Coloring Page: Paul's Shipwreck Acts 27 (Click the picture to open in printable view)

Story: Paul's Shipwreck Acts 27

Shipwreck

Old crusty sailors are right. October is not a good time to be out on a ship in the sea. Julius knew it. Paul knew it. The captain of the ship knew it too, but he had over 250 prisoners, guards and crew members that had to get to Rome.

It had been stormy, but a clear day finally came to that little port called Fair Havens and the captain decided to chance it. He gave the sailors their orders and the ship was underway.

Julius, an officer in the Emperor’s Regiment, made sure his prisoner, Paul was comfortable. Julius didn’t think Paul should even be under arrest. He looked at the other prisoners and saw thieves, robbers, and murderers. But Paul, what was he under arrest for? For talking. Sure Paul had challenged some religious leaders with this talk of Jesus, but still, to go to Rome to be tried before Caesar? Seemed like overkill to him, you know, like trying to swat a fly with a hammer. So Julius was kind to Paul. He even let him have friends over to see him before they boarded the ship.

Paul looked at the clear sky the day they left port and knew it would not last. In fact, they didn’t even get out of sight of land when the wind began to strengthen. Before the sailors could react, the sun had disappeared behind the clouds and whitecaps were forming on the waves. Fortunately, a nearby island cut off some of the wind and they were able to strengthen the hull of the boat by lashing ropes around it and they threw some cargo overboard so the ship wouldn’t sit so low in the water.

This wasn’t a storm that just lasted a few days or a week. This storm went on for fourteen days of being tossed about every moment For two weeks, no one ate, not because they were out of food, just that eating was not possible while being thrown back and forth by waves that were higher than the boat itself!

Paul saw the desperation in the men around him. He told them that an angel had reassured him that he had to stand before the Emperor and all that were with him now would be safe. Paul took some bread and prayed. He encouraged all of the men to eat so they would have strength because he told them that the ship would find land, but not easily. It would wreck and they would have swim to safety.

Now whether or not his shipmates believed all that he said, they did decide to eat. The sailors began to test the waters with ropes and found they were getting into shallow water. They threw anchors off of the back of the ship to slow it down so it wouldn’t hit the slam into the rocks that are typically offshore.

A few of the crew said they were going to throw anchors off of the front of the ship too, but instead were trying to steal the lifeboat and leave the ship without their valuable help. They didn’t trust the word of Paul and thought they might save their own lives even if it endangered the rest of the men. They were found out and the lifeboat was cut away so no one else was tempted to follow the same plan.

The storm cleared enough that they could see land. Hope began to show on the men’s faces in little smiles. One guard’s face had no such smile at all. He grimly said that if any of these prisoners escaped from us on this land, that our own lives would be required in its place. That’s just the way the Romans did it in those times. It did make a guard be very careful about not losing his prisoner. Soon the other guards were siding with him and they were getting their knives ready to do the grim job. Julius knew that this would cost the life of Paul too.

“No, men, no. I believe Paul when he says no one will be lost, nor will anyone escape,” Julius said. Being the commander, Julius was able to stop the bloodshed.

Soon, the ship hit hard against the rocks. The back of the ship began to tear apart so the sailors cut the anchors. The captain yelled that all who could swim should jump and make for the island. Then he ordered all that could not swim to grab onto a piece of wood and try to make it.

Hours later after being pounded by the surf and struggling to the beach, the guards had enough strength to count the men. They were all there. No one was even injured. Paul was right. All were safe.

Acts 27

Snakebite

Cold, wet, and exhausted, the men had survived their struggle to the beach. The villagers had rushed to the shore to help them. Soon wood was being gathered and fires were started.

Paul helped. He reached for wood out of the pile to add to the fire. He had already added a few pieces, but the next board that he reached for starting moving on its own. It wasn’t a board; it was a snake that had mingled with the wood.

Before Paul knew it, its fangs sank into his skin and it transferred its poisonous venom. The villagers stopped and stared. They murmured among themselves, “Truly, this man must be a murderer for the gods tried to kill him at sea and failing that, the gods will kill him on land.”

Paul didn’t stop what he was doing. He continued to help with the fires. The villagers kept on watching him waiting for the poison to overwhelm him.

After awhile, the murmuring of the villagers changed from a suspicious tone to one of admiration. They began to worship Paul, calling him a god, because only a god could be bit by a snake and not show swelling or sickness.

Now a weaker man might have enjoyed all of the adulation from the villagers. Not Paul. He set them right quickly.

