“The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan” (Acts 27:42-43 NLT).

NEITHER SAILOR, NOR SOLDIER, BUT SERVANT OF JESUS

When it appeared that Paul and the 276 people aboard the ship would survive the storm, he and his fellow prisoners were threatened by the soldiers. Yet, even in this, God protected Paul, giving him favor with the commanding officer. The storm, the sailors and the soldiers, all at different times, had threatened Paul’s life, but God intervened every time. Not only did Paul survive, but all 276 passengers did as well.

Many a ship and all aboard have lost their lives in lesser storms on the Mediterranean Sea, but God had called Paul to go to Rome, and to Rome he would go. The way Paul faced the storm and encouraged his fellow passengers, gave him a platform to preach the gospel to all with great credibility.

Paul was neither a sailor nor a soldier, but a servant of Jesus. And because of this, he was given authority to lead the entire ship to safety and offer them even more, namely, eternal life.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we have been given power and authority by Your Son, Jesus. Help us to walk in this authority as we face life’s storms and the threats of others. Strengthen us to depend on Your power when ours is waning and gone. Give us influence so that every life in our circle hears the gospel and is saved. In Jesus’ name, amen.