Day #224: Acts 27:21-44

The passengers and crew of the vessel that Paul was sailing upon probably had not eaten due to fear, busyness, depression, or seasickness. They may have been fasting, or supplies may have been depleted (and were being rationed) due to the extra length of the journey. Paul reminded the crew that, with God’s guidance, he had prophesied this very problem.

Because he had been right in the past, they should listen to him now and have hope. Paul told them, “None of you will lose your lives.” For no one to die in a shipwreck would be considered a great miracle in the ancient world. Standing under dark skies on the deck of a ship that was bobbing like a cork, Paul stated the reason for his unlikely confidence. The previous night he had been visited by an angel of his God, who told him that he would get safely to Rome, along with everyone sailing with him.

After relating this encouraging vision to his despairing shipmates, Paul admonished them to take courage. Having faith means taking God at his word. It means relying wholeheartedly on the clear-cut promises of God. The issue isn’t whether a person has great faith but whether he or she has faith in a great God.


God had revealed to Paul that a shipwreck was inevitable. Sure enough, the ship ran aground and began to break apart just off the coast of Malta. Though the experience proved to be harrowing, all 276 people on board were able to swim safely ashore. Repeatedly during this grim experience, Paul had proclaimed his faith in God. Now, during this end of Paul’s two-week-long nightmare at sea, God demonstrated his faithfulness and mercy.

Roman soldiers were charged with the safekeeping and safe delivery of any prisoners in their care. The law required them to pay with their own lives if any of their prisoners escaped. In the certain chaos of a shipwreck, it would be relatively easy for prisoners to slip away. The soldiers’ instinctive reaction was to kill the prisoners so as to prevent this from happening.

Despite the potential for risk, the commanding officer was impressed enough with Paul to keep the soldiers from carrying out their plan. As the highest ranking official, he had the full authority to make this decision. Some swam; others floated ashore on pieces of the collapsing ship. The evacuation plan worked, because everyone escaped safely ashore.

No prisoners are recorded as having escaped. This sequence of events preserved Paul for his later ministry in Rome and fulfilled his prophetic utterance that everyone on the ship would be saved.


SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;"
Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)


Many times in our lives we have crossroads presented to us. Trust myself - my own instincts and understanding - OR - trust in God and His way. These crossroads will go along way to either build our faith and grow us spiritually, or keep us week and immature spiritually.

Paul clearly trusted God. He trusted everything God told him. Do I? Do you?

Do we trust him enough to tithe, although humanly speaking it doesn't compute. Do we trust him with our kids and their futures and safety and protection?

Do we trust him with our future. Do we trust him to provide and do we trust him if he says NO to a request we have made?

Lord, today, grow our faith. Build our trust in You.