使徒言行録27:13-26

Acts 27:13-26

In order to stand trial by the Roman emperor, Paul was put on a ship to Italy from Caesarea. However, the voyage of the ship did not go as planned due to adverse winds, and by the time they reached the port which is called “Fair Havens” of Crete, it was already mid-autumn. As it was a dangerous season for sailing, Paul insisted on wintering in this port. However, the centurion in charge decided to follow the opinion of the captain and the shipowner and go further west to a more suitable port for wintering, called Phoenix, and winter there. They then proceeded westwards along the coast of Crete, just as a calm southerly wind favourable for sailing came along.

However, this weather did not last long. A storm called the northeaster was blowing down from Crete. The northeaster means north-easterly wind. Caught in this storm, the ship was swept far away from Crete in a south-westerly direction. So, while the ship was in the shadow of a small island called Cauda and the wind had weakened for some time, the people on board took all possible precautions against the storm. A lifeboat pulled by ropes were pulled up onto the deck and ropes were wrapped around the hull of the ship to prevent it from falling apart. Off the coast of Libya in North Africa there was a moving sand shoal called the Syrtis. To prevent the ship from going over this shoal, the anchor was lowered to slow the speed at which the ship was being swept away, and they waited for the weather to recover.

However, the weather did not improve at all. The sailors resorted to the emergency measure of abandoning their precious cargo in order to lighten the ship. Even so, the ship seemed to start sinking. So, as a last resort, the sailors even threw away the sail girders and sails. However, even with such a last resort, the situation did not improve. The weather did not improve, and the ship was tossed about like a leaf in rough seas, with no hope of reaching land.

In the midst of this desperate crisis, Paul said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.” He encouraged the people. Why did Paul not lose hope? Because he heard a message from God through an angel. The message was: “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.” This means that Paul will arrive in Rome alive and appear before the emperor, and all the people in the same boat will be saved. Even though Paul was put on the ship as a prisoner, he was entrusted by God with the great task of giving hope to the people and saving them from danger.

There may be times in our lives when we are in desperate need. But it is in times like these that we should listen to what God is saying to us. Read the Bible and pray carefully. Then we will understand the mission God has for us. And then we will see the hope to fulfil the mission. The difference between those who believe in God and those who do not believe in God is difficult to see in ordinary times of peace. However, in times of great need, the difference becomes clear. People who believe in God can go on with hope even when ordinary people think it is hopeless. And they can give hope to those around them.