Your Hero’s Journey Saves You-Acts 27
My penultimate sermon on Acts:
“But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island” (Ac 27:22-26).
- Is God calling you on a journey (Gen 12:1-2)? How do you navigate your way on life’s unpredictable highways (Ps 119:105; 23:4; 25:4-5)? [Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” “Direct me, Yahweh, throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life. Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you. Escort me into your truth; take me by the hand and teach me. For you are the God of my salvation; I have wrapped my heart into yours all day long!” (Ps 25:4-5, TPT-The Passion Translation)]
When in a severe storm awaiting shipwreck will you be saved? Will you find solace, security and salvation?
- “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved” [sōzō] (Ac 27:20).
- Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved” [sōzō] (Ac 27:31).
- “Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive [sōtēria]. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head” (Ac 27:34).
- The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners … But the centurion wanted to spare [diasōzō] Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan” (27:42-43).
- “The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely” [diasōzō] (Ac 27:44).
- Once safely [diasōzō] on shore…the island was called Malta” (Ac 28:1).
- When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped [diasōzō] from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live” (Ac 28:4).
Save [sōzō]. Salvation [sōtēria]
- “…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved [sōzō]” (Acts 2:21).
- “Save [sōzō] yourselves from this corrupt generation” (Acts 2:40).
- “We believe [pisteuō] it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved [sōzō], just as they are” (Ac 15:11).
- “Sirs, what must I do to be saved [sōzō]?” They replied, “Believe [pisteuō] in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved [sōzō]—you and your household” (Acts 16:30-31).
- “Salvation [sōtēria] is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved [sōzō]” (Acts 4:12).
- “For it is by grace [charis] you have been saved [sōzō], through faith [pistis]—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph 2:8-9).
- Why do you think the Roman centurion in charge of Paul was kind to him (Ac 27:1, 3)? Where did the ship sailing with Paul make its first stop (Ac 27:2)? Where did they go from there (Ac 27:4-8)?
- How and why did Paul warn the centurion and the crew not to sail (Ac 27:9-10; 2 Cor 11:25)? What time of year was it when they set sail, and why was it considered a dangerous time for sailing?
- Why did the centurion and the ship’s owner disagree (Ac 27:11-12)? Were they right (Ac 27:13)?
- What happened to the ship and the crew when it encountered a severe storm called the Northeaster (Ac 27:14-16)? Why did they do (Ac 27:17-19)? How did they feel (Ac 27:20)?
- How did Paul encourage the crew and passengers during the storm (Ac 27:21-22, 25-26)? How could Paul have such fearless courage (Ac 27:23-24; Ps 34:4)?
- How long did the storm last, and how did the crew eventually receive hope (Ac 27:27-29)? What did Paul tell the crew and passengers to do in order to survive the storm (Ac 27:30-32)?
- How did Paul further encourage the crew (Ac 27:32-38)? How might this have affected the 276 men on board?
- What happened when daylight came (Ac 27:39-41)? What did the soldiers plan to do when they thought the prisoners might escape (Ac 27:42)? Why (Ac 12:19)? How was Paul saved … again (Ac 27:43)? How many people survived the shipwreck (Ac 27:44)?
11 or 12 accounts of Paul traveling to some destination by sea in Acts, beginning in Ac 9:30 and finishing in Ac 27:1-28:10, some involving “we” passages and some not. Paul covered some 10-14,000 miles on sea [and land] during the nearly 3 decades of his ministry recorded in Acts 9-28. By the time of Paul’s journey to Rome, he is a well-seasoned sea traveler and knows the dangers of shipwreck and being adrift at sea (2 Cor 11:25), sailing during the middle to late fall. Thus, he knows how to cope with a crisis at sea.
Why is so much space [60 verses] devoted to the trip to Rome? The extensive narration in Acts 27 indicates a situation of unprecedented seriousness and of amazing deliverance. It is one of the most vivid pieces of descriptive narrative in Acts and indeed the whole NT. The lengthy narrative is not simply for dramatic effect, but to further teach about divine providence and Paul’s role within God’s plan for the nations. After many chapters recounting accusations, trials and imprisonments, Luke demonstrates God’s special care for Paul and all who travel with him, as Paul’s calling to be a servant and a witness of the risen Lord Jesus is confirmed (Ac 26:16).
Most of the narrative on this journey is about Paul’s engagement with unbelieving Gentiles–the centurion named Julius, the soldiers, the sailors, the rest of the ship’s company and the people of Malta. In Acts 22-26 Paul appears as an isolated and restricted, even if somewhat valuable prisoner, but in Acts 27-28, although technically remaining a prisoner and defendant, Paul re-establishes his role as a dynamic prophet and servant in the mold of Christ. The theme of salvation predominates throughout, specifically with reference to being rescued from storm and sea (Ac 27:20, 31, 34, 43, 44; 28:1, 4). Paul is also delivered from death by snakebite on Malta (Ac 28:3-6), and then heals the father of the chief official and many others who come to him (Ac 28:7-10).
- Faring well until Fair Havens (27:1-12). From Caesarea to Crete.
- A ship from Adramyttium (27:1-5). The ship travels from Caesarea to Myra.
- A ship from Alexandria (27:6-12).
- The ship travels from Myra to Crete (27:6-8).
- Paul and the centurion debate about going or staying (27:9-12).
- Storm and shipwreck (27:13-44).
- The storm drives the ship to disaster (27:13-26).
- The ship is wrecked on Malta (27:27-44).
- Hospitality and healing on Malta (28:1-11).
- All roads lead to … (Ac 28:12-31).
- Journey’s end (28:12-16).
- Paul and the Roman Jewish leaders: the first encounter (28:17-22).
- Paul and the Roman Jewish leaders: the second encounter (28:23-28).
The Journey to God:
- “The journey to God requires humility and surrender. It is in letting go of our own plans and desires that we find true fulfillment in Him.” Oswald Chambers.
- “On the journey to God, we may stumble and fall, but God’s grace is there to lift us up and carry us forward. His love is greater than our failures.” Charles Spurgeon.
- “The journey to God is not about reaching a destination; it is about being transformed along the way. It is a continual process of becoming more like Christ.” Dallas Willard.
- “God often leads us on journeys that we would never never go on if it were up to us. Don’t be afraid. Take courage. Have faith. Trust God.” Eugene Cho.
- “God never said that the journey would be easy. But he did say that the arrival would be worthwhile. Max Lucado.
- God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.” Hudson Taylor.
- “The ultimate purpose of the spiritual journey is to encounter God, to know Him intimately, and to be transformed by His love.” St. Augustine.
- “The path to God is not a straight line but a series of twists and turns. It is in those twists and turns that we find growth, resilience, and a deeper understanding of our faith.” Tim Keller.
- “The journey to God is a journey of the heart. It is in opening our hearts to God’s presence that we begin to truly know Him and experience His love.” Henri Nouwen.
- “God meets us where we are on our journey, but He never leaves us there. He is constantly calling us to go deeper, to surrender more fully, and to become more like Him.” John Ortberg.
- “The journey to God is not about finding all the answers, but about embracing the questions and seeking God in the midst of them.” Richard Rohr.
- “Every step you take towards God is a step He takes towards you. He longs for a relationship with you and will guide you on your journey if you are willing to follow Him.” Max Lucado.
- “In the pursuit of God, remember that it is not about perfection but about progress. Keep pressing forward, seeking Him with all your heart, and He will reveal Himself to you.” Rick Warren.
