Luke the beloved physician 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 in chapter twenty-seven and verse thirty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared, “while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, ...” Luke began with the words, “and while the day was coming on” which means “and during the time the sunrise to sunset happened and came to pass”, “Paul besought them all” or “Paul, whose name means small or little, begged, desired, craved and entreated each, every, the whole and everyone aboard the ship” “to take meat” which means “to eat food or rations”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. Luke shared how daytime was finally appearing, and Paul encouraged everyone on the ship to eat some food by saying the following words.
The verse goes on to say, “... This day is the fourteenth day that you have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.” Luke continued with the words, “this is the fourteenth day” which means “this particular sunrise to sunset exists as the fourteenth sunrise to sunset” “that you have tarried” or “that you, people aboard the ship, have waited, hoped and been in expectation” “and continued fasting” which means “and have thoroughly been without food and substance”, “having taken nothing” or “and have received not one morsel of food”. Luke shared how “Paul” reminded everyone aboard the ship that “fourteen” days had passed since they had eaten any food.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” once again was directing the activities of the people aboard the ship. Though they were in a storm, approaching rocks in the seabed and continuing to experience the effects of the winds, “Paul” knew they needed to be nourished for what they were soon to experience. God's hand was over all these things, and even the “eating of food” at this time was according to His plan to send “Paul” to “Rome”. The gospel of Jesus Christ was to be spread throughout the world, and because God loves people, He desires to forgive their sins that separate them from Him and grant them everlasting life with Him in Heaven. Those who carefully examine the details of this voyage will see how much God loves people, and when they surrender to His Son Jesus Christ, they align with His plan and purpose for all who believe.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “I pray you to take some meat”, 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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