The Book of Acts ~ Study Seventy-Five

"Lead Me Out of the Storm"


Acts 27:1-12 (NLT) When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia; it was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province.
   The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs. Putting out to sea from there, we encountered strong headwinds that made it difficult to keep the ship on course, so we sailed north of Cyprus between the island and the mainland. Keeping to the open sea, we passed along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, landing at Myra, in the province of Lycia. There the commanding officer found an Egyptian ship from Alexandria that was bound for Italy, and he put us on board.
   We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone. We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall, and Paul spoke to the ship’s officers about it.

Port of Sidon

   “Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul. And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure.

Myra in Lycia

Paul was put on a ship to head to Rome. We learn that Luke and Aristarchus ( from Thessalonica) and others accompanied him. A centurion named Julius of the Imperial Regiment was in charge. He was kind to Paul and allowed him to go to his friends in Sidon so they could take care of him while the ship was harbored there. After they left Sidon they sailed against the wind and finally docked in Myra, a town in Lycia. Julius found a ship that was sailing for Italy and put Paul and his men on the ship.

They made slow headway due to the winds and came to a place called Fair Havens near a town called Lasea. Time had been lost due to the incoming winter weather and Paul warned Julius that the trip would be disastrous and bring great loss to the ship and the cargo they were carrying. Julius the centurion chose to listen to the pilot of the ship to sail on to Phoenix (a harbor in Crete) and winter there. 

Who would take the advice of a prisoner? Julius the centurion didn't. Although he knew Paul and seem to respect him, he didn't think that Paul knew what would happen better than the pilot of the ship. By human reasoning this made sense. The pilot of the ship was experienced and thought that reaching Phoenix would be their best option to harbor for the winter.

In our lives there are times when God leads us opposite direction of what people who we respect advise us to go. It is so important that we communicate through prayer and study to know what God wants us to do. It is ok to ask advice from "experts" but we should always temper their advice with prayer.

2 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 

Paul was a prisoner held by Romans on his way to Rome to appeal to Caesar. However, he knew who was really in charge. He knew he belonged to God. God was leading him to Rome because Rome was considered to be the hub of the world. From Rome many, many more people would hear the Good News of Jesus. Nothing happened by mistake. God knew and allowed it to happen so His name would be glorified.

We too are lead in "triumphal Christ's procession" when we follow His will for our lives. He uses our lives to tell others about Him. Each step we take, as we are in tune with God's will, leads us to bring His name to those who don't know Him or are struggling with their faith.

How can God use you? Can you see where He has lead you and how He has used you? If you are struggling to know what to do in your life stop and ask Him. Wait for Him to lead you. Take steps of faith and keep your eyes on Him. He will see your acts of faith and lead you where He wants you to go.

Psalm 33:4 (NLT) For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.

Do you trust Him? Are you confused about the next step to take? Know this, God is faithful and you can trust Him. Others may fail you, but God never will. Trust Him.

Psalm 146:5-7 (NLT) But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners.

Sometimes we feel as if we are prisoners of our circumstances and see nothing but a shipwreck ahead. All we see is tragedy. When we keep our thoughts on Him and focus on His faithfulness, then we are no longer prisoners but children of the King. That doesn't mean that we won't face hard times. It means that God will see us through.

Are you hurting right now? Do you trust that God will see you through this storm you are facing or are in the midst of? Friend, I pray that you and I will keep praying and seeking our faithful God for He alone loves us fully and completely. Pray with me.

Dear Lord,
I am afraid of what lies ahead. I feel I am in a storm that will never let up. Please Lord, lead me through this. Show me your light to lead me out to level land. I believe that you hear and answer me. You are faithful and true. Guide me in your will. I love you Lord. I ask this all in Jesus' Name. Amen!