Acts 27

Sermon preached on January 28, 2007 by Laurence W. Veinott. © Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. Other sermons can be found at http://www.newlifeop.org/.

If you're on a ship—you tend to hate storms. Most of my experiences with storms have to do with crossing the Cabot Strait between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. When Marg and I were dating she lived in Newfoundland and I lived in Nova Scotia and I'd often try to visit her around Christmastime. Since I didn't have much money I usually took a boat. But that's a very stormy time of year and I grew to hate storms because it seem that every year I'd get waylayed by one. For example, I remember one year I boarded a ship we set sail for Newfoundland but when I got up in the morning it was before dawn and I could see lights in the distance out from the left side of the ship. I knew that if we were on time and course there shouldn't have been lights there. When the daylight came I saw that we were no where near Newfoundland, but we were still off the northern tip of Nova Scotia. The captain was just riding out the storm. For most of the day he kept the ship going back and forth under the protection of the mountains of Cape Breton. Then after doing that all day he decided to turn around and go back to North Sydney, the port we had left from. It was so frustrating to be trapped on the boat—to make no progress at all and in 24 hours to be exactly where you started.

Another time I thought I had the best crossing I ever had in a storm. When I boarded the ship at night it was very stormy and they told us that they were going to wait until the storm died down before they left. I didn't mind that so I went down to my cabin and went to sleep. In the middle of the night I woke and I could feel the ship moving, the engines were going full blast and I said to myself, "Good, we're underway," and went back to sleep. I had a great sleep and when I woke the next morning you could tell that the ship wasn't moving at all, that it was docked. So I thought to myself, "Great. We're in. That's the best crossing I ever had." I got all dressed, packed my suitcase up and proceeded up the decks to disembark. But when I got to where I could see outside I saw that we were still in North Sydney, that all they had done during the night was change docks. It had been too stormy to leave but they need the dock for another ship so they moved ours. The only problem was that our new dock didn't have a ramp where you could get off. So I couldn't get off the ship. I only lived a mile down the road and could have gotten off and flown over, but no passengers were allowed off and we had to sit there all day. It was so frustrating.

But of course, my experiences were nothing compared to what Paul and his shipmates went through. The storm lasted for two weeks during which time they saw neither the sun nor the stars. Most of them were in fear of losing their lives and they very nearly did. At the end of it they were shipwrecked and their ship was dashed to pieces.

The question is:

Why did God give Paul such a terrible journey?

Paul was a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. He had just spent two years in prison for his faithfulness to Jesus Christ. One might think that God would arrange it so that he would have a safe and uneventful journey to Rome. But that's not how it turned out. God arranged for this horrific storm—some today might call it, "The Perfect Storm". The journey of Paul, Luke and Aristarchus was one of the more perilous voyages in the history of sea travel. It was a terrible voyage—a type after which many people would have said,

"That's the last time I'm ever setting foot on a ship."



We naturally wonder,

"Why did God send the storm? Why didn't He allow Paul to have a peaceful and uneventful journey to Rome?"



Why does God sometimes make things difficult for His people, His servants? Paul was serving God faithfully but instead of making it easy for him, Paul found himself in a most dangerous and difficult situation.

Paul was not unique. Similar things happened to Job, to Joseph, to Jeremiah, to Habakkuk. The great truth we see is that

God often puts His people in harm's way.

Why? Of course we see through a glass darkly, and we cannot hope to fully penetrate the great counsels of God. Yet in His Word God has given us some indications of His purposes. So let's consider some of the things our text teaches us.

The main thing we see here is that

Paul's troubles were for the sake of the gospel.

One of God's great purposes in Paul's voyage was to save sinners. The connection is not stated explicitly stated, but it's clear none the less. John Calvin writes,

"Luke's chief purpose in giving us and account of Paul's voyage is that we may know that he was led to Rome in a wonderful way by the hand of God, and that on the actual journey the glory of God was clearly evident in many ways in his sayings and doings…"



The end of the voyage shows us this.

Because of the storm, the ship was wrecked on Malta. If there had been no storm, most likely Malta would have been bypassed. Certainly, if they did stop there, it would not have been for the three months that they were stranded there.

On Malta God accomplished great things through Paul. The first thing that happened was the incident with the snake, which bit Paul while he was putting wood on the fire. The local people expected him to die, but when he didn't they greatly esteemed him. Then Paul healed Publius' father. After that, many sick people were brought to Paul and they were cured through him. We may be sure that as a result of that ministry that many people on Malta were saved. Thus we see that one of God's great purposes in the storm and the shipwreck was the salvation of many people in Malta.

