Atos 27
Steven Cole · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 27
Cole - Someone has said, “Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Those who do not know Christ need encouragement. Paul describes them as having no hope and without God in the world (Eph 2:12). They need the hope that only Christ can give. The Lord’s people need encouragement. Discouragement is one of Satan’s greatest tools, causing many in Christian service to give up and drop out of the ministry. Our families need encouragement. As husbands and fathers, we need to set an atmosphere of encouragement in our homes. The apostle Paul’s experience here shows us first, how to receive encouragement from the Lord in the storms of life; and, then, how to pass God’s encouragement on to others who desperately need it. Those who have received God’s encouragement in life’s storms should encourage others to look to God. If Paul had not been discouraged and afraid, he would not have needed this encouraging word. But once he experienced God’s encouragement, he then passed it on to others. Before we can pass God’s encouragement along to others, we must personally experience it ourselves.We all need personally to experience God’s encouragement in the storms of life. Howard Hendricks often says, “You cannot impart what you do not possess.” (Pastor Cole than goes on to give seven way in which believers can receive God's encouragement - see the full sermon on Acts 27:2-3,21-26,33-36 Encouragement in Life’s Storms) Acts 27:21-36 Encouragers By Vernon C. Grounds I long to see you … that I may be encouraged together with you. . —Romans 1:11-12 Discouragement is a problem for many Christians. While they may not be distressed about health, family, or work, they’re discouraged about their spiritual service. They compare themselves to others who are gifted with musical talents or the ability to teach the Bible. They see people who are able to give generously and pray with evident effectiveness, but they think they can’t do these things. As a result, they feel they are useless to God. They need to realize, however, that every Christian is qualified to carry on at least one helpful ministry—the ministry of encouragement. Renowned preacher Robert Dale was walking one day in Birmingham, England, where he was pastoring the great Carr’s Lane Church. He was under a dark cloud of gloom when a woman came up to him and exclaimed, “God bless you, Dr. Dale. If you could only know how you have made me feel hundreds of times!” Then off she hurried. Dale later testified, “The mist broke, the sunlight came, and I breathed the free air of the mountains of God.” It may seem insignificant To say a word or two, But when it is encouragement, What wonders it can do! —K. De Haan Even if you have nothing else to give, you can always give encouragement. Acts 27:23 "For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, NET Acts 27:23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve came to me GNT Acts 27:23 παρέστη γάρ μοι ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τοῦ θεοῦ, οὗ εἰμι [ἐγώ] ᾧ καὶ λατρεύω, ἄγγελος NLT Acts 27:23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, KJV Acts 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, ESV Acts 27:23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, CSB Acts 27:23 For this night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me, NIV Acts 27:23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me NKJ Acts 27:23 "For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, NRS Acts 27:23 For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, YLT Acts 27:23 for there stood by me this night a messenger of God -- whose I am, and whom I serve -- NAB Acts 27:23 For last night an angel of the God to whom (I) belong and whom I serve stood by me NJB Acts 27:23 Last night there appeared beside me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, GWN Acts 27:23 I know this because an angel from the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood by me last night. BBE Acts 27:23 For this night there came to my side an angel of the God who is my Master and whose servant I am, Angel...stood before me: Ac 5:19 12:8-11,23 23:11 Da 6:22 Heb 1:14 Rev 22:16 God to Whom I belong: Ex 19:5 De 32:9 Ps 135:4 Song 2:16 6:3 Isa 44:5 Jer 31:33 32:38 Eze 36:38 Zec 13:9 Mal 3:17 Joh 17:9,10 1Co 6:20 Tit 2:14 1Pe 2:9,10 and Whom I serve: Ac 16:17 Ps 116:16 143:12 Isa 44:21 Da 3:17,26,28 6:16,20 Joh 12:26 Ro 1:1,9 6:22 2Ti 1:3 2:24 Titus 1:1 Video - The Storm Acts 27 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries A DIVINE WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT For (gar) - Term of explanation. In this case it was an important explanation to underscore his integrity, for the source of his words now he says are supernatural, not based solely on his experience as a frequent passenger on sailing vessels. This