DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA; A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/9

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                     PART XXVII - IX

"I, Paul, noticed that the sailors aboard the ship that is supposed to take us from Myra to Phoenix were very busy... They were lowering the lifeboat from the ship into the water... I wondered why they were doing that.... Were they perhaps going to lower some anchors from the bow?.... Or were they perhaps trying to escape?.... I sensed that they were, in fact, trying to escape... That must not happen.... For the angel had made it very clear to me that we could only be saved if we all stayed together... These men needed to understand that escaping would be disastrous for them and for us... I looked for the Roman Centurion who is in charge of us... I walked over to him as soon as I spotted him... He could see from my face that I had something important to say to him... And he was more than willing to listen to me... He should have listened to me when we were still in Myra... No doubt, he regrets not having done so.... This time things were different for the moment I approached he stopped what he was doing.. He asked me what he could do for me... I told him that these sailers who were trying to escape should not be allowed to leave....For if they did no one would be saved.... He could see from my facial expression that I was very serious.... He knew too that action needed to be taken that very moment... So he ordered the soldiers to cut the ropes that held the lifeboat... It fell into the water... The sailors looked silently on...They knew their chance of escape had gone... They may not have fully understood that by this action their lives were being saved... They will find that out in time... Obedience always pays off even when it does not make sense."...Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the sailors aboard the ship were prevented from escaping....

                   ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                          PART XXVII - IX

It seems the sailors aboard the ship that is supposed to take Paul and all those with him from Myra to Phoenix, do not entirely trust the words of Paul for they decide to take their fate into their own hands as you can read in Acts 37:30

In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow.

However, Paul, no doubt, warned by the Holy Spirit, puts a stop to their escape as you can read in Acts 37:31-32

Then Paul said to the Centurion and the soldierss, "Unless these men stay with the boat, you cannot be saved." So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away.

Paul knows that everyone has to stay on board the ship for them to be saved for the angel has promised him that the Lord has given the lives of all those who sail with him, including the lives of the sailors.

Read Part Ten HERE

DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/8

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                   PART XXVII - VIII 

"I, Paul, had shared with everyone aboard the ship that was supposed to take us from Myra to Phoenix, that God would spare all of our lives....I could sense that all of them were beginning to have some hope once again... This despite the fact that the storm had not yet subsided.... It took us a total of fourteen days... And I have to say these were long, dreary days... During these days we were simply being driven across the Adriatic Sea... But finally the sailors among us began to have a sense that we were approaching land...They then did what sailors know they need to do at such a time...They took soundings.... They found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep.. They knew they should not take soundings only once.... They needed to do it again.... So some time later they repeated the exercise... This time the found that the water was ninety feet deep... That means we could be dashed against the rocks.... That must not happen... Quick action was required.... Thankfully, being experienced sailors, they knew just what to do.... They dropped four anchors from the stern... But they did more... They fell on their knees and prayed for daylight to break."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the ship Paul and the others are on is finally approaching land.....

                    ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                  PART XXVII - VIII

After having been driven across the Adriatic Sea for a fortnight, the sailors aboard the ship that is supposed to take Paul and all those with him from Myra to Phoenix, sense that they are approaching land so they take measures in order not to be dashed against the rocks as you can read in Acts 27:27-29

On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 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. Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.

It has been a very challenging journey but it seems it is finally coming to an end for the sailors realise they are close to land. However, it will not be Phoenix, where they are supposed to sail to.

Read Part Nine HERE

DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/7

                                                                                 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                    PART XXVII - VII 

"I, Paul, had given the men, who were travelling with me aboard the ship that was taken us from Myra to Phoenix, the news that none of their lives would be lost.... They looked at me with questioning eyes....They did not say anything..... But I could see in their eyes they wanted to ask me how I could be so sure that their lives would be spared despite the terrible storm that was still raging... I did not keep them in the dark for long... But gave them the answer they were waiting for...  I explained to them that I was absolutely sure their lives would be spared.... Because last night an angel of the Lord had appeared to me... A messenger from heaven... He had confirmed to me that, yes, I am still to appear before Caesar... Which means God will spare my life.... Moreover, the angel told me that my God, in His kindness, will spare the lives of all those travelling with me... This despite the fact that the ship will be destroyed.... When I had shared these words with the men, I could see a glimmer of hope re-appear in their eyes.... May be there was hope for them after all."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn why Paul was so confident that all those with him would be saved...

                     ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                        ART XXVII - VII

Paul then explains to all those who are aboard the ship that is supposed to take them from Myra to Phoenix why he is so confident that they will all be saved as you can read in Acts 27:23-26

"Last night an angel of the God whose I am 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 all the lives of those who sail with you. So keep 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."

These words as well as Paul's quiet but confident demeanour will have given the others the assurance they can believe that indeed their lives will be secure. It seems the same cannot be said of the ship but that is another matter.

