JUNE 24, 2025

Today, we pick up the harrowing tale of Paul’s journey to Italy right after his warning of impending disaster is disregarded. Let’s read.

“When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved“

Acts 27:13-20

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Luke’s detailed and dramatic account of their journey includes the stuff that nightmares are made of! Desperate times have come. Hurricane force winds violently batter the ship; nearby sandbars (i.e., quicksand!) threaten danger; lack of visible sun or stars makes navigation at sea impossible.

So, desperate measures are taken. Ropes are used to hold the ship together; cargo and supplies are thrown overboard. Can you blame them for giving up all hope? I wonder what the sailors, soldiers, prisoners, and others on board were saying or doing in what they supposed were their final hours?

While we cannot be certain of Paul’s demeanor here, we do have his thoughts regarding a previous harrowing experience.

We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us…

2 Corinthians 1:8b-10

Additionally, when Paul felt his time on earth was short, he penned these words to his spiritual son, Timothy:

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Thessalonians 4:18

You see, regardless of Paul’s circumstances, he never lost hope in God for deliverance and salvation through faith in Jesus. Paul dedicated his life to proclaiming this good news so that others would have this same hope. And now, delivering this message of hope to Rome was worth the persecution, false accusations, imprisonment, and suffering Paul endured. God’s presence, power, and promises allow Paul to have hope for this life and the life to come. Will you also embrace this hope?

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • What would you say or do if you realized you only had a short time left to live?
  • What are you hoping for? In what have you placed your hope?
  • Have you had a time when you lost hope? What happened and how did you respond?
  • How can you rely on God’s presence, power, and promises for hope in this life and for eternity?

Church Reading Plan: Deuteronomy 29; Psalm 119:49-72