Act 27:21 | KingComments | STEP | When all resources are gone, God remains. He steers the ship to where He wants it. Now the way is opened for Paul to stand up as a representative of God. He stands up in their midst. Here we see a situation arise that the Word of God becomes central again. If no food has been provided for a long time, the Word regains nutritional value. Here we see the ‘sola Scriptura’, only the Scriptures, of the Reformation. Here the hope of being saved reappears ( ). When Paul begins to speak, he first recalls their refusal to listen to him, their disobedience. The Word first says what went wrong. Do we as a church listen to the Lord Jesus when He says to us that we have done something wrong? Paul does not say this to impress upon them how stupid they have been, but to make clear the true reason for the misery in which they find themselves. Everyone had to understand that he was right and that their attempts have all failed. If they acknowledge that all their wisdom is gone, that they are at their wits’ end ( ), they will now be happy to continue listening to him and obeying his commands. Tough times in our personal and communal lives can sometimes be avoided if we listen to God’s Word. Paul only begins to speak after he has had a message from God, not before. Not only does he have reproach, but he also has words of encouragement ( ). In the midst of the expectation of death, come words of hope and life. He encourages them by predicting that all will make it out alive. Only the Alexandrian ship will be lost. In this history we see the saying come true: “God did not promise us a calm journey, but He did promise a safe arrival.” In the words of Paul to the people of the ship we hear the certainty for the believer that no power can separate him from the love of Christ and from the love of God ( ). Paul explains why he can speak in this way. He was visited by a messenger of God, Who is the God Whose complete possession he is, the God Whom he serves with all that he is and has. In these circumstances this is a significant testimony. He tells about the promise he received personally from that God. He can also tell that God has promised that all those who sail with him will also be saved. Through the faithfulness of true Christians, salvation has often come for many, both for sinners and deviated believers. He who sails with Paul, that is to say, who lives in accordance with what Paul has written, will arrive safe with Paul. In he repeats his exhortation of to keep up their courage. The confidence of faith is expressed. We see this in reformers who have rediscovered Scripture. It is the courage of faith in Scripture. God’s Word is reliable, trustworthy. That does not mean that there will be no more difficulties and that they do not have to do anything themselves. Nor does it mean that God gives all the details and there are no more surprises. God always tells us so much that we can trust Him to bring us home safely, while He also hides things to keep us dependent on Him. Paul doesn’t know the name of the island. He says no more than he was told by God. So the one thing that remains is the look up to Him. The journey is not yet over. The reformation is not the end. A new night begins, without light.

‏ Acts 27:21

Hope Is Glowing

When all resources are gone, God remains. He steers the ship to where He wants it. Now the way is opened for Paul to stand up as a representative of God. He stands up in their midst. Here we see a situation arise that the Word of God becomes central again. If no food has been provided for a long time, the Word regains nutritional value. Here we see the ‘sola Scriptura’, only the Scriptures, of the Reformation. Here the hope of being saved reappears (Acts 27:22).

When Paul begins to speak, he first recalls their refusal to listen to him, their disobedience. The Word first says what went wrong. Do we as a church listen to the Lord Jesus when He says to us that we have done something wrong? Paul does not say this to impress upon them how stupid they have been, but to make clear the true reason for the misery in which they find themselves. Everyone had to understand that he was right and that their attempts have all failed. If they acknowledge that all their wisdom is gone, that they are at their wits’ end (Psa 107:27), they will now be happy to continue listening to him and obeying his commands. Tough times in our personal and communal lives can sometimes be avoided if we listen to God’s Word.

Paul only begins to speak after he has had a message from God, not before. Not only does he have reproach, but he also has words of encouragement (Deu 31:6-7 ; 23). In the midst of the expectation of death, come words of hope and life. He encourages them by predicting that all will make it out alive. Only the Alexandrian ship will be lost. In this history we see the saying come true: “God did not promise us a calm journey, but He did promise a safe arrival.” In the words of Paul to the people of the ship we hear the certainty for the believer that no power can separate him from the love of Christ and from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39).

Paul explains why he can speak in this way. He was visited by a messenger of God, Who is the God Whose complete possession he is, the God Whom he serves with all that he is and has. In these circumstances this is a significant testimony. He tells about the promise he received personally from that God. He can also tell that God has promised that all those who sail with him will also be saved. Through the faithfulness of true Christians, salvation has often come for many, both for sinners and deviated believers. He who sails with Paul, that is to say, who lives in accordance with what Paul has written, will arrive safe with Paul.

In Acts 27:25 he repeats his exhortation of Acts 27:22 to keep up their courage. The confidence of faith is expressed. We see this in reformers who have rediscovered Scripture. It is the courage of faith in Scripture. God’s Word is reliable, trustworthy. That does not mean that there will be no more difficulties and that they do not have to do anything themselves. Nor does it mean that God gives all the details and there are no more surprises. God always tells us so much that we can trust Him to bring us home safely, while He also hides things to keep us dependent on Him. Paul doesn’t know the name of the island. He says no more than he was told by God. So the one thing that remains is the look up to Him. The journey is not yet over. The reformation is not the end. A new night begins, without light.