In The Word
Read Acts 27:1-20
Paul Is Sent to Rome
27 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.
9 When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, 10 and said to them, “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.” 11 But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul. 12 Because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
13 When a moderate south wind came up, supposing that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, close inshore.
Shipwreck
14 But before very long there rushed down from the land a violent wind, called Euraquilo; 15 and when the ship was caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and let ourselves be driven along. 16 Running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. 17 After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and in this way let themselves be driven along. 18 The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo; 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
The appointed journey to Rome had begun. Paul and his detail set sail in hopes of a speedy trip. Sailing from port to port with little trouble built the confidence of the crew. How many of us know that when life is smooth sailing we tend to lose sight of dangers that are all around us. Paul was keeping an eye on the reality of their situation. The evidence was there: danger was inevitable if the crew stayed the course, but confidence blinded the crew to wise counsel. Resisting the counsel to change course from God’s anointed led them into great distress. With a change of the wind, self-reliance turned to self-doubt. If only they had listened to wise counsel!
Many people find themselves caught in the storms of life because they refuse to listen to those that God has placed in their lives. Many broken and shipwrecked lives could have been avoided if pride and self-reliance had not gotten in the way.
God has placed anointed men and women in our lives to help us see dangers and difficulties that we cannot see. These people may be our spouse, pastor, elders, or a deep friend. They have wise counsel that can help us avoid troubled waters. Don’t let pride prevent you from receiving wise counsel from godly people. Don’t be blown off course because you have a better way. Humble yourself to those who love you and watch over your soul (Hebrews 13:17).