Context No. 3045 of 4322 · Acts

Acts 27:9-20: in context

9When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them 10and said to them, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul. 12Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking southwest and northwest. 13When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore. 14But before long, a stormy wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon. 15When the ship was caught and couldn’t face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16Running under the lee of a small island called Clauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat. 17After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered the sea anchor, and so were driven along. 18As we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw things overboard. 19On the third day, they threw out the ship’s tackle with their own hands. 20When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days, and no small storm pressed on us, all hope that we would be saved was now taken away.

The voyage has grown dangerous, and Paul, a prisoner, warns that sailing on will bring loss of cargo, ship, and lives. But the centurion trusts the ship's captain and owner over Paul, and when a soft south wind blows, they take it as confirmation and set sail. Before long a violent storm, Euroclydon, seizes the ship. They throw the cargo and even the tackle overboard, and for many days no sun or stars appear, until all hope of being saved is abandoned.

Two things stand out. Paul's God-given discernment was ignored in favor of the experts and the pleasant-looking wind. A gentle south breeze fooled them into a decision that carried them straight into the storm; appearances and expert consensus are not always right. And then the storm strips away everything, cargo, tackle, and at last hope itself. Yet this is precisely where God, through Paul, is about to speak a word of rescue. God often lets human hope run all the way out before he shows his hand.

When a favorable wind tempts me past a warning, or when a storm strips away all hope, do I trust that God can still speak rescue into the place where hope has run out?

Sources

Acts 27:20: "When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days... all hope that we would be saved was now taken away."
Acts 27:25: "Cheer up! For I believe God, that it will be just as it has been spoken to me."
Psalm 107:29: "He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still."