very night an angel of the God - NIV says "last night." Not "the" Angel of the LORD which is a description used in the OT appearances to describe what most conservative commentators interpret to be OT pre-incarnate appearances of Christ. This is "an angel," a supernatural being who functioned as a messenger sent from God to His servant Paul. This angelic messenger recalls the words of the writer of Hebrews who asks this rhetorical question regarding the angels (of course expecting an affirmative reply)... "Are they (ANGELS) not all ministering (leitourgikos) spirits, sent out to render service (diakonia) for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14+). Comment - This passage might be especially relevant to the 273 passengers who as of yet were not believers (Paul, Luke, Aristarchus being believers). Surely some of this number were among those who would "inherit salvation," after hearing the Gospel from Paul and witnessing the power of God in his life (e.g., his fulfilled prophecy that all would be physically saved and his preservation from viper bite - Acts 28:3-6+) Angel (32)(aggelos/angelos) literally means a messenger (one who bears a message - Lk 1:11, 2:9, etc or does an errand). Most of the NT uses refer to heavenly angels (messengers) who are supernatural, transcendent beings with power to carry out various tasks. All uses of aggelos that refer to angels are masculine gender (the feminine form of aggelos does not occur.) Luke frequently uses angelos - note especially the angelic occurrences in Acts (Acts 5:19, Acts 8:26, Acts 10:3,Acts 10:7; Acts 10:22; Acts 11:13; Acts 12:7-11, Acts 12:23) Lk. 1:11; Lk. 1:13; Lk. 1:18; Lk. 1:19; Lk. 1:26; Lk. 1:30; Lk. 1:34; Lk. 1:35; Lk. 1:38; Lk. 2:9; Lk. 2:10; Lk. 2:13; Lk. 2:15; Lk. 2:21; Lk. 4:10; Lk. 7:24; Lk. 7:27; Lk. 9:26; Lk. 9:52; Lk. 12:8; Lk. 12:9; Lk. 15:10; Lk. 16:22; Lk. 22:43; Lk. 24:23; Acts 5:19; Acts 6:15; Acts 7:30; Acts 7:35; Acts 7:38; Acts 7:53; Acts 8:26; Acts 10:3; Acts 10:7; Acts 10:22; Acts 11:13; Acts 12:7; Acts 12:8; Acts 12:9; Acts 12:10; Acts 12:11; Acts 12:15; Acts 12:23; Acts 23:8; Acts 23:9; Acts 27:23; To Whom I belong - He belongs not to the angel but to God. Paul acknowledged to all these sailors, most of whom were probably pagan, that he was not his own, but belonged to God, even as he wrote to the saints at Corinth "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." (1 Co 6:19-20+). Paul understood that he and all believers have been bought with a price (agorazo), the price of the blood of Christ and thus belong to Jesus, Who is our Master and our Lord. He made a similar declaration in Titus 2:14+ that believers are "His own possession, zealous for good deeds." Notice deeds (cf whom I serve) are the supernatural response of understanding we are His possession. Similarly, Peter said we are "God's own possession." (1 Peter 2:9+). David Peterson - Like Jonah, he confesses his devotion to the God whom they do not acknowledge (Jon. 1:9). Unlike Jonah, he is not seeking to escape from the implications of his service to God! (Pillar New Testament Commentary – The Acts of the Apostles) We see this same idea of Jesus' "ownership" of Paul in previous passages... But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; (Acts 9:15+) But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; (Acts 26:16+) Note Paul does not say "whose we are or whom we serve" for with exceptions of Luke and Aristarchus, most were strangers to the covenant of grace by faith in Christ. Matthew
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Cole - Every Christian, not just those in so-called “full-time Christian service,” should view himself or herself as the Lord’s servant, always on duty. Every contact is an opportunity to represent our Lord Jesus Christ. Throughout the day we should, “Through Him … continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Heb 13:15-16). If we see ourselves that way, as the Lord’s servants, we can be encouraged in the storms of life, because the Lord looks out for His servants. We’re doing His business, and just as a company looks out for its workers, even more so the Lord looks out for His workers. He has the best employee benefit package of all! I Serve = present tense emphasizing the habit of Paul was that of ministering and serving God in a spirit of worship. In short, Paul's day to day life was one dominated and directed by an attitude of worship. When daily life is lived as an act of worship to the Most High God, otherwise "mundane" chores take on an entirely different significance. Oh, to live such a God focused, God glorifying life! Amen Steven Cole applies Paul's bold testimony before the pagans writing that "If we want to stand out in a time of trial from those who do not know the Lord, we’ve got to have a daily walk of seeking God before the trial hits. In Pr 1:24-29, wisdom personified warns us that if we refuse to seek