Journey Four
Cæsare´a (Acts 27:1)
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he time has come for the great apostle to board a ship and begin the long and rough journey to Rome. The courts in Cæsare´a and Jeru´salem have done all that they can for him since he has appealed to Cæ´sar. Paul, along with other prisoners, was delivered to a centurion named Ju´lius, and they were off as the course was set for the coast of Asia.
It is wondered how Paul felt as he began his voyage to Rome as a prisoner. The human side of him must have felt some loneliness and defeat, but the deeper spiritual part of Paul must have seen God’s hand at work. This great apostle believed that God would bring forth good even out of the bad to those who love Him.
“I wish I could be of some use,” said a newly opened daisy which grew in a pleasant field; “but I am so small, I wonder why I was made.”
The little flower looked timidly around, and as a soft wind played over the field, waving the long grass it kissed the little daisy, and said: “God has made nothing in vain, only look up.”
As the trembling flower raised its head, a bright sunbeam glancing by dried the teardrop that dimmed its eye. The daisy felt grateful, and looked up with a smile.
Si´don (Acts 27:3)
They traveled only 67 miles and the ship stopped at Si´don. Since this was a trading port, it is possible that they stopped to pick up cargo. At this stop we see Paul appreciated as a man and Christian. For the centurion permitted Paul to visit his friends and to refresh himself. It may be that the centurion had received special orders from Fes´tus to treat Paul as a royal prisoner. For what ever reason, we can be pleased that Paul drew from this man such confidence and respect.
Here at this very first stop on his voyage to Rome, we see the hand of God at work. God will weave the good with the bad, and His purpose for Paul will be revealed. How important it is for all Christians today to believe this principle.
Life is a flying shuttle. But the pattern grows, the web is wrought. It takes both dark threads and golden to work out God’s design. You cannot judge the purpose of the Weaver by the thrust of one shuttle or the weave of one thread, whether it be dark or bright. “All things work together for good to those who love God.” We are yet on the loom. The shuttles are not yet empty. Give God time to put this and that, dark threads and bright, together, and compete the purpose of His providence. With every new day let us think less of our present desire and more concerning the Divine Weaver’s design. —G.B.F. Hallock.
Island of Cy´prus (Acts 27:4)
Once
again Paul sailed near the Island of Cy´pris. The text simply says that they “we
sailed under the shelter of Cy´prus, because the winds were contrary” (Acts
27:4)
.
This threw them several miles off course, but they did not have a choice. If you will consult the map and notice that on Journey Two and Three, Paul sailed past Cy´prus on the south, but the wind said “no,” and they drifted just north of the handle of Cy´prus.
Don’t you imagine that this island brought back memories to Paul when he and Bar´nabas first began their great work? He must have thought of how they landed here first to begin their work. He must have thought of how their first stop was Sal´amis and then crossed the island to Pa´phos where they ran into their first opposition. Truly he had so much success to remember.
As Paul remembered the experiences of his past as a missionary, he could recall both sorrows and joy; however, the thing that counted most was his faithfulness for Christ. When he would be called to meet God, this is the record that would praise him. More than anything else, our lives must reflect decisions for the Lord.
Have you any recommendations?” was asked of the boy who applied for a position.
“No, sir.”
“Why not?”
The lad’s lips trembled. “I—was—discharged,” came at last in a faint voice.
“My lad, why were you discharged?” The employer asked tenderly.
“Because I would not work on the Lord’s day,” came back the reply, steadily and bravely.
“Yes, I do want a boy,” Mr. Lansing said, as he placed his hand on the petitioner’s head. “I believe you are just the boy who will suit me. Come here at this hour tomorrow morning.”
Cilic´ia and Pamphyl´ia (Acts 27:5)
“And when we had sailed over the sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia,” is simply a statement that marks the course they traveled. We do not know how close they were to land, but evidently they were running as close as possible since the wind was blowing in that direction.
My´ra (Act 27:5,6)
At My´ra Paul had to change ships. My´ra was a city of Ly´cia—one of the principle cities. The city was built some two miles from the sea, and the centurion was able to find a ship of Alexan´dria sailing to It´aly. It was evidently a large ship and was possibly owned by a company that had a fleet of them. These ships were capable of carrying heavy loads (usually grain), but their weakness was in their inability to cope with stormy winds.