The same could be true for many on the ship. Luke tells us that there were 276 on the ship. Paul turns out to be the central figure on the ship. It's not the captain or the ship owner, it's not the centurion—it's Paul. Through his predictions and prophecies God elevates Paul.

The first time we're made aware of it is in Paul's warning not to leave Fair Haven. In verse 10 Paul said to them,

"Men, I can see that our voyage
is going to be disastrous
and bring great loss to ship and cargo,
and to our own lives also."

But the pilot and the owner of the ship thought they could make Phoenix, which was only 35 miles further along the coast and was better for wintering in. The centurion agreed with them and they set sail. But Paul was soon proved right. Not long after they set sail a hurricane force storm engulfed them.

But there was more. Before the shipwreck Paul prophesied and told them that the ship would be lost because they would run aground on some island, but that not one of them would be lost. Then later he told them to take some food and assured them that they would be safe. Then he gave thanks to God and ate some food.

The effect of all this was that Paul came to be esteemed in the eyes of many on the ship. It took awhile, as the first prediction didn't have much effect on the soldiers, as they were willing to kill Paul and the rest of the prisoners. But when they all reach the shore and found that it was exactly as Paul said, that not one of them had been lost—Paul would have been seen as a prophet.

We're not told how many believed because of that—but one of God's purposes in it was to elevate and honor the gospel. God did that in the midst of danger and hardship. He was showing everyone on the ship that the way out of such things, the answers to such problems—was the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul spoke about this affect of troubles in another circumstance in Philippians 1:12-14. He wrote,

"Now I want you to know, brothers,
that what has happened to me
has really served to advance the gospel.
As a result, it has become clear
throughout the whole palace guard
and to everyone else
that I am in chains for Christ.
Because of my chains,
most of the brothers in the Lord
have been encouraged
to speak the word of God
more courageously and fearlessly."

We see this teaching in the Old Testament as well. Joseph spoke of his troubles that way. He went through many difficulties but when his brothers came to him he said, (Genesis 45:5)

"And now, do not be distressed
and do not be angry with yourselves
for selling me here,
because it was to save lives
that God sent me ahead of you."

It was the same with the suffering of Job. God's glory was involved in Job's suffering.



This has great implications for you.

Your situation is different from the apostle Paul in some very important ways. God hasn't chosen to work miracles directly through you. God doesn't appear to you and give you prophecies for others. But in other ways your situation is like that of the apostle Paul. You can face troubles, like storms and dangers with such faith and fortitude that you can shine for Jesus in the midst of them and have the gospel esteemed and honored because of your behavior—so that God will save people through it.

First it means that as a Christian,

you should calmly accept the troubles that come your way because God is working His purposes in them.

Realize that God has His purposes in them. His purposes have to do with honoring His gospel and saving sinners. Recognize that and be calm and steadfast amidst troubles.

Secondly, this means that you should endeavor with all your strength to ensure that your behavior tends to the honoring of the gospel.

James Montgomery Boice remarks on the contrast between Paul and the sailors. He writes, (Acts, p. 412)

"The men are in a terrible storm. The mariners, who know how to sail in storms, are so frightened that they have given up all hope of being saved. But this Jewish preacher, who presumably knew very little about ships and storms, said, 'Keep up your courage… Do not be afraid."



Paul was calm and composed throughout the whole ordeal. John Calvin writes,

"only a man who is himself an example of steadfastness and fortitude is qualified to encourage."



As Paul wrote in Philippians 1:27,

"Whatever happens,
conduct yourselves
in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."

It's interesting that even Paul's

"I told you so,"



fits into this mold. Some people have criticized Paul for his words in verse 21,

"Men, you should have taken my advice
not to sail from Crete;
then you would have spared yourselves
this damage and loss."

They suggest that he could not resist the temptation to say, "I told you so." But in the context we can see that they needed this reminder so that they would pay attention to his word of encouragement. So he was quite right to say, "I told you so."

It's worth noting that Luke tells us that Paul gave thanks just before the shipwreck. That should remind you of what he wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18,

"Be joyful always;
pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

God wants us to be good examples to others in all circumstances.

Thirdly, this means that in making decisions, you are always to consider the effect of those decisions on the gospel.

When we make decisions we often consider many factors. What's right? What's fair? How is this going to affect me?

But one of the most important considerations is: How will this affect the gospel ministry? Don't leave that out. It's one of the most important considerations of all.