Thursday, January 31, 2008

Acts 27

Paul now sails towards Rome, home of Caesar.  He is with other prisoners under a sort of house arrest. Paul gets to be visited by his friends in the churches he started and local Christians. Notice the trip narrative uses "us." Luke must have went along to tend to Paul even though Luke was not under arrest.

Paul tells the ship crew that they will come to a disastrous end if they continue at sea. No one listens to him.  A storm of hurricane strength comes. The crew throws things overboard and becomes hungry. Hope was lost. Paul, after reminding them that he was right, tells the crew that everything will be okay. Have faith. An angel (messenger of God) told him so. Some of the crew tried to sneak off the boat. Paul tells the ship that all must stay on in order to be saved. In an incredible act of faith (or stupidity,) the crew listens to Paul and sheds the lifeboats.

Paul encourages the crew to eat (some shades of a Eucharist in his meal?) They even threw the extra grain overboard! The ship finally runs aground. Rather than killing all of the prisoners, the crew let's them live. All are saved.

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