{"id":2156,"date":"2020-04-19T12:24:41","date_gmt":"2020-04-19T20:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=2156"},"modified":"2020-04-19T12:24:41","modified_gmt":"2020-04-19T20:24:41","slug":"devotion-acts-271-12-no-fear-have-ye-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=2156","title":{"rendered":"Devotion Acts 27:1-12 No Fear Have Ye Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acts 27:1-12<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/b>When it was decided that we\u00a0would sail for Italy,\u00a0Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.\u00a02\u00a0We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia,\u00a0and we put out to sea. Aristarchus,\u00a0a Macedonian\u00a0from Thessalonica,\u00a0was with us.\u00a0 3\u00a0The next day we landed at Sidon;\u00a0and Julius, in kindness to Paul,\u00a0allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.\u00a04\u00a0From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the\u00a0winds were against us.\u00a05\u00a0When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia\u00a0and Pamphylia,\u00a0we landed at Myra in Lycia.\u00a06\u00a0There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship\u00a0sailing for Italy\u00a0and put us on board.\u00a07\u00a0We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus.\u00a0When the wind did not allow us\u00a0to hold our course,\u00a0we sailed to the lee of Crete,\u00a0opposite Salmone.\u00a08\u00a0We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.\u00a0 9\u00a0Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. \u00a0So Paul warned them,\u00a010\u00a0\u201cMen, 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.\u201d\u00a011\u00a0But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.\u00a012\u00a0Since 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,\u00a0facing both southwest and northwest.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>When it was decided that we\u00a0would sail for Italy,\u00a0Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.<\/i>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt was decided.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Who decided?\u00a0\u00a0Governor Festus who was in charge of him and to whom he had appealed to Caesar.<\/p>\n

Other prisoners were on board also.\u00a0\u00a0The Roman soldiers who watched over Paul and the other prisoners were under a centurion name Julius.\u00a0\u00a0It is interesting that in the Bible (New Testament) centurions, for the most part, were all spoken of favorably.\u00a0\u00a0Julius, though not listening to Paul\u2019s advice one time (Vs 9-12<\/b>), was likewise kind, and seemingly respectful to Paul.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia,\u00a0and we put out to sea. Aristarchus,\u00a0a Macedonian\u00a0from Thessalonica,\u00a0was with us.<\/i>\u201d The home base of the ship they boarded was in northern Asia Minor on a bay of the Aegean Sea.\u00a0\u00a0It is believed that the captain of this ship desired to travel north to reach his base and then Paul and the prisoners would be transferred to another ship that would take them to Rome.<\/p>\n

Aristarchus being present is contended by some scholars.\u00a0\u00a0They wonder why he would be there and why someone they consider such a minor player would be mentioned.\u00a0\u00a0There are quite possibly, as derived from other scripture, other bigger names accompanying Paul, but they were not mentioned.\u00a0\u00a0Yet it should not be odd to anyone.\u00a0\u00a0Aristarchus was with Paul in Ephesus and was seized (as well as Gaius) by the Ephesians when they were really wanting Paul (Acts 19:29<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0After the riot at Ephesus, when Paul decided to go to Macedonia, Aristarchus was one of his companions (Acts 20:4<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0Paul also, in\u00a0Colossians 4:10<\/b>, mentions Aristarchus as being in prison with him in Rome when he wrote the epistle to the Colossians.\u00a0\u00a0Paul also includes Aristarchus as being with him during his Ephesian imprisonment (Philemon 1:24<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0It is a wonder why anyone would doubt that Aristarchus was with Paul on the ship.\u00a0\u00a0We see that Aristarchus was obviously often with Paul and importantly, that he was with when Paul was imprisoned in Rome, where Paul was headed.\u00a0\u00a0Why wouldn\u2019t he be mentioned as one who was with Paul?<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThe next day we landed at Sidon;\u00a0and Julius, in kindness to Paul,\u00a0allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.<\/i>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Again, modern so called biblical scholars question the biblical account as Luke wrote it.\u00a0\u00a0They protest that it is unlikely that the centurion would have allowed Paul the liberty to go with his friends.\u00a0\u00a0Yet, once again, is there any reason for the centurion, other than what might have been usual protocol, to make an executive decision here?\u00a0\u00a0Though not specifically said, it is very probable that a soldier was assigned to stay with Paul. True, it is not said that one was so assigned, but it also not said that one was not.\u00a0\u00a0Besides, it is much more likely that one would have been so assigned.\u00a0\u00a0We know that wherever Paul went, Paul presented the Gospel message to anyone who would listen.\u00a0\u00a0So it is no stretch to assume that Paul told the centurion that though it was obvious he was a prisoner of Rome, it was by his own request and also, and most importantly, by the will of God.\u00a0\u00a0Paul, by virtue of instruction from Jesus, would not have run away.\u00a0\u00a0It is very likely, knowing Paul, that he told the centurion why he was on the way to Rome, and from Paul\u2019s perspective, he was in chains because God had told him that he was to go to Rome to testify there (Acts 23:11<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0The centurion would have known that Paul could have been freed anytime in the past by simply reneging his desire to appeal his case to Caesar, so it didn\u2019t make sense that Paul would now flee.\u00a0\u00a0Though it was common for a ships passengers to be free to do as they please on land while cargo was loaded or unloaded (It could easily take a week or more), it was less likely concerning a prisoner.\u00a0\u00a0However God is the one who grants favor as He wills (Psalm 5:12, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 90:17<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0God within Paul was visible to an honest and discerning person.\u00a0\u00a0Paul\u2019s character was honest and strong to those who cared to see.\u00a0\u00a0This centurion was obviously honest, sincere and he was a discerning man whose choice to give Paul some liberty was borne out as a good decision.<\/p>\n

