FRIDAY February 23, 2024
Setting Sail
And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.
Acts 27:1-2
Paul already knew he would not die at the hands of the Jews who hated him. In Ephesus, Paul shared his plans. He purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome” (Acts 19:21). God had already spoken to him––he had peace.
Paul also knew in his heart he would not be set free by Festus, the Roman Governor. Despite his chains, he was excited at the God-given opportunity to preach the Gospel before royalty––King Agrippa and Queen Bernice. Paul, as a Roman citizen, had appealed to Caesar. He would travel to Rome.
Paul was delivered into the hands of a centurion named Julius. It is thought that this same young man stood at Nero’s right hand. He was responsible to bring Paul before Caesar Nero. As we complete Acts 27 and 28, we shall see that Paul becomes a great counselor and a strong leader to all those who were responsible to take him to Rome. We shall see him as a good encourager in times of trial and great danger.
Led by the Holy Spirit, at one point on the journey to Rome, Paul urged the men not to travel because it was monsoon season when high winds and typhoons made traveling dangerous. However, the centurion listened to others, and the ship set sail among the shallow waters, but they would encounter a terrifying typhoon.
In Acts 28, we see Paul as a helper. Finally, the Apostle will stand up and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ like you have never heard him before.
I preached as never sure to preach again and as a dying man to dying men.
~D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
