Acts 27:1-12 – When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. 3 The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. 4 From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8 We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. 9 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, 10 “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.” 11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.
“Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement.” As previously mentioned, they were late in the season either into September or October, past the season for safe sailing.
“So Paul warned them, 10 “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.” 11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.”” Did Paul receive a divine revelation about coming trouble (that did come to transpire)? Or did Paul, though not a professional sailor, but had traveled previously by sea, just express a commonly known fact that at that time it was dangerous to be at sea. It sounds like the centurion had a strong voice, if not a determining one, about whether to sail of not. Instead of heeding Paul’s advice, he heeded the advice of the pilot and the owner of the ship. If the advice from Paul was not divine, then surely the pilot and owner of the ship would have known what he said was true. They, being the experienced sailors, could weigh all the factors and decide. Besides, the centurion could have wondered if Paul was having second thoughts and trying to delay his arrival in Rome. After all, if the circumstances they were to face were naturally foreseeable why would the pilot and the owner of the ship risk the destruction of the ship, the death of those on board, and the loss of the cargo? Actually, as we see from this statement and Paul’s subsequent advice, and his sure knowledge about what would bring death and what would not, it is much more likely to deduce that the Lord was speaking to Paul, certainly we know that the Lord spoke to him.
People who are not of the Faith want to listen to scholars and experts. A wise decision on usual occasions. Sometimes though, the Lord gives wisdom to those who earnestly seek him and their words ought to be heeded. This is foolishness to the world (1 Corinthians1:18-25), but we are not of the world, we understand things of the Spirit. Right?
Family, since we love God, let’s trust Him. We show that we trust Him by seeking His counsel in all matters. (Psalm 32:8, 33:11, Proverbs 8:14) The wisdom of seeking the counsel of the Lord will be shown in our lives by our actions and by the blessings of God in our lives. God is good and He loves us…all the time! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”