her during normal times, she will laugh at us when our dread comes like a storm and when distress and anguish come upon us. But if we daily seek God and His wisdom during normal times, when a storm hits, we will be different than those in the world, because we know and trust our God." (Ibid) Bruce Barton - LIFE APPLICATION - IN THE NICK OF TIME - At least three times (Acts 18:9-10; Acts 23:11; Acts 27:23-24), God gave Paul a timely word of encouragement. How gracious of God! Here He sends a divine messenger and dispatches him to the rocking, leaking, creaking ship—so as to soothe the troubled minds aboard. For us, encouragement may come in other, less dramatic, but equally meaningful ways: a phone call from a friend, a Bible verse, a needed hug, a note of encouragement, the meeting of a hidden need, the lyric of a song. If you're discouraged, ask God to give you some concrete reminder of his presence and promises. Then watch him act. (Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts)
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Cole - We aren’t necessarily out of God’s will when we get caught in a storm. Sometimes when we find ourselves in the midst of a sudden storm in life, we wonder if we’re out of God’s will. We may be, especially if we got into the storm because of sin in our lives. But we may be exactly where God wants us to be. The Lord had told Paul that he would testify for Him in Rome (Ac 23:11), but He had not bothered to mention the little detail of this storm and shipwreck! Mt 14:22 reports that immediately after feeding the 5,000, Jesus “made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.” The word “made,” which means “to compel by force or persuasion,” shows that the disciples didn’t have much to say about what they were doing. The following verses show that Jesus was deliberately sending them into a storm at sea! He knew that that storm was coming, but He wanted to teach them His power over storms by walking to them on the water. So even though they were in a fierce storm, they were precisely in the will of God for them at that moment. (Weathering Life's Storms Acts 27:1-44)) Jack Andrews - A Christian out of the will of God is in a lonely, difficult, and dangerous place! For Paul—he was in the will of God—Aristarchus and Luke as well—and yet they were going through the storms with the rest of the crew. Sometimes we face storms in life and they are not caused by what we do— even so we must trust the Lord in and through every difficult time. (The Jack Andrews Expository Studies: Understanding Acts) Jon Courson adds this note on God's will - At first the wind blew softly, and in a favorable direction. That's always the way it is. When you don't listen to the Word of the Lord, when you go your own way, when you do your own thing, at first you're just blown along softly. But when the fierce winds come—which they always do—you're blown away totally. Please note four reasons that make this a perfect example of how not to know God's will as you sail through life and journey towards heaven: The sailors were impatient. Although it was not the season for sailing, these guys wanted to get on with their journey. The Word says, "He that believeth in the Lord must not make haste" (see Isaiah 28:16). Are you impatient? Slow down. When you don't know what to do—don't do anything. When you're not sure which way to go, stay where you are. Wait on the Lord. It's so hard to do, but so important. The sailors took a vote. The centurion said, "Okay Paul, I hear what you're saying, but I also hear the owner, the captain, and the crew," and Paul was outvoted. God is not an American, folks, and if we make decisions relating to the kingdom on a democratic basis, we're in a heap of trouble. Ask Moses. If the Israelites had voted during their journey through the wilderness, he would have been ousted the first week. We need to know what the heart of God is—not what the majority says. The sailors tested the winds. "The answer is blowing in the wind," may be true for Bob Dylan, but it's not true for you and me as believers. We're not to say, "The way the wind is blowing and circumstances are pointing will determine my course." No, there needs to be a solid inner conviction, a Holy Spirit direction. The sailors sought ease. They wanted to get to Phoenix. Why? Phoenix was where all of the sailors wintered. There were lots of restaurants, movie theatres, golf courses. No doubt these guys thought, Why should we stay here? We're only sixty-eight miles from Phoenix. That's the place to be—we can even pick up a Suns game. Sometimes we, like these sailors, ask, "Where is it most comfortable? Where is it easiest?" instead of "What does the Lord know will be best for me?" (See Jon Courson's Application Commentary:) Acts 27:16 Running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda (Cauda), we were scarcely able to get the ship's boat