The beloved physician Luke wrote how he, Paul, and others with him were sailing toward Rome, and although Paul warned them not to leave Crete, they left anyway and a storm arose that eventually caused them to be “fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under color as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, you cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that you have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse thirty-seven of the book of Acts Luke shared how they, “were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls” where we read:
And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
The verse begins, “And we were in all in the ship ...” Luke began with the words, “and we were in all” which means “and the total number of we, Luke, Paul and the others each, every, the whole and everyone who existed and stayed” “in the ship” or “within the sailing vessel or boat”. Luke referred to the total number of every one of the people who remained aboard the sailing vessel.
The verse goes on to say, “... two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.” Luke continued with the words, “two hundred” which means “two hundred and” “threescore and sixteen souls” or “seventy six human beings and their seat of the feelings, desires, affections and aversions”. Luke shared how there were “two hundred and seventy six” people who were aboard the ship.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how there were two hundred and seventy six people on the ship sailing to “Rome”. This was no small crowd, and “Paul” was able to speak with them all. We shall see how they continue to struggle together to stay alive, but let us remember, God was watching over this ship because it was necessary for “Paul” to preach His “gospel” in “Rome”. God's preservation in this voyage is similar to His willingness to watch over people's lives to give them an opportunity to receive His salvation through His Son Jesus, and when they receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and watch over and lead them in His Kingdom. Let all who read these words “come” to Jesus and surrender the leading of their lives to Him.
Next time Luke shares how, “they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea”, 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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