They could travel to the speed of eight and one-half miles per hour, but in rough conditions they might lose speed or be blown completely off course. It is possible that this new ship could be found at My´ra because it had been blown off course due to the stormy wind—this happened quite frequently.
As this great missionary traveled over this rough sea, he had very little of this world’s goods to sustain him. However, he had something greater—the love of God and the love of souls. This spirit of love and sacrifice has prevailed also in the lives of thousands down through the centuries.
Christianity is a missionary religion. It is a creed which, twenty centuries after its founder’s death, produces missions and missionaries as naturally as a living tree, in whose woody fibers the mysterious forces of spring are stirring, produces blossoms.
And the missionaries it produces are of an absolutely unique type. He has the scantiest equipment. He carries no arms; he is clad with no civil authority; he has very little money; he is usually alone. He has only a message and a motive. The message is the story of Christ and the motive is the love of Christ. —W.H. Fitchett.
Cni´dus (Acts 27:7)
Luke says that when they “had arrived off Cnidus.” This helps us to know the course the ship was taking. The wind was not in their favor, but they did not mind the zig–zag course so long as they were going in the general direction of Rome.
Crete (Acts 27:7)
It seems that the winds changed and blew them southward under the Island of Crete. When they left Cni´dus, they no longer had protection from the land on the north, and even though they continued west, they also went south. It is possible that the captain purposely went to the south of Crete hoping that they would receive some protection from the wind. As they moved slowly the length of Crete, they sailed off of Salmo´ne.
Even though the winds will blow and the stormy waters will rage, Paul knows that God is at the helm. Let come what may, God will care for His own.
Have you ever been guilty of doubting God and His power? The word of God tells us over and over that God has the power to perform good things in the lives of those who love Him!
The grasses are clothed
And
the ravens are fed
From
His store;
But
you, who are loved,
And
guarded, and led,
How
much more
Will
He clothe, feed you,
And
give you His care.
Fair Ha´vens (Acts 27:8-13)
This was just a harbor on the Island of Crete and was not a desirable place for wintering. It seems that the accommodations were not the best, but after getting into a terrible storm later, they, no doubt, wished that they had made out with less and stayed. Paul advised them not to leave, but they felt that they knew more about the matter than this prisoner. Therefore, they set out hoping to reach Phoe´nix, a harbor of Crete.
Fair Ha´ven was close to the city Lase´a, but they wanted to move farther west on the island. With a south wind, they moved along close to the Island of Crete. However, they had not counted on a tempestuous wind called Euroc´lydon. For this wind caught the ship so strongly that it was unable to bear it and they were forced to let it drive with the wind.
This immense storm recorded by Luke was no doubt among the most severe ones that had ever upset this sea. However, Paul could go on with his purpose because he believed that God is greater than the storm. In our moments of weak faith, our problems may seem greater than the power, but they are not! With the help of God, our problems become challenges to greater things.
When sailing on life’s ocean
Toward
that eternal shore
If you navigate your
own vessel
You’ll
be shipwrecked forevermore!
Let Jesus be your Pilot
And
in safety you will be
Then all storms will be
nothing
As you cross life’s sea. —B.B. Bristow
Island of Clau´da (Acts 27:16,17)
Just a little south of Crete was a small island called Clau´da and they were able to run under it for shelter long enough to work on the ship. They they used supporting cables to under gird the ship to give it additional strength, but at this point they were in danger of the quicksand, so they got back into the wind. There is no doubt that they had hoped that things might change, but the change became worse. They were forced to lighten the ship, and on the third day things were so hopeless that they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship.
Neither sun nor stars appeared and since they depended on them for giving directions, they became what they thought—hopelessly lost! However, Paul told them that their lives would be saved if all would remain on the ship. He assured them that there stood by him that night the angel of God, to whom he belonged and whom he served, and promised safety to all except the ship. He further informed them that they would be cast onto a certain island.
Under ordinary circumstances, this ship would have been buried, along with all who were aboard, at sea. However, one man made the difference! Why? Because he served the powerful God of love. Paul had discovered that God’s love was extended long before mankind was able to love. Thus, Paul had responded to this love and now God’s presence was felt.
