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 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 in chapter twenty-seven and verse eighteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the next day they lightened the ship” where we read:
And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
The verse begins, “And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, ...” Luke began with the words, “and we being exceedingly tossed” which means “and we, Luke, Paul and the others with them on the ship were extremely cast, thrown and moved about” “with a tempest” or “with a gale or storm”. Luke shared how he, Paul and the others on the ship were moved about with an extreme force of wind.
The verse continues, “... the next day they lightened the ship;” Luke added the words, “the next day” which means “the following sunrise to sunset” “they lightened the ship” or “he, Paul and the others threw overboard the goods and lading on the sailing vessel or boat”. Luke shared how the sailors and others on “the ship” made it lighter by throwing their goods and cargo overboard.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see how the first part of “Paul's” warning to the “centurion” and master of the ship came true. The winds were so violent that the ship had to be “lightened” by throwing their goods and cargo overboard. Step by step God's plan for “Paul” was being fulfilled, and although “Paul” would endure these troubles on the ship, he was destined by God to go to “Rome”. God loves people, and even when His ways are not direct and easy, those who yield to His Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life regardless of whatever winds oppose them.
Next time Luke shares, “the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship”, 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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