under control. NET Acts 27:16 As we ran under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to get the ship's boat under control. GNT Acts 27:16 νησίον δέ τι ὑποδραμόντες καλούμενον Καῦδα ἰσχύσαμεν μόλις περικρατεῖς γενέσθαι τῆς σκάφης, NLT Acts 27:16 We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us. KJV Acts 27:16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: ESV Acts 27:16 Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat. CSB Acts 27:16 After running under the shelter of a little island called Cauda, we were barely able to get control of the skiff. NIV Acts 27:16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. NKJ Acts 27:16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. NRS Acts 27:16 By running under the lee of a small island called Cauda we were scarcely able to get the ship's boat under control. YLT Acts 27:16 and having run under a certain little isle, called Clauda, we were hardly able to become masters of the boat, NAB Acts 27:16 We passed along the sheltered side of an island named Cauda and managed only with difficulty to get the dinghy under control. NJB Acts 27:16 We ran under the lee of a small island called Cauda and managed with some difficulty to bring the ship's boat under control. GWN Acts 27:16 As we drifted to the sheltered side of a small island called Cauda, we barely got control of the ship's lifeboat. BBE Acts 27:16 And, sailing near the side of a small island named Cauda, we were able, though it was hard work, to make the ship's boat safe: Cauda: Ac 27:16 Video - The Storm Acts 27 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Under Shelter of Cauda Running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda (Cauda) - For a short distance their ship was on the protected side of the island of Cauda. . We were scarcely able to get the ship's boat under control - One reason they would have difficulty is that the boat had been towed for 20-30 miles in stormy seas and undoubtedly had taken on much water making hoisting it aboard more difficult. The protection provided by the island allowed them to secure the "lifeboat" and in Acts 27:17 they "hoisted it up." "The “boat” or “lifeboat” (NIV) was used for landings, to maneuver the ship for tacking and so forth. Sometimes these boats were kept on deck; at other times, as here, they were towed behind. Here, filled with water or in danger of breaking loose from the ship, it has to be brought on deck to be rescued." (Keener) NET Note on ship's boat - The ship's boat was a small rowboat, normally towed behind a ship in good weather rather than stowed on board. It was used for landings, to maneuver the ship for tacking, and to lay anchors (not a lifeboat in the modern sense, although it could have served as a means of escape for some of the sailors; see Acts 27:30+). (Acts 27 Notes) Acts 27:17 After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and in this way let themselves be driven along. NET Acts 27:17 After the crew had hoisted it aboard, they used supports to undergird the ship. Fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor, thus letting themselves be driven along. GNT Acts 27:17 ἣν ἄραντες βοηθείαις ἐχρῶντο ὑποζωννύντες τὸ πλοῖον, φοβούμενοί τε μὴ εἰς τὴν Σύρτιν ἐκπέσωσιν, χαλάσαντες τὸ σκεῦος, οὕτως ἐφέροντο. NLT Acts 27:17 Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind. KJV Acts 27:17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. ESV Acts 27:17 After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. CSB Acts 27:17 After hoisting it up, they used ropes and tackle and girded the ship. Then, fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the drift-anchor, and in this way they were driven along. NIV Acts 27:17 When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. NKJ Acts 27:17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. NRS Acts 27:17 After hoisting it up they took measures to undergird the ship; then, fearing that they would run on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and so were driven. YLT Acts 27:17 which having taken up, they were using helps, undergirding the ship, and fearing lest they may fall on the quicksand, having let down the mast -- so were borne on. NAB Acts 27:17 They hoisted it aboard, then used cables to undergird the ship. Because of their fear that they would run aground on the shoal of Syrtis, they lowered the drift anchor and were carried along in this way. NJB Acts 27:17 Having hauled it up they used it to undergird the ship; then, afraid of running aground on the Syrtis banks, they floated out the sea-anchor and so let themselves drift. fearing that they might run aground: Ac 27:29,41 Video - The Storm Acts 27 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SHALLOWS OF SYRTIS FRAPPING THE HULL AND FEARING THE SANDBARS Frapping describes the practice of making a ship's hull secure by lashing it with cables. Fearing