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
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
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
You can visit where Paul shipwrecked. The island is
Traditionally, the Maltese say that Paul took the venom out of all the snakes on the islands. There are no venomous snakes on
Acts 28
