shipwrecked

Good morning all,
Paul and his companions continue their adventures in today's reading. At this point the soldiers have become convinced that Paul is worth listening to; they even prevent the sailors from leaving because Paul tells them it will jeopardize their survival. We know listening to Paul is smart because we've been following him for quite a while, but think for a moment how strange it is for everyone to be taking direction from one of the prisoners. Of course given that, it's also strange that the soldiers would later consider killing the prisoners, but it's a good reminder that Paul really is a prisoner. Even though he is treated well most of the time he is at the mercy of various soldiers and sailors.

There's some interesting theological action here as well. Paul encourages everyone on the ship to eat by blessing and breaking bread for them. It's like God is using Paul to make this prison ship into a community through table fellowship. The final image of the passage, swimmers going ahead and those who can't swim making their way with anything they can find that floats is quite a visual. The story gives us an example of how God's purposes sometimes work themselves out in surprising ways.

God bless,
Sam

Acts 27:27-44
27When the fourteenth night had come, as we were drifting across the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. 28So they took soundings and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on they took soundings again and found fifteen fathoms. 29Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. 30But when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea, on the pretext of putting out anchors from the bow, 31Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and set it adrift.

33Just before daybreak, Paul urged all of them to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been in suspense and remaining without food, having eaten nothing. 34Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads.” 35After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat. 36Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves. 37(We were in all two hundred seventy-six persons in the ship.)

38After they had satisfied their hunger, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea. 39In the morning they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned to run the ship ashore, if they could. 40So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes that tied the steering-oars; then hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. 41But striking a reef, they ran the ship aground; the bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves. 42The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none might swim away and escape; 43but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44and the rest to follow, some on planks and others on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.