Acts 27 Commentary
A three-hour flight is all you need to get to Rome from Paul’s temporal base. But first-century transport isn’t exactly like that. The apostle has several points along the way, not to mention the hostile weather that could easily derail any trip.
The Holy Spirit subjects Paul to all these elements despite the assignment.
A shipwreck isn’t exactly like an air crash disaster, but this one has the potential of a similar end. The Apostle Paul warns the captain but who cares about the prophet? There are experts whose advice carries more weight. And what a huge mistake!
We owe it to the generosity of the LORD that we can still talk about Rome for everyone after this kind of disaster!
“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” Verse 20.
Are there times when we reach this point even with God’s promise of Rome still in our mouths? What happens when we ignore the Holy Spirit, as the centurion does here? Does our disobedience or the disobedience of others derail ‘Rome’?
The Holy Spirit mentioned Rome to Paul; therefore, Rome it is. Nothing else comes in between. Paul knows it and on this basis, he assures everyone on the ship. But the stubborn centurion and the owner of the ship lose both “cargo and ship”. Stubbornness against the Holy Spirit has physical consequences.
The prophet of God stands and communicates the word of the LORD in tense situations. The saint wants to stand in this position and hear the LORD. The world wants to hear God’s voice. How we pray that the LORD speaks to us during a shipwreck!
We have seen several ways the LORD has delivered His people in the Book of Acts. Peter was delivered miraculously from Herod’s hand. This type we like! Paul’s deliverance comes on a plank, precariously floating towards safety – no lifeboat! This type we detest!
“The centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life.” The fact is that no one was going to kill Paul. Who can interrupt God’s mission? Nevertheless, everyone can attempt! It is these attempts that scare us to the limit! We must remind ourselves of God’s word at all times. The Holy Spirit will work through all these human means and elements of weather to achieve His purpose – through misses, near-misses, and ‘hits’. Who knows?
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