In Acts 26, we read of
Paul’s defence before Agrippa. Agrippa, like all those who interviewed Paul
before him, found no reason to give Paul the death sentence. Agrippa might even
have let Paul go, but Paul had appealed to Caesar. Now in Acts 27, Paul, under
the care of centurion Julius, begins the voyage to Rome. One of the places
where they did a stopover at was the Fair Havens (v.8). It then became the time
of the year when the seas were rough, making sailing dangerous. Paul, by
inspiration, declared that if they continued the voyage, their lives will be in
jeopardy. However, the centurion decided to continue. Sure enough, they
encountered a great wind and tempest, and were driven to the point of
hopelessness (v.14-20). However, Paul comforted them with the revelation that
none of them would lose their lives, though the ship would be lost (v.21-25).
They eventually were shipwrecked near an island and they all swam to shore
(v.41-44).
If only they had listened to Paul, they could have avoided all that trouble at sea. However, “the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul” (v.11). The master and owner of the ship, with all his knowledge of the winds and seas, disagreed with Paul about the danger. Furthermore, the haven did not seem to be a convenient place to spend the winter in, so the majority agreed that they should sail on (v.12). Paul’s information turned out to be right though; because he obtained his information from God. It is apparent that the centurion and the crew were not Christians, otherwise they might have believed Paul’s advice.
As Christians, we of course know the importance of listening to God’s advice, because God always has the correct information and best advice. However, sometimes even Christians can make the same mistake as Julius the centurion, by listening to worldly sources instead of God. Are there times that we believe other sources instead of God?
If only they had listened to Paul, they could have avoided all that trouble at sea. However, “the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul” (v.11). The master and owner of the ship, with all his knowledge of the winds and seas, disagreed with Paul about the danger. Furthermore, the haven did not seem to be a convenient place to spend the winter in, so the majority agreed that they should sail on (v.12). Paul’s information turned out to be right though; because he obtained his information from God. It is apparent that the centurion and the crew were not Christians, otherwise they might have believed Paul’s advice.
As Christians, we of course know the importance of listening to God’s advice, because God always has the correct information and best advice. However, sometimes even Christians can make the same mistake as Julius the centurion, by listening to worldly sources instead of God. Are there times that we believe other sources instead of God?
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