“Mamma, I am tired of loving my dolly.”
“Why, my child?”
“Oh, because she never loves me back.”
“And is that why you love me?”
“That is one reason, mamma, but not the first one, or the best.”
“What is the first and best reason, then, my darling?”
“Why, mamma, it’s because you loved me when I was too little to love you back. That’s why I love you so much now.”
The little girl, you see, was giving the thought that the Bible has about the Lord Jesus Christ: “We love Him, because He first loved us.” —Selected.
Fourteen days later the sailors deemed that they were near some country, for the water was getting shallow. For fear of rocks, they cast out four anchors and waited for the coming day.
Some tried to escape in the ship’s small boat, but Paul had already warned them that their safety was promised only if all remained on the ship. With this reminder, the ropes were cut and the small boat dropped into the sea.
They had been fasting for fourteen days, but Paul assured them that they could now eat, and none would be harmed. Therefore, all the 277 aboard became cheerful and ate.
At daylight, they discovered a place to land the ship, but as they neared shore, it struck a place that caught fast the front part (the bow) of the ship, and the back part (stern) was torn by the violence of the waves. Orders were given for all to swim to shore.
The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners, but the centurion saved their lives because of Paul. So one by one they hit the water, some swimming and others floating on boards from the ship. Shortly, it was realized that all were safely on the Island of Mel´ita (Malta).
One cannot read this great shipwreck without seeing Paul’s strong faith in God. He had not said that most of us will be saved, but rather that all of us will be saved! How could he make such a grand statement? Because God had promised through His messenger, and Paul believed Him. Do we possess this kind of faith and believe the word of God today?
When your faith is weak, do you fret and stew
Doubting the necessities of
life?
Do
you forget God’s promise to His faithful ones
That He’ll take care of
you?
The
God who provides the flowers with dew
Arrayed beyond Solomon’s
charm
Do
you think in life, when troubles abound
That He will forsake you?
God
cares for your needs, whether many or few
And will help you find a
way
His
blessings abound, like the seashore sand
God will see you through! —B.B. Bristow
Island of Mel´ita (Malta) (Acts
28:1-11)
This little island was only 17 miles long and 9 miles wide at its widest points, but it must have been a beautiful sight to these forlorn sailors who had battled the sea for so many days. It was located 60 miles south of Sic´ily and was known as literally a barren rock. It is now owned by England and is noted for its honey and fruit. There is a creek, as Luke described, that is two miles deep and one mile wide. Presently there is a landing in Malta called “St. Paul’s Bay.”
When Paul and passengers reached this island, the barbarous people were kind to them. Since it was raining and cold, they built a fire. Paul, desiring to help, gathered up a bundle of sticks to place on the fire when a viper came out of the heat and fastened itself on Paul’s hand.
However, Paul shook off this deadly thing and felt no harm. The people just knew that he would fall over dead, and that he must be a murderer who was being punished. They were puzzled that he had even escaped from the sea. However, when he did not feel the effects of it, they changed their minds and thought of him as a god.
Have you noticed that Paul traveling on all these journeys, took his life step by step? He knew that there were many difficult roads and seas to cross, but he just took each episode of life as a challenge to face it with God. Can you imagine Paul sitting down and trying to work out every detail? No, he just moved forward letting God guide his steps. Even though the way ahead looked dark, with God, Paul always had enough light for the present. One writer put it this way:
Until you walk in the light of what you have, you will never get more light. God’s guidance is like the light on a miner’s hat, which throws a beam six feet ahead. Unless you walk that six feet, you will never see more of the path before you. So God’s guidance is step by step.” —Bruce Larson.
At this stop, Paul was able to perform a miracle on the father of the chief man of the island. His name was Pub´lius, and he was very ill with a fever and dysentery (vs. 28). This was the beginning of many miracles performed by Paul on this island.
This stop lasted three months as they hoped and waited for better sailing. It was customary for ships to stay off of the sailing routes through the winter. Thus, they could not leave until such had been accomplished and another ship present and ready to sail. It so happened that a ship from Alexan´dria had wintered there, and Paul was able to shortly be back on the water. Before leaving, he received many honors and necessities from the people on the Island of Mel´ita (Malta).
