Paul On the Way
Paul is on the way to Rome. Not by some exciting vacation, but as a prisoner. But in chains or out, he will spread the gospel.
We left Paul after he plead his case before Festus and King Agrippa. They would both have been happy to set him free, but Paul appealed to Caesar. This was part of God’s plan and a way to avoid the Jew’s plot to kill him. Let’s rejoin Paul as he begins the next leg of his journey.
Holy Spirit, thank You for bringing me back to our time together instead of allowing me to keep floundering in limbo. Show me Paul’s story by pointing out all the parts that bring it to life. Help me see Your hands clearly as You lead him to where God has planned for him to stand.
♥ ♦ ♥
Luke is staying at Paul’s side. He has not left him for months. He even stood in the back of the room as Paul plead his case before Festus and King Agrippa. Luke’s heart sored listening to Paul. He wondered if maybe Agrippa or Festus might actually become followers of the Way at some point. “Please Lord God, let it be so” he silently prays.
After returning to Herod’s palace, Paul and Luke celebrate the experience.
“I thought the Lord had Agrippa for a moment” Paul says with a shake of his head.
“Don’t give up. It may still happen yet. ‘Some sow, some water, and some reap’ as the Jesus Himself said.”
“I wonder what will happen in Israel when Agrippa does accept the gospel.”
“I don’t know, but I would love to see it in my lifetime” Paul says.
It takes two months to arrange passage for Paul and many prisoners to make their way to Italy. Festus ensures Paul’s safety by sending Julius, his most trusted centurion as guard.
“Julius, the prisoner Paul is not like the rest. If not for his appeal to Caesar, he would be a free man. Protect his life and see that he arrives at Caesar’s feet.”
“I have come to appreciate the man myself, my governor. I pledge my life to see him safely to his destination.”
The day the ship sets sail from Caesarea, there are 20 prisoners on board, including Paul. Luke and Aristarchus are allowed to accompany Paul on this journey. Julius has a contubernium accompany him on this journey. They are eight of the most bonded of soldiers, even sharing one tent during campaigns. Their job is to ensure the rest of the prisoners don’t escape. The most dangerous of the prisoners are chained to the oars in the ship’s hold. During tough seas, they will assist the crew in making headway towards their destination.
This is a well trained crew and excellent ship. Julius has no doubt that he will be able to deliver all his prisoners to their destination. There will be many stops along the way, but that just keeps the journey interesting.
The first day of sailing goes well. By evening, the ship docks in Sidon. It will be here all night as the crew unloads and takes on new cargo.
Paul and his friends talk on deck about the people in the region they know in the region
Julius overhears Paul’s musings. He truly likes Paul and he has no fear of him trying to escape. Paul is committed to standing before Caesar.
“Paul”, Julius calls from where he stands.
Paul turns to face him.
“If you would like, you can go and visit your friends while we are here in port. Be back at first light though as the captain wants to sail with the tide.”
Paul is touched by Julius’ kindness. “Thank you Julius. I am grateful for this gift. I will be back on time.”
Paul, Luke and Aristarchus disembark and head for the home where the believers gathered when Paul first came through. As they make their way through the city, Paul is immediately recognized.
“Brother Paul!” calls out a voice. “I wondered if we would ever see you again. What brings you here?”
The owner of the voice steps into the light and Paul is overjoyed to see his old friend Barnabas.
“I am sailing to Rome and my ship has docked for the night. We were hoping to visit with some of the brothers during our time here. Finding you only adds to my joy.”
The two embrace as long lost brothers. Both have tears in their eyes when their embrace finally breaks.
“I have missed you” Paul says.
“I also brother. I want to apologize…”
Before Barnabas can complete his apology, Paul starts his own.”
“Brother, I am so sorry for the way we parted.”
Barnabas shakes his head. “We both have grown since those days. Let’s move on.”
“Agreed.”
“I have heard many reports of your travels. I’m glad you kept pushing forward with the gospel.”
“I thought you were staying in Cyprus.”
“That is my homebase but I still travel at times. This just happens to be one of those times. It must be the hand of the Lord.”
“John Mark and I have come for a short visit.”
“Is he here with you now?” asks Paul.
“He is and you would not recognize him from the fresh youth he once was.”
“I would welcome a chance to spend time with him again.”
“I am supposed to meet up with him at the believer’s home. He was with a group ministering to the poor.”
John Mark approaches just as Barnabas finishes speaking.
“Did I hear my name…” John Mark’s eyes light up as he sees Paul. “Brother! It is good seeing you.”
Paul embraces John Mark as fiercely as he had Barnabas. After warm greetings, they continue on to the believer’s home where they are staying.
“I have heard good things about you. Tell me all of your adventures” Paul says as they walk along.
The group is welcomed into the home and brought to the table. They all sit comfortably among those in the house.
Paul, Barnabas, Luke, Aristarchus, and John Mark share a meal, visit and share stories long into the night. Shortly before morning, Paul calls their time to a halt.
