these days with travel options that can take us any where.
They reached a point where they were way behind what they should be. Travel was slow. Paul warned that they needed to stay put for the winter as it was getting too risky to travel. The place where they were was not good for the winter, so they thought they would try to make it to Phoenix.
When it looked like the weather was giving them a break, they took off. Soon the dangerous winter storms hit and they began to fight for their lives. Luke records that at one point some had given up hope and expected to die.
This was not just a quick storm and then it passed. It lasted for two weeks. Eventually everything was lost, the wooden ship was torn to pieces, and they all had to survive and make it to an island. There were those on the ship who wanted to kill all the prisoners being transported, but that was prevented.
I have a hard time imagining what this must have been like. I have seen bad storms. I have been at and on the ocean. Those wood ships were not that big and were propelled by wind. They had two weeks fighting the storm 24 hours a day. Then it hit a sand bar and broke up. Everyone grabbed for a piece of the ship and hung on.
Why was Paul on the ship? Lies told about him. There was a strong spiritual battle to keep him quiet about Jesus. Often the spiritual battles are hard and mean. Spiritual battles have caused many Christians to give up. Not Paul. This is the man who wrote:
For me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying – while that’s better yet. (Living Bible)
The New Living Translation puts it this way.
For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.
Philippians 1:21
Just think, Paul’s purpose in his daily life was that it continually provided an opportunity to do something for Jesus. Storms at sea? Shipwreck? People trying to kill him? Yes. Besides, he had an amazing retirement plan for eternity.
Opportunities for Christ. That’s the way to live.
There are only two more chapters in the book of Acts. I think this time has gone by quickly. Thanks to all who have been following along with this blog. Please note that this blog web site existed before I started using it to write about Acts, and will continue afterwards. Please be sure to check on February 1 for some more thoughts.
Now, chapter twenty seven.
This chapter would make a great TV special. Coming, Friday night, the story of shipwreck and intrigue. Will the criminals make it to trial? Did the military guards fail in their mission? Will all 276 on the ship survive? Don’t miss it. Friday night at 9.
After the long and drawn out debacle that started with a mob scene in Jerusalem, murder pacts, political games and languishing for two years in Caesarea, Paul is finally sent on a journey to Rome. We don’t know the exact setting in Caesarea, we don’t know exactly how much freedom Paul had there. There is speculation that he was held right near the Mediterranean Sea. There are ruins of a major building right on the shore and there is speculation this is where he was held. If he had a window view it would have been an amazing location. I’ve seen the location and it is beautiful. He was finally ready to head across those waters.
After all the political games and legal jokes played on Paul, he was given to the custody of a centurion named Julius for transfer to Rome to make his appeal to Caesar. This would be a long and arduous journey. It started out fine and Julius was kind to Paul. He allowed friends to provide for him along the way. They passed through a variety of ports. Eventually their trip started to slow down because they were dependent on wind to move the ship along. The shipping season was winding down and they had to find a safe port for winter.
This trip was not one where they bought a ticket and had a guaranteed time of arrival. It was a journey at the whim of wind and wave. It would take a long time. We are spoiled these days with travel options that can take us any where.
They reached a point where they were way behind what they should be. Travel was slow. Paul warned that they needed to stay put for the winter as it was getting too risky to travel. The place where they were was not good for the winter, so they thought they would try to make it to Phoenix.
When it looked like the weather was giving them a break, they took off. Soon the dangerous winter storms hit and they began to fight for their lives. Luke records that at one point some had given up hope and expected to die.
This was not just a quick storm and then it passed. It lasted for two weeks. Eventually everything was lost, the wooden ship was torn to pieces, and they all had to survive and make it to an island. There were those on the ship who wanted to kill all the prisoners being transported, but that was prevented.
I have a hard time imagining what this must have been like. I have seen bad storms. I have been at and on the ocean. Those wood ships were not that big and were propelled by wind. They had two weeks fighting the storm 24 hours a day. Then it hit a sand bar and broke up. Everyone grabbed for a piece of the ship and hung on.
Why was Paul on the ship? Lies told about him. There was a strong spiritual battle to keep him quiet about Jesus. Often the spiritual battles are hard and mean. Spiritual battles have caused many Christians to give up. Not Paul. This is the man who wrote:
For me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying – while that’s better yet. (Living Bible)
The New Living Translation puts it this way.
For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.
Philippians 1:21
Just think, Paul’s purpose in his daily life was that it continually provided an opportunity to do something for Jesus. Storms at sea? Shipwreck? People trying to kill him? Yes. Besides, he had an amazing retirement plan for eternity.
Opportunities for Christ. That’s the way to live.
