Aug 9th

Ruth 2     Jeremiah 37     Acts 27     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Luke’s detailed account of the shipwreck leaves us in no doubt that he was one of those on board. As he writes, the memory is so vivid that he is able to record many minor details of the story but the outstanding features are the conduct of Paul and the overriding protection of God. Unusually for him, Luke doesn’t tell us of the fear of his shipmates, nor of their amazement at their final escape, but we can well imagine the sheer terror of the centurion and the soldiers, let alone the prisoners, as the storm lashed their fragile craft and put their lives in severe danger. Two interesting things didn’t happen. Firstly Paul didn’t warn of the perils of the journey before they left, so it was as if God allowed them to get into this situation to show his power, and help those involved to trust him afterwards. Might this be a reason he similarly allows us to get into a ‘storm’ now and again? Secondly, Paul might have reasoned, ‘Jesus calmed the storm; is that what he wants me to do here?’ but he didn’t. Instead he waited for God’s solution, and it came. Then Paul was resolute, daring to tell the centurion and his men what to do. Such was his authority that they trusted him, without questioning the story about the angel, and in doing so they were saved, although all Paul had to look forward to was being tried in front of Caesar. Some reward! Death by drowning might have been preferable, but his resolve, reminiscent of Jesus setting his face towards Jerusalem, showed his complete trust in God’s purposes. An inspiring story. No wonder Luke remembered it so well.

(member of the PCC)