THE SPREAD IN ASIA MINOR AND EUROPE THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS (36)
Read and pray: “Paul, do not be afraid; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you” (Acts 27:24).
SATAN’S ATTACK
The first point conveyed in Luke’s lengthy account of Paul’s journey is Satan’s attack on the apostle. Satan constantly attacked him behind the scenes. This is why the journey was difficult, filled with many hardships, and took so long. The weather, in particular, was very bad.
Acts 27:4 says, “From there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.” Later, aboard an Alexandrian ship, they sailed slowly for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus (v. 7). Then, with great difficulty, they came to a place called Fair Havens. Finally, after setting sail again, “a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land” (v. 14). Satan was behind these difficulties, attacking the apostle.
THE LORD’S SOVEREIGN CARE
The picture painted in Acts 27-28 also shows the Lord’s sovereign care. He is above all things, including the wind and the storms. He was sovereign over the centurion named Julius, who took Paul to Rome, and over all the soldiers with him. In His sovereignty, the Lord caused this centurion to treat Paul kindly.
Regarding this, we read in 27:3: “The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.” Probably some soldiers accompanied him, and he was likely still in chains. However, the Lord sovereignly cared for him.
In His sovereignty, the Lord also sent an angel to Paul in the midst of the violent storm when those on the ship had lost all hope of being saved (vv. 20, 23). Paul testified that an angel had told him, “Paul, do not be afraid; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you” (v. 24). As we will see, these words indicate that he had a small kingdom on the ship, composed of two hundred seventy-six citizens.
Luke and Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, were with Paul on the ship. Luke served as a physician, caring for his health, and as a recorder, documenting the details of the journey. We thank the Lord for this record. The more we read it, the more we realize how significant it is. In the detailed account of this journey, we see that the Lord controlled Satan’s attacks. Everything happened at the right time so that Paul’s life would be preserved.
PAUL’S LIVING
The picture in these chapters of Acts also shows us Paul’s life, behavior, and character. We see the prominence he had in this situation. We also see the wisdom and dignity of his human life. Without a doubt, his life was one of living Christ and magnifying Him.
If we read this passage carefully, we will see that Paul lived in the way he aspired to live in Philippians 3, where he said that he pursued Christ to be found in Him (vv. 9, 12). When I read Acts 27-28, I find him in Christ. During a hard and challenging journey, he lived with prominence and dignity, full of wisdom. Although he was a prisoner, he carried himself like a king. Moreover, he had the perception and wisdom to handle matters.
Without a doubt, the Lord was with him. On the one hand, he was a prisoner, one among two hundred seventy-six passengers. On the other hand, he was the center of the situation, whether on the ship or on the island where they spent the winter after the shipwreck. In every circumstance, he lived with prominence.
Enjoy more: Hymn 224
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