“We have to be leaving soon. I promised my jailer that we would return to the dock before morning.”
“Is there no way you can remain with us?” asks John Mark.
“This is the path the Lord has laid out for me. I do not know if I will ever see you again, but I would love to spend more time hearing how the Lord is working in your life.”
“When you reach your destination, send for me, if I can be of any service. I will not fail you again.”
“Of that I have no doubt.”
Paul bids the brothers goodbye and returns to the ship.
“Paul. Right on time” Julius greets them. “Just as I knew you would.”
The ship sets sail with the tide, just as planned. The captain chooses to go around Cyprus in the channel between the island and the mainland. The winds prevented an open water crossing. After passing beyond the island of Cyprus, the ship sails past Cilicia and Pamphylia, finally landing at Myra in Lycia.
Everyone is relieved to be docking again, especially the ship’s captain. This is their final destination. Julian unloads all his charges; prisoners and soldiers. He ensures all are contained before going in search of another ship.
Julian finds an Alexandrian ship about to set sail.
“I have orders from Festus, governor of the province of Judea to transport a group of prisoners to Rome. We require passage.”
The captain of the ship knows better than to refuse a Roman centurion. Within the hour, the prisoners, guards, and Pauls’ friends are all on board. The ship sets sail with the later tide of the day.
The wind fights against the sails with ferocity. The ship struggles hard along the coast, including depending on the backs of its rowers. They finally make it to Cnidus. The captain takes on supplies during a brief stop.
In the morning, the captain sets sail again. The winds are no more favorable as the seasons are changing. All of his skill and determination cannot prevail against the winds. A new course is their only safe option. The captain sets his sights on the isle of Crete. This new course takes them on the south coast of Crete.
Days of struggling finally brings them safely to the port of Fair Haven. Everyone is relieved to be on dry land again. This journey has already lasted far longer than it should have and Julius is getting anxious to be done with it.
Although Paul is not a sailor, he knows that danger lies ahead if they continue. This has been revealed to him by the Lord. Yet, he faces the determination and fear of the pilot and captain. Julius is caught in the middle.
Paul shares the Lord’s warning with all those involved in this journey. “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also” (Acts 27:10).
“We cannot stay here” the captain insists. “The winter will beat the ship to pieces as this harbor has no protection. We MUST sail to the port Phoenix. We can make it. All we have to do is wait for the right moment to set off.”
“What happens when we reach Phoenix” asks Julius. “Do we sail on, or winter there?”
“We will need to wait out the winter, for safety.”
“Alright. Let’s do it then. No one leaves the ship. That way we will be all be ready at a moment’s notice.”
It takes five days before the weather calms to a gentle south breeze. The captain pulls up the anchor, raises the sails and begins to make his way up the coast. They have not gone far when the wind changes again. A hurricane wind, a Northeastern, descends on the island.
The wind drives the ship away from the coast. All hands do their best to return to the relative safety of the coastline, but it’s no use. They are dragged farther and farther away from their destination.
The ship is caught in the storm and cannot sail into the wind. It is at the mercy of the storm. The men struggle at the oars, fight to drop the large sails and raise the storm sails. It is controlled chaos all over the ship.
The longer the storm rages and the fiercer it gets, the less ‘controlled’ that chaos becomes. Men call out to their gods while they hang tightly to the railing to make their way from station to station. Water is filling up the hold where the rowers fight the raging seas. The prisoners call out for the centurions to unlock their chains, afraid of drowning.
In the midst of all this, Paul is unusually calm. He helps everyone and everywhere he can, but his heart remains firm in the Lord’s hand on his journey.
As the boat is dragged past the small island of Cauda, even the lifeboat is in danger. The men drag it onto the deck and lash to the inside of the rails. This isn’t enough. For fear of running aground, ropes are passed under the ship. This is done by two sailors holding coils of a single rope that they uncoil in front of the ship from both sides of the prow and then carefully work it backwards as the ship sails over it. When the rope is partway down on both sides, it is bound fast and cinched tight. This is repeated several times until the boat is secured underneath in several places. Finally, the sea anchor is dropped to hold the ship fast as the sea rages around it.
After frantic effort, slipping and nearly being swept overboard, the ship is as secure as the crew and passengers can make it. Cheers go up as the huge lead weight is hoisted over the side to provide the anchor near the sandbars of Syrtis.
All those aboard continue to hold on for dear life, expecting relief after these measures. All night, the ship takes severe battering from the sea. The crew and passengers huddle close together, trying to stay warm and lend support to one another.
When day breaks and the storm shows no signs of abating, the crew begins tossing the cargo overboard. Everything not nailed down or essential for survival finds itself in the dragged away by the raging sea.