being run aground on the shoals and sandbars of Syrtis (NIV, NLT) prompted them to let down their anchor. After they had hoisted it up - Because they had some protection from the island of Cauda, they were able to rescue the dinghy which was normally towed astern and usually hauled on board at the first sign of bad weather. The storm had come on them so suddenly that they did not have time to carry out this usual procedure. THOUGHT - Isn't that what "storms" in our life do? We don't have time or energy to carry out some plan that we normally would have carried out if the "storm" had not come on us so suddenly. As my wife and I were setting out on a 200 mile trip recently, at the outset of the trip we experienced 2 successive blowouts of our left front tire within less than a mile (and had never experienced a blow out in my life at age 73!). The second one was very dangerous as my wife and I were suddenly trapped on a causeway leaving Galveston, Texas with cars whizzing past us at high speeds and literally shaking our car. Needless to say, these two sudden physical storms caused a major change in our plans and we were just grateful to God for getting us back to safety. As we later pondered why God would have allowed 2 successive blowouts, we both became convinced that the blowouts were providential as they prevented us from driving the 200 miles in the extremely heavy fourth of July traffic. We believe that God protected us from something that would have been far worse than the blowouts! We may learn more about this is Heaven. "Storms" aren't always bad given the fact that God is the God of Romans 8:28! They used supporting cables in undergirding the ship - These cables were to help protect the hull from damage in fierce storms.
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Cole adds that "God could have saved Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus, but let the others perish. But instead, He graciously granted to Paul the lives of all on board. The world never knows the protection that it receives because of the presence and prayers of God’s people! Scripture doesn’t tell us how many of those on board eventually came to saving faith in Christ, but I think that many did. Whenever you are going through a storm, not only pray that God will deliver you, but also that He will grant you the souls of others with whom you have contact during the storm. He may be taking you through the storm for the very reason that He wants to use you to bring the gospel to others “on board” with you. The fact that He graciously answers prayer for the salvation of others should encourage us in the storm." (Sermon) Cole encourages us to pray like Paul - After Paul’s advice not to continue the voyage had been rejected, he easily could have got his feelings hurt and said, “If that’s how they want to be, they deserve to perish!” But he put his feelings aside and prayed that all would be delivered. No doubt these sailors were not nice men with high moral standards. They probably swore a lot, as sailors are notorious for doing. The soldiers guarding Paul and the other prisoners showed their true colors by wanting to kill all the prisoners just prior to the shipwreck. But Paul knew that they all needed the Lord, and so he prayed for them. Even so, we should pray for people in the world who do not deserve God’s grace. None of us do! As we learned in the “Praying for You” seminar several years ago, most unbelievers will respond favorably if you ask, “May I pray for you?” Everyone has needs, and even the most hardened unbelievers will often say, “Well, it can’t hurt!” Your kindness may open a door for the gospel. And with fellow believers who are going through the storm, it will encourage them to know that you are praying for them. (Acts 27:2-3,21-26,33-36 Encouragement in Life’s Storms)
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Cole points out that remembering God's presence with us should always serve to bolster our "encouragement quotient" - Paul had experienced it when he was afraid in Corinth. The Lord appeared to him and promised, “for I am with you” (Ac 18:9-10, cf His promise to all of His disciples in Mt 28:20). Paul had also experienced it when he was in custody in Jerusalem, and the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage,” and promised that he would bear witness at Rome” (Ac 23:11). He would later experience it at his final imprisonment, just before his execution. He told Timothy that no one supported him, but all deserted him. Then he added, “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me” (2Ti 4:17). Each of these experiences of the Lord’s presence came at times of crisis in Paul’s life. (Acts 27:2-3,21-26,33-36 Encouragement in Life’s Storms) ILLUSTRATION OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS TO KEEP HIS PROMISES - During Donald Grey Barnhouse’s student days in France, he led a girl