SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/25/2018 9:05 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The Storm
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Acts
27:13-26
Message of the verses: “13 When a moderate
south wind came up, supposing that they had attained their purpose, they
weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, close inshore. 14
But before very long there rushed down from the land a violent wind, called
Euraquilo; 15 and when the ship was caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it
and let ourselves be driven along. 16 Running under the shelter of a small
island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under
control. 17 After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in
undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the
shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and in this way let
themselves be driven along. 18 The next day as we were being violently
storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo; 19 and on the third day they
threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 Since neither sun
nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us,
from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned. 21When they
had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said,
"Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from
Crete and incurred this damage and loss. 22 “Yet now I urge you to keep
up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only
of the ship. 23 “For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and
whom I serve stood before me, 24 saying,
’Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has
granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ 25 “Therefore, keep up your courage, men,
for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26 “But we
must run aground on a certain island."”
Paul
had told the leaders of the ship in a meeting that they should not have left
from where they were, and yet because of the centurion wanting to get the grain
on to Rome they would not listen to Paul and so when a moderate south wind came
up it was decided to leave thinking they would have clear passage to get to
Rome. Such was not the case as a great
storm came up and trouble was brewing for them.
The
storm was called “Euraquilo” and John MacArthur writes that this word is “a
hybrid word from the Greek word euros;
‘east wind,’ and the Latin word aquilo;
‘north wind.’ This powerful, dangerous
windstorm was dreaded by all who sailed the Mediterranean. When the ship was caught in it, and could not
face into the wind, the sailors had no choice but to give way to it, and let
themselves be driven along. Out of
control, the ship was just being pushed by the wind.”
We
next read that the ship came under the shelter of an island called Clauda, and
this gave the men of the ship time to get things ready for what lies ahead as
they were able to get the “ships boat” on board. This was like a life boat that was towed
along in good weather and then put on the ship when a storm came up. It was probably filled with water and so it
took a lot of effort to get it on board.
Luke says that “we” helped getting it on board, which probably refers to
all on board including the passengers.
Once on board the sailors tied it down with some cables to make sure
that it would stay put and not move about.
Next we read “fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of
Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor, and so let themselves be driven along.” MacArthur explains “The Syrtis was the
dreaded graveyard of ships off the North African coast. Although the Syrtis was still far away, the
sailors did not know how far, nor how far the storm might blow the ship. Lowering the sea anchor would act as a drag
and help prevent the ship from drifting that far south. Alternatively, the phrase translated ‘let
down the sea anchor’ may be translated ‘lowered the gear.’ In that case, the reference would be to
lowering the mainsail, which otherwise would be torn to shreds by the violent
wind. However the phrase is translated,
the sailors obviously did both—it would have been self-defeating to put out an
anchor with the mainsail still rigged.”
We
will continue looking at this portion of Scripture in our next SD.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Cornelius” (Acts 10:1-2).
Today’s Bible question: “Which tow Old Testament books tell the
history of the Jews after their return from the captivity in Babylon?”
Answer in our next SD.
9/25/2018 9:30 AM
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