“If Not for The Courage of the Fearless Apostle” (Acts 27:1-28:10)

The Shipwreck (27:1-44)

The detainment of Paul is one of a friendly prisoner relationship. Julius allows him to meet with friends at Sidon. They switch ships in verse 6, but the problem was that it was too late in the season for safe travel. The goal was to reach Phoenix (not Arizona), but they don’t make it. Southeast of Crete, they are blown way off course (for fourteen days!) and end up shipwrecked on Malta. Paul had advised them not to leave Crete, but they went on anyway. He does tell them to take courage, that all the passengers would make it. Giving the word of assurance and comfort to people in distress is an important ministry. You and I live in very anxious times, where the spirit of fear is dominant. Speaking the word of peace and being an unanxious presence in challenging situations can be one of our most powerful moments of ministry. Though no sermon is preached, the act of giving thanks would have been a strong and comforting point of witness.

“Ministry on Malta” (28:1-10)

In West Virginia, snake-handling is still a practice of some of the religious folk. The watching crowd goes from thinking the gods were against Paul to thinking he was a god himself (when the poisonous vipers bite has no affect on him). This reminds me of the closing verses of Mark’s gospel, which many believe to be an extension from a later writing in 16:17-18, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people and they will get well.” Paul’s last ministry stop before getting to Rome is a great time of miracles for the governor’s father and everyone else on the island. In Acts 1:8, Christ says that his disciples would be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth. The shipwrecked folks must have felt they at the end of the earth, but even there the power of God was at work.