The beloved physician Luke 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 we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship. And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse twenty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “Sirs, you should have hearkened unto me” where we read:
But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, you should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
The verse begins, “But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, ...” Luke began with the words, “but after long abstinence” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover following an extended period of fasting from food” “Paul stood forth” or “Paul, whose name means small or little, began to stand” “in the midst of them” which means “in the middle of everyone on the ship”, “and said” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” the following words. Luke shared how “Paul” stood before everyone on the ship following an extended period of “fasting” from food, and he told them the following words.
The verse goes on to say, “... Sirs, you should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.” Luke continued with the words, “Sirs, you should have hearkened unto me” which means “men on the ship, it was necessary and needful that you, the centurion, the ship owner and master and others on the ship, listened to and obeyed me, Paul”, “and not have loosed from Crete” or “and not have set sail and voyaged from Crete whose name means fleshly and was the largest and most fertile island of the Mediterranean archipelago or Aegean Sea, now the modern Candia”, “and to have gained this harm and loss” which means “and to have acquired and gained the current infliction and violence of a tempest, detriment and damage”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the men upon the ship that they should have listened to and obeyed him when he told them not to leave “Crete” because they would not be experiencing their current violence and damage.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” seized the opportunity to speak to everyone on the ship after they endured lack of food and nourishment for many days. The first thing he did was to remind them about telling them they should have stayed in “Crete” because they would not be experiencing their troubles if they had obeyed him. “Paul” says more to them in the next verse, but for now let us be reminded that “Paul” was to travel to “Rome” and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. God was in control of “Paul's” life as well as those on the ship, and because He loves every person, He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Anyone who comes to Jesus and accepts Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will receive forgiveness of their sins and granted everlasting life with His Father God. Let all who read these words surrender to Jesus and understand He is well aware of every “storm” they endure.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “I exhort you to be of good cheer”, 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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