As this great missionary spent these months waiting to sail to Rome, he was busy in the work of the Lord. He performed many miracles on this island, and must have preached scores of sermons. Even though Paul is on his last major journey and his body is no doubt showing its age, his inner man was growing stronger each day. This should certainly be true of all aging Christians.
When in his eighties, John Quincy Adams was accosted by a friend. “Well, how is Mr. Adams?”
The statesman replied, “John Quincy Adams is very well, sir, but the house he is living in is fast decaying. The underpinning is shaky, the windows are clouded, and the roof not so strong as it once was, and, the fact is, John Quincy Adams is preparing to move into a new habitation.”
Paul wrote: “For which cause we do not faint, but though our outward man is
perishing, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Syr´acuse (Acts 28:12)
On this new ship, they traveled some 80 miles to the Island of Sicily where they stopped at its principle city, Syr´acuse, on its eastern coast. At one time this city was boasted as the largest and richest owned by the Greeks anywhere in the world. It was an excellent place for ships to stop with a good landing and a huge fountain giving forth plenty of good fresh water.
Even though they remained here three days, Luke does not mention whether or not Paul found brethren or just what Paul did. The delay may have come from awaiting the proper wind.
The great fountain at this stop may have reminded the apostle of Jesus the water of life (John 4:10,13,14). This fountain with all of its beauty will fade away with the passing of time, but Jesus, the water of life, is an eternal spring. Paul had spent his whole ministry offering the living water from Jesus to sinners. Our only hope today is to drink from His eternal fountain.
The fountain of life is offered
By the Christ so lovingly
The cost to Him
was Calvary
But to us, it is free.
We must drink
of its splendor
Overcoming sin and strife
It is then a
stream of healing
Bringing forth eternal life.
—B.B. Bristow
Rhe´gium (Acts 28:13,14)
After they cut loose from this island, they sailed to Rhe´gium. As they arrived at these straits, they reached the toe of the big book of It´aly. Ships bearing grain used it, and this seaport was noted for its hot springs. The people of Rome believed that these springs possessed certain healing powers.
It also had a great amphitheatre and a temple of Serapis. Ruins of these can still be found today. Many famous historical persons traveled here, but who could say that any of them were nearly as great as the Apostle Paul who spent a week here with the brethren.
It
is interesting to note that brethren began to hear of Paul’s arrival in It´aly
and came as far as Ap´pii Fo´rum and the Three Inns. This was a great treat for
the apostle, and he alone, could truly describe what it meant to him. Luke
simply says that he “thanked God and took courage” (vs. 15).
How refreshing it must have been to this man of God to have fellowship once again with Christian brethren. It must have spiritually refreshed him as all of nature is refreshed by morning’s early dew. Can you imagine their conversations about Christ and the fervent prayers they prayed together? Paul’s body may have been tired and worn, but his inward self must have glowed with God’s beauty.
In old times on May first, it was an annual custom in London for thousands of inhabitants to resort early to the fields to bathe their faces with the dew upon the grass. It was a superstitious custom resting upon the belief that thus they would become beautiful.
Rome (Acts 28:16-31)
It is believed that Paul approached Rome by the famous Appian Way. At this point he was entering the most famous and powerful city of that time. Without a doubt, Rome had played a great part in preparing the way for Christianity. Such factors as good roads, opening of world trade, universal law, common coinage, and pirates removed from the Mediterranean Sea, were very important.
Not only had Rome flourished, but also she had taken in many other parts of the world and made them provinces of Rome. At this time, the known world was closer together than ever before. There were also many Jews in Rome at this time and they had seven synagogues. However, Paul could not visit a single one of them since he was in prison, but we are told that the Jews came to him. Paul was privileged to have privacy except for a soldier who kept him.
The city of Rome was filled with every imaginable sin, but Paul had a message about the cleansing blood of Christ that would bring forgiveness. Those who would repent and change from their old way of life while completing their obedience to the Lord would be saved.
God
will not receive a sinner who continues purposefully in his old way of life.
The true repentance leads one to show God his love, sincerity, and obedience.
Wherever Paul went, (even here in Rome) he called upon sinners to turn and show
by their lives that they were new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
“I got tired lugging that wheelbarrow for grandmother while she was changing her plants,” Ned said to his mother, recounting the day’s events at bedtime, “and I said: ‘I wish there wasn’t another speck of this hateful dirt in all the world!’ But then afterwards I ‘apologized.”
