“Everyone
reached land safely.” Acts 27:44
God graciously gave Paul the lives of all who sailed
with him, but He didn’t promise to
calm the storm or keep the ship intact.
Paul was honest about the bad news, “We
must run aground on some island”(Acts 27:26), but he reminded the sailors
of the good news, “Not one of you will
lose a single hair from his head”(Acts 27:34).
And they didn’t.
Although their vessel “struck a
sandbar and ran aground, and the bow stuck fast and would not move, and the
stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf”(Acts 27:41), all
276 on board made it safely to shore.
Those who could swim jumped overboard first, and the rest held on for
dear life to “planks or pieces of the
ship”(Acts 27:44) and floated to dry land.
You will make it safely to shore also. When the winds and waves of life leave you
scared and unsteady, you can be sure your soul will survive. You might get there swimming strong or you might
get there hanging on, but because of God’s grace, you can know that you will
never sink. “I give them eternal life,
and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John
10:28).
As you travel through life, expect raging storms
and crumbling ships, but be certain of safe passage. All the way home.
“Keep
up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he
told me.” Acts 27:25
Experts say we should exercise to upbeat music,
but this morning as I was jogging, a song of slow tempo shuffled from my ipod into
my ears. I started to skip it, but I
didn’t. I couldn’t. The words were too reassuring and certain. “Tis so
sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His Word. Just to rest upon His promise, just to know
‘Thus saith the Lord.’”
God will do what He says He will do. I know I say that a lot, but God says it a
lot. Over and over in His Word He
repeats and reminds that He keeps His word, and He wants us to believe Him—even
when things are bad.
As the wind blew, waves crashed, and storm raged,
Paul assured the tired and terrified sailors that God had sent word that none
of them would die, and Paul was sure of it.
“So keep up your courage, men, for
I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me”(Acts 27:25). Paul’s
faith counted God’s promise as fact. And
with good reason—God has never failed. The
same can be said today (and every tomorrow) which was stated in Joshua after
the Israelites had conquered the land of Canaan. “Not
one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one
was fulfilled”(Josh 21:45). God has
said much in His Word about what He will do in us, for us, and with us. He has promised us His presence and a place
with Him now and forever, and “it will
happen just as he told.” Life is
sweet when we rest on His promise and rely on His “Thus saith the Lord.”
Keep
the faith.
God
will keep His word.
“Oh for grace
to trust Him more.”
“Men, you should have
taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves
this damage and loss.” Acts 27:2
“Told you so.” Nobody
wants to hear it, but everybody likes to say it. Even the Apostle Paul.
Many days into a raging storm that threatened to tear their
ship apart, Paul stood up and said to the sailors, “I told you so!” Actually he said, “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you
would have spared yourselves this damage and loss”(Acts 27:22). Same
thing—just different words that both mean “I was right, and you were
wrong.”
Surely the sailors wanted to stop up their ears and shut
Paul’s mouth. For almost two weeks the
howling wind and heaving waves of a hurricane force storm called a
“northeaster”(Acts 27:14) had driven their ship through the angry sea. Battered and beaten, the cargo had been
tossed and the tackle thrown overboard to lighten the load, but “when neither sun nor stars appeared for
many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being
saved”(Acts 27:20).
Just about then Paul stood up and gave his speech. “I told you so,” he said, but thankfully he
didn’t stop there. He continued on and
urged the men to keep up their courage because “not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed”(Acts
27:22). He told them how the night
before God’s angel had shown up and said, “Do
not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously
given you the lives of all who sail with you”(Acts 27:24). By that point,
Paul’s “know better” had become “God knows best,” and instead of irritating,
his words were inspiring.
His example is instructive.
Unless you can follow your “I told you so” with something good that God
has said, just keep your mouth shut.
Especially in the storms.
“Julius,
in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for
his needs.” Acts 27:3
Co-dependent.
None of us wants that word said of us. We think it reeks of weakness, neediness, and
fragility. Instead, we want to know—and
we want others to know—that we are competent, capable, self-assured, and
self-sufficient. But we are not. Though we may present a convincing façade of
independence, even our next breath depends on someone else, so it’s time we got
over ourselves and embraced our dependence on God and on each other.
The Apostle Paul had
needs. He wasn’t afraid to say so, and
he wasn’t too proud to go get help.