to Christ who later married a French pastor. She often came to the Barnhouse home and saw them taking verses from a promise box—a small box that held about 200 promises from the Bible printed on heavy paper curled into cylinders. They would take one out and read it when they needed a word of special comfort. So this French woman made her own promise box, writing these same verses in French.Years later, during the war, this French family had no food except for the potato peelings from a nearby restaurant. The children were hungry and were almost in rags, and their shoes were worn through. In one of her lowest moments, this woman turned in desperation to the promise box. She prayed, “O Lord, I have such great need. Is there a promise here that is really for me? Show me, O Lord, what promise I can have in this time of famine, nakedness, peril, and sword.”Her tears blinded her, and in reaching for the box, she knocked it over. The promises showered down around her, on her lap and on the floor. Not one was left in the box. At that moment, the Holy Spirit flooded her with divine light and joy as she realized that all of the promises were indeed for her in that hour of her greatest need (Barnhouse, Let Me Illustrate [Revell], pp. 253-254). Cole adds "And so it can be for you in whatever storm you are going through. As the Lord promises (Is 43:1-3), "But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. “For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. " (ED: Of course this promise applies literally to Israel but is applicable to all believers in Jesus.) Acts 27:25 "Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. NET Acts 27:25 Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be just as I have been told. GNT Acts 27:25 διὸ εὐθυμεῖτε, ἄνδρες· πιστεύω γὰρ τῷ θεῷ ὅτι οὕτως ἔσται καθ᾽ ὃν τρόπον λελάληταί μοι. NLT Acts 27:25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. KJV Acts 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. ESV Acts 27:25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. CSB Acts 27:25 Therefore, take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me. NIV Acts 27:25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. NKJ Acts 27:25 "Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. NRS Acts 27:25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. YLT Acts 27:25 wherefore be of good cheer, men! for I believe God, that so it shall be, even as it hath been spoken to me, NAB Acts 27:25 Therefore, keep up your courage, men; I trust in God that it will turn out as I have been told. NJB Acts 27:25 So take courage, friends; I trust in God that things will turn out just as I was told; GWN Acts 27:25 So have courage, men! I trust God that everything will turn out as he told me. BBE Acts 27:25 And so, O men, be of good heart, for I have faith in God that it will be as he said to me. I believe: Ac 27:11,21 Nu 23:19 2Ch 20:20 Lu 1:45 Ro 4:20,21 2Ti 1:12 Video - The Storm Acts 27 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HOPE IS THE ANCHOR OF ONE'S SOUL Hope as used most often in Scripture speaks of the absolute assurance of future good, the firm confidence that God will do good to us in the future. Paul expressed this hope to the men on the ship. Paul is in essence telling them to get their eyes off of the storm and fix them on God. As
Atos 27
Cole comments on God's sovereignty in what looked like dire straits - God was in control! He always is! This storm did not take Him by surprise. He was not in heaven in a panic, summoning His angels to come up with a rescue plan for Paul. God caused the boat to drift 476 miles from the small island of Clauda to Malta, another speck in that vast sea. Although the sailors were not in control, God was! In the 19th century, an experienced Scottish yachtsman, James Smith, made a careful on-site study of this narrative. He asked experienced Mediterranean navigators what the mean drift of a ship of this kind would be in such a gale. He learned that it would drift about 36 miles in 24 hours. Even today, the soundings mentioned in verse Acts 27:28 indicate that the ship was passing Koura, a point on the east coast of Malta, on her way into St. Paul’s Bay. Smith calculated that a ship leaving late in the evening from Clauda would, by midnight of the 14th day, be less than three miles from the entrance to St Paul's Bay. He also reported that no ship can enter St. Paul’s Bay without passing within a quarter of a mile from the point of Koura, where the sailors would have heard the breakers, thus surmising that they were nearing land, as Luke reports in verse Ac 27:27 (cited by F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts [Eerdmans], pp. 514-515). This shows the perfect accuracy of Luke’s narrative and that we can trust in God’s Word. When things in our lives are out of our control, they are never out of God’s control. Trust in the promises of His Word of truth! ‘The harbour of St. Paul is open to easterly and northeast winds. It is, notwithstanding, safe for small ships, the ground, generally, being very good; and while the cables hold there is no danger, as the anchors will never start. (P. 161.)