Read Part Eight HERE

  

DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A VERY CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/6

 

                                                                                   Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                  PART XXVII - VI

"I, Paul, looked at the men who were with me aboard the ship that was taking us from Myra to Phoenix.... Their faces looked weary and depressed...And no wonder.... Because we have been experiencing an extremely violent storm for many days already... And it seems the end is not yet.... Moreover, they have not been eating for days... That will have added to them looking so utterly weary.... However, it was time for me to give them some hope in the midst of this seemingly hopeless situation....That is why I gathered them together... I, first of all, shared with them that they should have listened to me when I warned them not to leave Myra... The port we left from many days ago... If they had listened to me we would not be in the situation we are in now...But I did not stop there... I continued.... For I wanted to tell them not to give up hope... Since I knew that no one would be lost...I did have to tell them, though, that the ship would be destroyed.... They needed to know this too... That may well have been very painful news for the sailors... For they had worked so hard to try and keep the ship safe... Nevertheless, they needed to know the truth about the ship... That is was going to be destroyed."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Paul was able to let everyone on board the ship know that their lives would be spared...

                        ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGHT THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                      PART XXVII - VI

Paul stands up and begins to speak to all those who are with him aboard the ship that is supposed to take them fromMyra to Phoenix as you can read in Acts 27:21

After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said, "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss."

The Roman Centurion and others are finally willing to listen to Paul. They know what he says is true: They should have listened to him when they were still in Crete. Thankfully, that is not all what Paul says for he continues speaking as you can read in Acts 27:22

"But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed." 

This time they are willing to listen to Paul and hope begins to rise in their hearts that perhaps not everything is lost after all.

Read Part Seven HERE

DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/5

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                   PART XXVII - V

"I, Paul, realised that my warning to the Roman Centurion at Myra was beginning to come true... We were in the middle of a violent storm... And we were in danger of losing everything.... That is what I had told him would happen if we set out to sea.... I am sure the Centurion wished he had listened to me.... And had stayed over in Myra rather than trying to sail to Phoenix in Crete.... But it was not the time to accuse anyone of making the wrong decision.... It was time to do what we could to try and save the ship... And to save ourselves...My role was to pray to Almighty God... And plead for our safety.. Because I know I am supposed to go to Rome to testify for Him there....The role of the sailors is to try and save the ship...They have been hard at work trying to do just that... It looks like more needs to be done... They have already thrown very valuable cargo overboard....They then threw the tackle overboard....They did that with their own hands...However, the storm has continued to rage for days.... And there does not seem to be and end in sight... We have, in fact, not seen the sun for many days now.... This is affecting all those on board of our ship....They have actually begun to lose all hope....But I know that my God will come through for us.... However, it will be in His way and in His time.... All I can do is wait...I believe that He will speak.... And when He does... He will have a message of encouragement for the men."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the people on board the ship Paul is travelling on have become very desperate....

       

                         ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACYS

                                                                PART XXVII - V

Paul and the others on board the ship that is to take them to from Myra to Phoenix realise more needs to be done in order to save the ship and themselves so they make the painful decision to get rid of the cargo as you can read in Acts 27:18

We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.

However, even that is not enough so they make the decision to get rid of another valuable item as you can read in Acta 27:19

On the third day, they threw the tackle overboard with their own hands.

But the storm continued day after day as you can read in Acts 27:20

When neither the sun not stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

Desperation set in for nothing they have done has been of any help so all they can do now is to wait for death; at least that is how they feel.

Read Part Six HERE

DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/4

 

                                                                                   Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                       PART XXVII - IV

"Having shared with the Roman Centurion my concerns about leaving Myra for Italy, I, Paul, realised that the Centurion had decided to sail anyway... So we left the next day... Initially it seemed he was right to have begun to sail... We had very favourable weather... That gave us opportunity to easily and comfortably sail along the shore of Crete... But then things changed for the worse.... We were hit by the "Northeaster"... A well known and much feared wind of hurrican force... Immediate action was necessary... The life boat was made secure.... Ropes were put underneath the ship to try and keep the ship together.... The sea anchor was lowered... This was done to prevent the ship from running aground on the sandbars of Syrtis.... If only the Roman Centurion had listened to me... I am sure, he wished as well that he had listened to me.... All I could do was pray.... That's what I did.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the Roman Centurion decided to continue the journey to Italy....

                           ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                             PART XXVII - IV

The decision to sail from Myra to Phoenix sets Paul and the others with him on a journey they were not prepared for as you can read in Acts 27:13-14

When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "Northeaster," swept from the island.

Initially, it goes all very well. But then disaster strikes in the form of a hurricane wind. This is not what they are expecting. They now need to do whatever it takes to save the ship and themselves so they begin to take certain precautions as you can read in Acts 27:16-17

As we passed the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. When the men 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.

No doubt, the Centurion wished he had listened to Paul. But it is too late. He has now to deal with the situation as it is.

Read Part Five HERE