Luke the beloved physician 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 in chapter twenty-seven and verse thirteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “when the south wind blew softly … they sailed close by Crete” where we read:
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose,
loosing there, they sailed close by Crete.
The verse begins, “And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when the south wind blew softly” which means “and at the time and moment the streams of air breathed gently like a breeze”, “supposing” or “of the opinion, thinking and determining” “that they had obtained” which means “that the master, owner and overseers of the boat seized, laid hands on and retained” “their purpose” or “the setting forth and proposal of the captain and the overseers of the ship”. Luke shared how a “soft breeze” blew from the south, and this caused the master and owner of the ship as well as those with them to believe their proposal to leave the harbor at “The fair havens” was correct and right.
The verse goes on to say, “... loosing there, they sailed close by Crete.” Luke continued with the words, “loosing there” which means “setting the ship free from the harbor at The fair havens”, “they sailed” or “the master, owner, overseers, Paul and the others set sail and voyaged” “close by Crete” which means “nearby to Crete whose name means fleshly and was the largest and most fertile island of the Mediterranean archipelago or Aegean Sea, now the modern Candia”. Luke shared how the master of the ship and the others with them agreed to leave the harbor of “The fair havens”, so they launched the boat and began sailing nearby “Crete”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how a “soft breeze” from the south convinced the master and owner of the ship and the others with them agreed to leave the harbor at “The fair havens” and set sail toward “Phenice” located in “Crete”. So far, so good for those who made this decision, but they would soon change their minds. God's plan was coming together, and “Paul” was destined to go to “Rome” to share the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of mankind, and anyone who submits themselves to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Those who are wise carefully examine all the details to “Paul's” travels, and yield themselves to Jesus who was leading him all the time.
Next time Luke shares how, “there arose against it a tempestuous wind”, 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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