It is difficult for me to respect biblical scholars who doubt the content of God because of their profound two thousand years later surmising\u2019s and opinions.\u00a0\u00a0I understand some doubt as to the authenticity of some verses that are not because of content and doctrine, but because of document examination and comparison.\u00a0\u00a0What I don\u2019t respect is those who doubt doctrine because it conflicts with their lofty opinions.\u00a0\u00a0One who famously and egregiously did so was Martin Luther who rejected the book of James because he didn\u2019t understand that it, in fact, did not disagree with salvation by faith only.\u00a0\u00a0Beware the pride in any person who starts talking about himself doubting the Word of God because he does not agree with what it says.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cMe thinks\u201d that person does not need to remove scripture, but that person needs to change their own doctrine to fit scripture.<\/p>\n

Paul believed what Jesus told him about being His witness in Rome.\u00a0\u00a0He not only believed it, but wanted the Lord\u2019s will to be done.\u00a0\u00a0He did not run from his calling, but embraced it and believed that God was in control.\u00a0\u00a0God has not changed.\u00a0\u00a0The faithfulness of God to Paul is no different than His faithfulness to us.\u00a0\u00a0What God has said is what will happen.\u00a0\u00a0We know that and we rely on Him who is completely faithful. (2 Timothy 2:13, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:24<\/b>)\u00a0\u00a0We need not fear when imprisoned, or when facing the dangers of the open sea, or even the decisions of man.\u00a0\u00a0God is in control and we are in peace in the Lord.\u00a0\u00a0Praise God for His peace that is greater than any circumstance or decree of man. (Philippians 4:7<\/b>)\u00a0\u00a0Praise God!<\/p>\n

P<\/b><\/span>salm 150:6<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.\u00a0 Praise the Lord!<\/p>\n

Micah 7:7<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0But as for me, I watch\u00a0in hope\u00a0for the\u00a0Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear\u00a0me.<\/p>\n

Micah 6:8<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0He has shown You, O man, what\u00a0is\u00a0good; and what does the\u00a0Lord\u00a0require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God.<\/p>\n

Numbers 6:24-26<\/b>\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0Lord\u00a0bless you and keep you; 25\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0turn His face\u00a0toward you and give you peace.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Acts 27:1-12\u00a0–\u00a0\u00a0When it was decided that we\u00a0would sail for Italy,\u00a0Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.\u00a02\u00a0We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia,\u00a0and we put out to sea. Aristarchus,\u00a0a Macedonian\u00a0from Thessalonica,\u00a0was with…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1192],"tags":[82,1863,129,94,1874,1871,17,757,2036],"class_list":["post-2156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotion","tag-acts","tag-colossians","tag-corinthians","tag-micah","tag-numbers","tag-philippians","tag-psalm","tag-thessalonians","tag-timothy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2156"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2157,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2156\/revisions\/2157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}