“I’m not a god, but instead I serve the one, true God.” Paul took the opportunity to teach of how we can know God through Jesus, the Messiah.

The governor, Publius, sent for Paul. His father was ill. Paul went immediately and prayed for the sick man. He recovered. Publius listened to Paul’s teaching, and became a Christian himself. He was the first bishop of Malta and gave his life for his faith.

The people cared for the shipwrecked men, gathered supplies, helped with repairs of the ship, and in three months, Paul and the rest of the men left the island and continued to Rome.

You can visit where Paul shipwrecked. The island is Malta and the Maltese still celebrate the arrival of Paul and Christianity. One city (Naxxar) even has the words “I was the first to believe” on their coat of arms because they are the descendents of those first to help on the beach that day. A church was built where Paul warmed his hands at the bonfire.

Traditionally, the Maltese say that Paul took the venom out of all the snakes on the islands. There are no venomous snakes on Malta today.

Acts 28

Puzzle: Deborah Cryptogram

YC VRAXWNB YM HNOORV FBR FXWHB

GXINL GXDOV ZXD MNZ


FBNF MBR YM NOO CYWRV DS?

Hint: F is T

Answer:

If Deborah is called the torch woman would you say that she is all fired up?

Coloring Page: Deborah (Judges) - Click the picture to open in a printable view

Story: Deborah (Judges)

The Torch Woman

She was a woman to be reckoned with. Some translate her name as meaning she was the wife of Lappidoth, while other say it means the “Woman of Torches”. This is for sure, things really heated up when you were around Deborah.

Deborah could be found on most days by a palm tree where people traveled from miles around to hear her words. She was wise and settled disputes among the Israelites. Lately, many of the words of the Israelites began to sound the same. They wanted to be free.

For twenty years, King Jabin had oppressed Israel. He kept them in line with the threat of his mighty general Sisera who had 900 iron chariots at his command. Chariots seem quaint now, but then they were the latest in war weapons. Just think, the chariot’s platform raised archers above the battleground, they could shoot from a farther distance, and get away quickly, if need be, to regroup and fight again. Some say there were like tanks because they protected their drivers with armor and had deadly firing power from the arrows. Those chariots gave General Sisera a mighty advantage over the foot soldiers of Israel.

Deborah called for Barak and told him God had commanded him to raise an army of 10,000 men to fight General Sisera and his army. Barak knew the fear that the Israelite men had of Sisera’s forces. He looked at Deborah and told her that the only way he would go into battle would be if she went too. It wasn’t because Deborah was a master of battle with a great bow finger and deadly aim with an arrow. No, it was because she could give the army courage and improve their morale. That was something those men desperately needed to go against 900 iron chariots.

Deborah agreed to go but told Barak that the glory of his victory would be given to a woman instead of himself.

Barak gathered his army and marched to the Kishon River. Sisera didn’t take long to answer the call of rebellion. He mustered his forces and met Barak. Before any swords could clash, the river itself grew beyond its normal banks. It was a flash flood. It came out of nowhere and turned the once dry ground into a muddy, boggy mess. The wheels of those 900 chariots slowed to a crawl as they sunk into the saturated earth and the horses strained to get them to move an inch.

Barak and his army made easy work of Sisera’s soldiers. Without their chariots, they were confused and lost their ability to fight as a unified force. Soon the Israelites had wiped out their entire force except for one. When General Sisera’s chariot had bogged down in the mud, he made a run for it. He deserted his forces on the battlefield and made for safety.

Nearby, lived a man named Heber who preferred to live in the country instead of in town. Heber was at peace with King Jabin, so Sisera expected to be sheltered. Heber was not home that day, instead his wife Jael was there. She welcomed Sisera in, and when he asked for water while he was catching his breath, she brought him milk in a leather bag. He took a long drink and asked to be hidden. Jael hid him, either behind a curtain or under a rug while Sisera gave her instructions that if anyone came asking for him, he was not there.

That milk soothed Sisera because soon he fell asleep in his hiding place. Jael saw her opportunity. She grabbed a hammer and a tent stake. She crept over to Sisera and she found his head. Think hammer, tent stake, and a head and you get the picture of how the evil general Sisera met his end that day.

Later, Barak came to the tent in search of Sisera and Jael showed him where he was. Jael turned out to be the woman that Deborah prophesied would receive the glory of defeating Sisera when Barak insisted on Deborah’s presence in battle.

The people of Israel were free. They were blessed with the wisdom of the fiery Deborah while enjoying their liberty for forty years after this battle.