After his presentation to King Agrippa, Paul and “some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius…and
put out to sea” toward Rome(Acts
27:1). When the boat docked in
Sidon, “Julius, in kindness to Paul,
allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs”(Acts
27:3). Paul could have stayed on the
ship and pretended to be independent, but he would have missed out on receiving
God’s blessing and his friends would have missed out on being a blessing.
So, the next time you need something, let somebody
know. Get off the boat and into God’s blessings. We were created in Christ to love each
other(Jn 13:34), honor each other(Rom 12:10), live in harmony with one
another(Rom 12:16), accept each other(Rom 15:7), instruct each other(Rom
15:14), serve one another(Gal 5:13), forgive each other(Eph 4:32), encourage
each other(1 Thess 5:11), pray for each other(James 5:16), carry each other’s
burdens(Gal 5:2), and look out for each other’s interests(Phil 2:4). We’re better together than we could ever be
by ourselves, and it’s not a bad thing to know so, say so, and live so.
Only when we are completely dependent on God’s
grace and co-dependent on each other’s goodness will the world clearly see the
sufficiency of Christ—the only One who can supply all that all of us need.
“Do
you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Acts
26:28
Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa didn’t last
very long. I know because this morning I
read aloud what Paul said (I read slowly, I promise), and even including Governor
Festus’ outburst declaring Paul insane, the whole thing took less than four
minutes.
Four minutes isn’t very long—but it was long
enough. Long enough for Paul to declare
the truth of Christ’s resurrection, his own conversion, and his life
mission. And long enough for Paul to ask
the king a probing question, “Do you
believe?”(Acts 26:27). Agrippa’s
answer was ambivalent but not antagonistic—“Do
you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”(Acts
26:28) Paul’s reply should become
the recurring cry of our own hearts. “Short
time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today
may become what I am, except for these chains”(Acts 26:29).
Only God’s Spirit can persuade others to believe,
but God desires we be persuasive. Just
as He did Paul, God has appointed us as servants and witnesses of what we have
seen and what He has shown(Acts 26:16).
He has sent us to share His life and His light to “small and great alike…so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and
a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus”(Acts 26:22,18). Some will think we’re crazy—as Festus thought
of Paul, but many, like Agrippa, will pause and consider the truth.
Whether you’ve known
someone for a long time or only a little, they should know that you know Jesus.
The difference
between “Almost Persuaded” and “Most Persuaded” might not seem big, but it
makes all the difference.
“So
then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” Acts 26:19
Just do it.
Nike popularized the phrase in 1988, and those up
to the challenge were soon sharing how making a move made a difference. Stories
of getting in shape are always good, but the testimonies of those in motion for
God are the most inspiring.
A few days after Paul’s appeal to Caesar, King
Agrippa and his sister Bernice “arrived
at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus”(Acts 25:13). Perhaps it was the governor’s mention of “a dead man named Jesus whom Paul claimed
was alive” which gripped Agrippa’s attention, for after being briefed on
Paul’s situation, the king told Festus, “I
would like to hear this man myself”(Acts 25:22). His interest was not surprising. Agrippa’s grandfather had murdered many
babies in Bethlehem while trying to kill the infant Jesus, his father had
ordered the execution of James and later imprisoned Peter, and as Paul noted in
his opening statement the following day, Agrippa was “well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies”(Acts
26:3).
Knowing that the king knew all the pertinent
background information, Paul launched into his story. He mentioned his childhood and related his
time as a Pharisee. He referred to his “obsession against the saints” and
recounted that he “was convinced that I
ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth”(Acts
26:9). He detailed his life-changing
trip to Damascus where he met Jesus in a blazing, heavenly light and received
direct instructions from the Lord. Paul
then looked at the king and made a bold and beautiful statement, “So then, King Agrippa, I was not
disobedient to the heavenly vision”(Acts 26:19).
“I did what God said.” God had shown Paul Who He is. God had told Paul what to do. And Paul had done it. He had not been disobedient to the word he
had heard. The follow-through had rarely
been easy, had often been hard, and many times, quite painful, but Paul had
done it. Because God had said to.
What has God said to
you? Don’t be disobedient.
Just do it.
“You have appealed to
Caesar. To Caesar you will go!” Acts
25:12
Two years into Paul’s Roman imprisonment, incumbent Governor
Felix was ousted and succeeded by Porcius Festus. Since Felix had been unpopular with the
people and wanted their report about him to Emperor Nero to be positive, he
left Paul in prison hoping to win their favor(Acts 24:27). But this was not enough for the Jewish leaders. They wanted Paul dead and urged the new
governor to transfer him to Jerusalem, “for
they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way”(Acts 25:3). Sound familiar? Festus didn’t go for their plan but invited
them to come press charges against Paul in Caesarea. Sound familiar again?
