Paul Saves the Day

What a drama! It has been fourteen long days of storm and terror for Paul's companions. And now about midnight the ship is about to run aground and break up on the rocks. The sailors sure "wished for daybreak". (Acts 27:27-37)

And they hatch up a plan. They decide to let down a boat, pretending to lay out more anchors, and escape the disaster - leaving some 276 people to fend for themselves. 

But Paul tips off the centurions and soldiers who cut the boat's ropes so the crew have to stay. Can you imagine all the yelling, confusion, and even fighting? Fear can cause some awful stuff!

Finally, about dawn, Paul stands up and encourages them all to eat "for this is for your preservation, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish". Then he "took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it and began to eat. All of them were encouraged and they themselves also took food".

The truth is there is no telling when God might use us to be a saving grace to many people. As we learn to trust our Lord each day, we are strengthened to be His grace no matter what the drama.

Thank you, Lord, for Your saving grace

I Believe God

Those sailors taking Paul to Rome had surely messed up. They had wanted a more comfortable winter home than this "Fair Havens". So "when a moderate south wind came up, supposing that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, close inshore". (Acts 27:11-25)

But then a violent Northeaster drove them out to sea, and as Paul said, "all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned". But Paul had warned them:  "Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss."

However, all was not lost. An angel appeared to Paul and said, "Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you". It's then that Paul declares his statement of faith: "for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told".

What a word to stand on. What an encouragement to us to seek God's will for our lives. 

"For I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told".

Not Suitable

It would make one riveting adventure movie. Paul's boat trip to Italy probably seemed like a lifetime of thrills and finally spills. 

He had warned them not to go on to western Crete. He had said, "Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." But the soldier in charge "was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul". (Acts 27:1-12)

Besides, their harbor was "not suitable" for wintering there! 

How often do we make decisions based on what seems good in our own eyes. Over and over the Lord reminds up that He will "instruct us and teach us in the say that we should go". (Psalm 32:8)

Lord, help us to remember to look to You to direct our ways. 

The King and Paul

My, Paul has been hounded over and over again by these Jewish leaders that want him dead  ("setting an ambush to kill him on the way"). And now his defense is before King Agrippa. (Acts 24:1-26:32)

And what an auspicious looking deal it is! "On the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in."

Now after all the threats and attacks by jealous Jews, you would think Paul could be wearing down. But his defense before this powerful king is shocking. 

Paul actually gets command of the entire room. He says, "for the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence." Then Paul bravely states, "King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do." Agrippa replied to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian."

And so we witness the power of God in fearful and ominous circumstances. When we pray for boldness, God answers. 

"For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." (Philippians 1:19-20)

Hope in God

Whew! Paul is surely in trouble. Those Jewish officials even hired a special lawyer to do him in. The attorney named Tertullus did an amazing fob slathering flattery all over the "excellent Felix" who now had Paul's case. Then he outright lied in court: "We wanted to judge him (Paul) according to our own Law. But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, ordering his accusers to come before you." (Acts 24:1-27)

Yep, those religious leaders "also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so".

But our guy stood firm in his "hope in God" and refuted the lies. 

And that hope was not to be disappointed: "But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way, put them off, saying, 'When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case'".

It was a full two years that Paul was protected there. Felix "gave orders to the centurion for him (Paul) to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him".

In the midst of trouble, hope in God does not disappoint!

The Hand of God

Paul's enemies are getting tough! Over 40 of them "formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul". In fact they came up with a plot to ambush his arrival at their contrived trial. (Acts 23:12-35)

However, this enemy force did not reckon with God's hand over Paul: "But the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul." Then our guy had his nephew tell the commander of the plot.

Yeah! God then used this commander to effect Paul's escape by night surrounded by 270 guards to Caesarea. And our missionary arrived safely on horseback at Herod's Praetorium.

God's sovereignty and protection are once again seen! May we today rejoice and expect to see God's hand in our own life.

The Voice of God

Paul got the centurion word just in time! Our missionary was about to be cruelly scourged when he said, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?" This tip put the fear into the commander, and he immediately let Paul go. (Acts 22:24-23:11)

And then as our guy is examined before the council, he tries diverting attention to the opposing parties' diverse doctrine. But in the angry party argument, the "commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks".

So still in custody, Paul could use some encouragement. And what better grace could he have than to hear directly from God.

"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."

How wise is is for up to listen and expect to hear from our Father. He wants to encourage us; May we be more and more open and anticipating the voice of God.