Luke the beloved physician wrote how he, Paul, and others with him were sailing toward Rome, “and we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse forty of the book of Acts Luke shared, “when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea” where we read:
And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
The verse begins, “And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when they had taken up” which means “and at the time and moment the shipmen had removed and expiated” “the anchors” or “the crooked iron weights which were provided with a stock and had two teeth-like extremities often but by no means without flukes”, “they committed themselves” which means “the seamen allowed, permitted and let their own selves go” “unto the sea” or “toward the direction of the sea waters and winds”. Luke shared how the sailors aboard the ship lifted the “anchors” from the stern of the boat and allowed the ship to be driven on its own by the sea.
The verse continues, “... and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.” Luke added the words, “and loosed the rudder bands” which means “and relaxed and loosened the tiller-ropes or fastening straps to ship's blade of an oar used as a pedal or helm”, “and hoisted up the mainsail” or “and lifted, raised and poised the top-sail or foresail of a ship” “to the wind” which means “toward the stream of air”, “and made toward shore” or “and progressed toward the sea shore or beach”. Luke shared how the sailors aboard the ship loosened the straps which were restraining the steering mechanism of the ship, they raised the top-sail toward the stream of air and progressed toward the seashore.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the sailors aboard the ship began to prepare the ship to be set free to sail toward the seashore they discovered. They took up the “anchors”, allowed the sea to drive them, raised the top-sail, loosened the rudder helm and set the ship toward the seaside. Their hope was to make it to land and be rescued from the storm. We shall see how their plan works in our next few verses, but for now let us keep in mind God's promise to “Paul” that he would bear witness of Him in “Rome”. God's desire was to spread the gospel throughout the world, and everyone is invited to receive Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Anyone who yields to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who consider the setting free of this ship to be driven to land understand this was all part of God's plan to offer eternal salvation to the world.
Next time Luke shares how, “falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground”, 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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