So Festus convened the court, and the Jews stood around Paul
“bringing many serious charges against
him, which they could not prove”(Acts 25:7). And Paul once more stated his own defense. “I have
done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against
Caesar”(Acts 25:8). But this time around,
the governor wanted to get on the good side of his constituents, so he asked if
Paul would go to Jerusalem to stand trial.
At this, Paul drew the line. He
might not bribe his way out of an unjust imprisonment, but he neither would he
be sacrificed as a political pawn. “If the charges brought against me by these
Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”(Acts 25:11). “After Festus had conferred with his council,
he declared, ‘You have appealed to Caesar.
To Caesar you will go!”(Acts 25:12).
How sad that Paul had a better chance of being treated fairly
by those of the world than by the ones who claimed to be the people of
God.
May such never be said of us.
“Felix
was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and
talked with him.” Acts 24:26
For two years after he defended himself before Governor
Felix, Paul stayed in prison—but he didn’t have to. “Felix was
hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and
talked with him”(Acts 24:26). For the right amount of change, Paul’s
situation could have changed, but he wouldn’t do it. Why? And why not? He was imprisoned unfairly on trumped up
charges, he already had a bounty on his head, and his hopes of getting a fair
trial were fading fast. By the time the
coins he counted out finished clinking, Paul could have already shipped out on
another mission trip to preach the gospel near and far. So why stay under guard when he could have
gone free? Because freedom bought with a
bribe really isn’t free. Though the
accusations against him were false, Paul would not resort to wrong to get what
seemed right. The freedom of a clear conscience
and clean testimony was worth much more than an open jail cell. Paul knew God’s power so confidently and he
trusted God’s plan so completely that he chose not to push his own way by
padding the governor’s pocket.
Our prisons are rarely literal, but in those
situations of life that seem unfair, unjust, inescapable, or unenjoyable, don’t
resort to bribery to get what you think would be better. As the Bible says, a bribe is seen as a
charm by the one who gives it, but such shortcuts to success bring
suffering(Prov 17:8). Bribes corrupt the
heart(Ecc 7:7) and pervert justice(Prov 17:23).
They blind the eyes of the wise and twist the words of the innocent(Deut
16:19). Offering bribes to others is
intentionally inviting them to sin, and accepting a bribe yourself is willfully
doing what is wrong. Don’t go there—no
matter where you think it might get you.
Know that whoever bribes you, owns you, and if you can be bought, you
can also be sold.
Be aware that people are bought by much more than
money. Power, position, importance,
opportunity, fulfillment, and pleasure are commodities often exchanged on the
sly. Be careful in business that “back
scratching” doesn’t become bribing, and don’t try to get ahead by selling your
heart. The freedom of a clear conscience
and clean testimony are worth far more than the accountant’s bottom line.
Paul could have gone
free, but a bribe would have bound him tighter than prison chains ever could.
Be God’s man. Trust God’s plan. And don’t buy into any others.
Even your own.
However,
I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way.” Acts 24:14
“And worst
of all, he’s a ringleader!”
With concise and caustic accusations, the
prosecution presented their case. (They even
brought a lawyer along, but out of deference to dear friends of the same
profession, I shall refrain from all jokes and jests.) Their charges were listed as certain, but as
Paul stood in his own defense before the Roman governor Felix, he summarily
dismissed and dismantled all but one.
“No, I’m not a troublemaker,” he insisted. “No, I’ve not been stirring up crowds and
inciting riots. I wasn’t desecrating the
temple, nor was I involved in any disturbance.
However, I admit that I worship
the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way”(Acts 24:14).
Paul didn’t have to add his “however,” but he
never considered leaving it out. Since
his rebuttal had clearly stated what he was not, he wanted all listening to
know who he was—a follower of Jesus, the only way to God.
Though your Christianity isn’t likely to cause a
court audience with the governor, when your faith lands you in the fire, do
what Paul did. Speak honestly and
clearly against unfair accusations by stating what you’re not, and speak openly
and boldly about the truth of who you are.
When following Jesus is the worst charge the world can level, then being
a ringleader has quite a nice ring to it.
Never hold back your
“however.”
Not even in the hot seat.
