Paul’s appointment with Augustus Caesar at Rome.
276 persons in a ship consisting of prisoners and soldiers.
First century AD.
Sailing from Caesarea to Italy.
Contrary wind, sailing was dangerous.
Paul advised them, saying,
Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss,
Not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.
Nevertheless, the majority view prevailed and they sailed.
A tempestuous head wind arose, called EUROCLYDON.
Exceedingly tempest tossed.
Neither sun nor stars appeared for many days,
All hope that we would be saved was finally given up.
Paul, the lone voice –
And now I urge you to take heart for there will be no loss of life among you,
But only of the ship.
For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong
And whom I serve,
Saying, Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar;
And indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.
Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
However, we must run aground on a certain island.
Fourteenth night, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land.
Prayed for day to come.
And as sailors were seeking to escape from the ship,
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers,
Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.
Paul implored them all to take food for our survival.
Not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.
Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all;
And when he had broken it he began to eat.
They were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.
They observed a bay with a beach where two seas met.
The stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.
And the soldier’s plan was to kill the prisoners.
But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose.
They all escaped safely to the land and found out that the island was Malta.
The natives showed us unusual kindness.
They kindled fire and made us all welcome, because of rain and cold.
While Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire,
A viper came out and fastened on his hand.
Seeing this the natives said to one another,
No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea,
Yet justice does not allow to live.
He shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
They observed him for a long time and saw no harm come to him,
They changed their minds and said that he was a god.
Publius, a leading citizen of the island received us and entertained us courteously for three days.
Publius’s father lay sick of a fever and dysentery.
Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him.
The rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.
They also honoured us in many ways; and when we departed,
They provided such things as were necessary.
WHO MADE THE DIFFERENCE?
THE GOD TO WHOM I BELONG.
THE GOD WHOM I SERVE.