“I’m glad of that,” said his mother, “Did you tell her you were sorry?”
“No, ma’am; that is not the kind grandmother likes best,” said Ned. “I got another wheelbarrow full and just said: ‘Don’t you want some more of this nice dirt, grandmother?’ And then we were all right again.”
So God likes a repentance that changes the life.
After three days of rest, Paul was ready to work and called the Jews together to inform them of why he was in Rome. He was not there to harm them or to speak harshly against the Jewish race, but it was the only way he could save his life by appealing to Cæ´sar. Then he told them how he would have been set free except for the Jews at Jerusalem.
As Paul spoke to these Jews, he was honest with them. He did not leave out some of the truth hoping to gain their praise. A true Christian will tell the truth at all cost, and sooner or later will realize that “truth” is the best policy in every way.
A young man came once to borrow $10,000 from H.B. Claflin, the New York merchant.
“Come in,” said Mr. Claflin, “come in and have a glass of wine.”
“No,” said the young man. “I don’t drink.”
“Have a cigar, then.”
“No, I never smoke.”
“Well,” said the joker, “I would like to accommodate you, but don’t think I can.”
“Very well,” said the young man, as he was about to leave the room. “I thought perhaps you might...Good–day, sir.”
“Hold on,” said Mr. Claflin, “you don’t drink?”
“No!”
“Nor smoke, nor gamble, nor anything of the kind?”
“No, sir!”
“Well,” said Mr. Claflin, with tears in his eyes, “you shall have it, and three times the amount, if you wish. Your father let me have $5,000 once and asked me the same question. No thanks; I owed it to you for your father’s sake.” —Selected.
They said that they had not received any letters against him, but evidently they had heard of the work he had done since they referred to Christianity as being a sect, and wanted to know more about it.
Perhaps their desire to hear was to satisfy their own curiosity, but after Paul had preached to them from morning until evening, some believed him. However, as had been the case so often in Paul’s work, there were those who rejected and Paul was reminded of the prophet Isaiah who said:
“Go
to this people, and say, ‘Hearing you will hear, and will not understand; and
seeing you will see, and not perceive; for the heart of this people has become
dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest
they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with
their heart and turn again, and I should heal them” ‘ (vss. 26,27).
Even on the occasions where Paul failed to turn sinners to the Lord, he could lie down at night with the assurance that he had given the effort his best. We often fail today in soul–saving because we do not do our best. After we have given most of our strength to everything else in life, we give what is left to soul–winning. Paul, however, when teaching the gospel gave himself as an offering—a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1).
The story is told of a boy who had a dog and one day he cut out a fine piece of the tenderloin steak upon his plate and put it to one side for his dog. When he told his mother the purpose for which he was saving it, she remonstrated with him and insisted upon his eating it. When the meal was over, there was, as usual, nothing but scraps for the dog. The boy took them to his pet with this explanation: “Fido, I wanted to bring you and offering, but mother interfered and it is only a collection.”
This gave the Jews something to think about as Paul let them know that the gospel was also sent to the Gentiles. For two years Paul received people in his rented house and preached the kingdom of God and Christ.
In addition to his teaching, letters were written and sent. Luke ends the story from the book of Acts, but we know that Paul will eventually die in Rome.
As
he penned a letter to his son in the gospel, Tim´othy, he said: “For I am
now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought
a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all those who
love His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Even as this great apostle faced death, there was joy in his words as he longed for eternal life: “henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.” As he thought of his victory crown, this unselfish man did not forget others who would love His appearing. Paul had been saved as chief of sinners, and wanted the world to know that the Lord’s great invitation was still offered.
The
message of Paul and the New Testament is: “Whoever will may come.”
The wretched woman of the town resolved to go back home and live a better life. One wild night she reached her father’s house and knocked. She herd steps and voices within, but the door remained bolted. Presently the voices ceased, the steps receded, the light moved up the stairway. Penitent though she was, her home was closed against her.
Not so with our Heavenly Father; rather, He calls unto all to come. He waits to be gracious and welcomes every returning prodigal. —Burrell. —BBBristow