Even with the sea anchor dropped, the ship is still driven along with the storm. Water continues to pour over the decks and settle into the holds, increasing the weight and dragging the ship downward. The day after throwing all the cargo overboard, the crew begins to toss the rigging overboard. There is nothing to hold fast to and every ounce thrown over is that much less to drag the ship to the bottom.
After days at sea without seeing the sky even once, those on board begin to lose hope. Their gods have not answered them and there are no signs of this storm breaking up. On top of that, the whole group is seasick and too terrified to eat. Their strength is from adrenaline only.
A week has passed since this storm drove the ship from any hope of safety. Paul gives them a glimpse of hope.
“Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island” (Acts 27:21-26).
Luke and Aristarchus gladly latch onto the hope Paul is holding out. Julius has faith in Paul, but he sees the storm around them. He hopes with all his might that Paul is correct. The rest of those on board continue to pray to their own gods but grasp onto Paul’s words, praying it might be so. Yet they will not commit themselves to Paul’s God or his predictions.
The storm continues to rage on and drag the hapless ship wherever it will. The only thing keeping the ship from being completely swept out to sea is the ship’s sea anchor and the determination of the crew to man the rudder.
Two weeks go by when the crew begins to sense land ahead. As a sailor, it is an acquired skill that can save your life.
“Take a sounding” the captain calls out.
The sounding lead is dropped over the side. Everyone holds their breath until the depth is called out.
“Twenty fathoms” calls the seaman.
The ship is safe for the moment, but that can change quickly. Fifteen minutes later the captain calls out for a second sounding. The lead is dropped again.
“Fifteen fathoms” rings out across the deck.
As low as the ship is sitting in the water, this is dangerous. It is still too dark to see what lies ahead and it is quite possible they will strike bottom if they move any farther.
“Drop all the anchors” the captain calls out.
Four anchors are hoisted over the sides and hit the water with a splash that is nothing compared to the waves breaking over the sides of the ship. Everyone huddles together, waiting out the rest of the night and praying for daybreak.
Shortly before dawn, the sailors seize a chance for safety. They rush to the lifeboat and begin unlashing it. While letting the boat down into the water, they try and convince the passengers that they are going to lower more anchors.
Paul knows in his spirit what they are doing and what will become of them if they abandon their charges. He turns to Julian. With absolute certainty, he speaks up.
“Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved” (Acts 27:31).
Julian doesn’t hesitate a second. He steps over to the lifeboat, draws his sword and slices the ropes. One slice per rope.
The sailors all jump back in fear and return to the rest of the group and continues to wait for daylight.
The first rays of light cut the deep darkness to a shrouded gray. Paul encourages all the people. “For the last fourteen days, you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head” (Acts 27:33-34).
Paul retrieves bread from the stores. He holds it up and blesses it before the people.
“Lord Jesus, I know that You have a plan for each of our lives. And that You have promised to deliver all of us from this danger. Bless this food to our bodies. Let it give us the strength we will need for what lies ahead.”
After this, Paul breaks pieces off and hands them to those assembled together. Everyone eats gladly and settles back in to wait for full daylight.
Finally it is light enough to make out a cove that lies directly ahead. This island is unfamiliar to all the sailors but any port in a storm is welcome.
“Cut loose the anchors and the rudder” the captain calls out.
As this is being done, the rest of the sailors stand by the sails. Once the boat breaks free of the anchors, the captain calls out again; “Hoist the sails!”
The wind and current drive the boat towards the beach. Everyone is excited, until the ship runs aground on a sandbar between the open water and the beach. The waves keep beating against the ship, driving it deeper and deeper into the sand until it begins breaking up.
In an effort to keep any of the prisoners from escaping, the leader of the contubernium calls for his men to kill the prisoners. Julius is very protective of Paul, so he steps in.
“Don’t lay a hand on any of them. Let the gods judge them. If they live, it will be the will of the gods.”
Julius turns to the men; “Any who can swim, leap into the sea and make your way to the island.”
Most of the prisoners and all the sailors head for the island, swimming with all their might. Those who remain, Julian gives them instructions. “Grab a plank or whatever you can that floats. Use it to make your way to the beach.”
Julian is the last one to leave the ship, ensuring that everyone leaves safely. Once he arrives on shore, a count is taken of passengers and crew. Not a single one is missing. Everyone rests on the beach until they regain their strength. But their troubles are far from over.
(to be continued)
I can’t imagine being in Paul’s position. No “I told you so” is big enough to cover this mess. I have a feeling that this was Satan’s effort to stop the spread of the gospel. Now, Paul will have even more witnesses to spread this story of God’s hand on their lives. Sometimes that is the BEST witness there is.
Father God, thank You for helping me with this story. I have never experienced the terror that those on the ship must have, but I pray I did their lives justice. Only Your hand kept them from all losing their lives.
How many of them turned to You during that journey. I imagine that Paul’s witness won a few over. Did he stay calm the whole time? Or did he look at the storm a time or two?
“Don’t tell God how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your God is!” This was Paul’s position. I pray it is mine.
