JUNE 26, 2025
The nightmare at sea is over! But the start of Paul’s time “safely on shore” isn’t off to a great start. Let’s read.
“Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 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 from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.’ But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.“
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