Everything that Paul told the crew would happen has happened. The ship has wrecked. They nearly died. It has been a hard journey. Paul’s words have proven true. You know what this means? Everyone on this ship now knows and believes that Paul is a man of God. His words have proven true. They believe him. It is important for in our lives to make sure that our walk matches our talk so that when we give witness to how good Jesus is, folks will trust and believe us, for they know our integrity. Paul’s walk and witness matched his talk. So should ours.

Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God’s Word.

If you’d like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up.

Click on the image above or this link to watch today’s video.

Read our passage here.

You can podcast this reflection here. You can subscribe through Spotify or Apple Podcasts as well.

Or, if you’d like to read the transcript of the video, keep reading!

Good morning! It’s wonderful to be with you on this Tuesday morning as we continue our journey through the book of Acts. Yesterday, we witnessed Paul’s warning about the impending trouble, and today, we will see that warning unfold. Our reading today covers from verse 13 to the end of chapter 27, which is verse 44. It’s a substantial portion, so let’s dive into the narrative.

As a moderate south wind started blowing, they believed they could achieve their goal. So, they weighed anchor and began sailing past Crete, staying close to the shore. However, a violent northeaster descended from Crete, and the ship, caught in its grip, couldn’t be turned head-on into the wind. Forced to yield, they were driven by the wind, seeking refuge under the lee of a small island called Cauda. Controlling the ship’s boat became a struggle, and, fearing they might run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and were driven further.

The storm pounded them relentlessly, leading them to throw cargo overboard on the second day and the ship’s tackle on the third. With no sight of sun or star for many days and a fierce tempest raging, hope of survival was abandoned. Paul, having been without food for a long time, stood up among them, advising that they should have listened to him, but now he urges them to keep up their courage, assuring them that there will be no loss of life but only of the ship. An angel of the Lord appeared to Paul, affirming God’s plan for him to stand before the emperor, granting safety to all sailing with him. Paul encourages them to have faith in God, and as he predicted, they run aground on an island.

After fourteen nights drifting across the Sea of Adria, suspicions arose among the sailors that land was near. They took soundings and, fearing they might hit rocks, cast four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak. When the sailors attempted to escape on the boat, Paul warned the centurion that their safety depended on everyone staying on the ship. The soldiers cut away the boat, and just before daybreak, Paul urged them to eat, assuring that none would lose a hair from their heads. After giving thanks to God, they all took food, totaling two hundred sixty-six persons on the ship.

When morning came, they didn’t recognize the land, but they noticed a bay on the beach. They cast off the anchors, loosed the ropes, and, hoisting the foresail, made for the beach. Unfortunately, striking a reef, the ship ran aground, with the stern breaking up due to the force of the waves. The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent their escape, but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, intervened. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first, and the rest followed on planks and pieces of the ship. In the end, everyone reached the land safely.

In this remarkable narrative, Paul’s vision proves true, but they lose everything except their lives. What’s particularly noteworthy is that throughout this ordeal, Paul’s integrity shines. His words and actions consistently align, making him a man of trust. This is a powerful reminder for us as Christians. Our integrity matters. If people can’t trust us in the small matters of life, how can they trust us when we talk about spiritual matters?

The angel’s assurance to Paul about standing before the emperor comes to fruition. Everyone on that ship now knows that Jesus, whom Paul talks about, is the real deal. They’ve seen Paul’s words proven right, and they trust him. Our prayer should be that we, too, are proved trustworthy in our lives, that our walk matches our talk. Let’s live lives of integrity, honesty, and faithfulness, so that when we speak about Jesus, our words are believed.

Thank you for joining us today. We have one more chapter left in Acts, and then we’ll conclude our study. If you have any suggestions for our next study, feel free to comment below or message me. Have a fantastic day, and I look forward to our last chapter in Acts. See you soon!