The beloved physician Luke wrote, “when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart there also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lies toward the south west and north west. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing there, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat. Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse nineteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship” where we read:
And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
The verse begins, “And the third day we cast out with our own hands ...” Luke began with the words, “and the third day” which means “and on the third sunrise to sunset” “we cast out” or “we, Luke, Paul and the others on the ship threw overboard” “with our own hands” which means “by use of their own physical hands” the following. Luke shared after three days of being assaulted by the violent winds, he, Paul and the others on the ship began to throw the following items overboard.
The verse goes on to say, “... the tackling of the ship.” Luke continued with the words, “the tackling” which means “any apparatus, equipment, furniture and utensils” “of the ship” or “belonging to the sailing vessel or boat”. Luke shared how everyone on the ship began to throw equipment, furniture and utensils overboard.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the ship needed to be “lightened” even more because of the fierce winds. Though they previously threw cargo overboard, they began to toss anything that added weight to the ship over the side. In other words, conditions were getting worse, and those upon the ship were employed to cast anything other than people out of the boat. We should keep in mind that God was allowing all these things, and even when things looked their worst, He was with them because “Paul” was destined to go to “Rome” to share His gospel of salvation through His Son Jesus with the people there. God loves people, and when they submit to His Son Jesus, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Those who are wise surrender their lives to Jesus even when the most dire of circumstances arise.
Next time Luke shares how, “all hope that we should be saved was then taken away”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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