(Acts 27:1-44 Weathering Life’s Storms) Acts 27:27-44 Safe In God’s Care By David C. Egner The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. —Psalm 121:8 President Franklin D. Roosevelt loved the song we call the Navy Hymn. It was sung at his funeral in Hyde Park, New York, on April 14, 1945. The words of the hymn were written in 1860 by William Whiting, who taught and directed a 16-voice boys choir. He penned them for a student who was about to set sail for America and who was apprehensive about the journey. The beautiful tune was written by John B. Dykes and first published in 1861. He named the hymn tune Melita, the Roman name for Malta, the island where Paul was shipwrecked. The hymn is a simple prayer based on the profound truth that the eternal God who created the universe controls all the elements of nature and can protect His own no matter how great the peril. Wind and wave are subject to His command. The first verse reads: (ED: The link below begins with a ship at sea!) Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm doth bind the restless wave, Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; O hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea. When we or loved ones take a journey to some far-off destination, or if we only travel to and from work, we can be sure of His protection and care. We need not fear shipwreck with Jesus at the helm. Acts 27:28 They took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and a little farther on they took another sounding and found it to be fifteen fathoms. NET Acts 27:28 They took soundings and found the water was twenty fathoms deep; when they had sailed a little farther they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms deep. GNT Acts 27:28 καὶ βολίσαντες εὗρον ὀργυιὰς εἴκοσι, βραχὺ δὲ διαστήσαντες καὶ πάλιν βολίσαντες εὗρον ὀργυιὰς δεκαπέντε· NLT Acts 27:28 They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep. KJV Acts 27:28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. ESV Acts 27:28 So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. CSB Acts 27:28 They took a sounding and found it to be 120 feet deep; when they had sailed a little farther and sounded again, they found it to be 90 feet deep. NIV Acts 27:28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. NKJ Acts 27:28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms. NRS Acts 27:28 So they took soundings and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on they took soundings again and found fifteen fathoms. YLT Acts 27:28 and having sounded they found twenty fathoms, and having gone a little farther, and again having sounded, they found fifteen fathoms, NAB Acts 27:28 They took soundings and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on, they again took soundings and found fifteen fathoms. NJB Acts 27:28 They took soundings and found twenty fathoms; after a short interval they sounded again and found fifteen fathoms. GWN Acts 27:28 So they threw a line with a weight on it into the water. It sank 120 feet. They waited a little while and did the same thing again. This time the line sank 90 feet. BBE Acts 27:28 And they let down the lead, and saw that the sea was a hundred and twenty feet deep; and after a little time they did it again and it was ninety feet. Video - Shipwreck Acts 27 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SHIP SOUNDING They took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms - The line dropped to a depth of 120 feet. See another picture of sounding. A "fathom" was the distance between fingertips with the arms extended and generally considered to be about six feet.
Atos 27
Cole applies Paul's offering of thanks to God before these pagans - When God encouraged Paul through the angel’s promise, Paul didn’t keep it to himself. Neither did he make everyone think that he was just a positive person, and that they all should keep a positive outlook as well. He used the situation to tell them about God, about his trust in God, and to promise that God would spare all of their lives through this ordeal. When he encouraged them all to eat some bread, Paul could have thought, “These are pagan men. Why ask God’s blessing on the food in front of such rough men?” But rather, he openly gave thanks to God in the presence of all (Ac 27:35). In times of trial, people are especially open to spiritual things. When life is out of control, and nothing seems to be working, people are open to hear about a God who is in control. We should not hesitate to be bold to tell them about the true and living God and the eternal life that He offers them through His Son, Jesus Christ. (Ibid) J