Acts 27:21-32

Summary retelling of Acts 27:21-32

Paul sees the consequences of them not heeding his spiritual advice.  He convicts the captain and the centurion, but he also gives them words of hope.  Paul says that they will not experience any loss of life as long as they listen to him now.  Paul relates how an angel had been talking with Paul and telling him that he will stand before Caesar and how God has promised that all who remain with Paul will be saved.  After fourteen nights of being in the storm, the sailors feared that they were running aground.  They took measurements and found that to be true.  Some of the sailors sought to escape the process of being run aground so they tried to escape on the ship’s harbor boat (see yesterday’s summary).  Paul warns the centurion that if they leave the ship, they will not be saved.  The soldiers cut away to ropes holding the small boat, forcing the sailors to stay with the ship.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

God is with Paul.  In the midst of this horrible storm, God sends an angel to Paul.  God does not abandon Paul.  The angel reassures Paul in the midst of his present turmoil.

Is this fact comforting?  Why?  How do you know that God is with you during the “storms” of your life?

Second Thought:

Some of the sailors react out of fear.  Even after all that has happened, they cannot bring themselves to still trust God through Paul’s words.  Some people always believe they can save themselves and cannot humble themselves trust in anyone or anything else.

Why do you think there are people who continue to not humble themselves before God?  Why do some people find it impossible to place trust in God?

Third Thought:

The centurion and his sailors cut away the small harbor boat.  They remove temptation from the sailors to leave.  This is a clear symbol that in life we must occasionally be willing to cut away the things that tempt us to trust in ourselves rather than trusting in God.

How easy do you think it was for the soldiers to cut away the little ship and know that in doing they were forcing everyone to deal with a shipwreck in the midst of a horrible storm?  What does this show us about the faith of the soldiers and their willingness to put their trust in Paul’s words (and God’s promise)?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 27:33-38