The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul was to be sent to Rome after he defended himself for charges brought against him by the Jewish religious leaders, and he shared, “it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse four of the book of Acts Luke shared, “when we had launched from there, we sailed under Cyprus” where we read:
And when we had launched from there, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
The verse begins, “And when we had launched from there, we sailed under Cyprus, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when we had launched from there” which means “and at the time and moment Luke, Paul and the others traveling with them navigated, departed and set sail from Sidon”, “we sailed” or “Luke, Paul and the others traveling with them set sail or voyaged by ship” “under Cyprus” which means “beneath Cyprus whose name means love a blossom and was a very fertile and delightful island of the Mediterranean, lying between Cilicia and Syria”. Luke shared how he, Paul and the others traveling with them set sail from “Sidon” and journeyed beneath the island of “Cyprus”.
The verse continues, “... because the winds were contrary.” Luke added the words, “because the winds” which means “since and on account that the violent agitation and streams of air” “were contrary” or “were tempestuous, antagonistic and opposing them”. Luke shared the reason he, Paul and the others traveling with them sailed “under Cyprus” was on account that the “streams of air” were tempestuous and antagonistic” against them.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn more about the journey by ship of him, Paul and the others who were sailing toward Rome. At this point they were beneath the island of “Cyprus” because the “winds” were antagonistic to the ship. Although God's purpose and resolve was for “Paul” to share the gospel of His Son Jesus in “Rome”, it did not mean there would not be adversity along the way. Many times “winds” are “contrary” to those who spread the good news of salvation, forgiveness of sins and eternal life through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and even so, the message must go on. “Paul” will eventually make it to “Rome”, but for now, let us consider when antagonism and adversity arise, let us not resign to that which is “contrary” but rather “sail on” toward that which God has in mind and intends to do.
Next time Luke shares, “when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia”, 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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