Year 7, Day 260: Acts 27

Theological Commentary: Click Here

I think that Acts 27 boils down to wisdom and faith.  Paul is full of wisdom, and I choose to believe that he has his wisdom because he is in relationship with God throughout this journey.  Paul seems to know when to sail, when they shouldn’t sail, and how to keep the people alive when the people are in danger.  Proximity to God tends to allow us the ability to make good choices.

The interesting dynamic in this chapter is how the people around him respond to the wisdom.  The pilot of the boat seems to have no regard for Paul at all.  His mind is on the profit that can be made through the journey.  Safety is on seemingly no concern.  It is dangerous for us when we partner with or even put ourselves in proximity t people whose primary concern is profit.

The centurion in charge of Paul seems to have a growing respect for Paul’s wisdom.  At first, he seems focused simply on doing his job, which makes sense.  He wants to get to Rome, deliver his charge, and accomplish the task.  However, the centurion does show that ultimately he respects living more than money.  As the situation grows more and more dire, he stops listening to the pilot and starts listening to Paul.  Here is a man who can garner some respect.  When there is a chance of success, the centurion pursues his obligation.  But when threatened, he knows enough to abandon the obligation until such a time as it can be properly pursed without walking headlong into danger without a care.

In the end, Paul carries the day and the people are all saved through the storm by God’s hand.  The centurion wins the day through Paul’s advice and keeps his soldiers from killing all of their prisoners.  The centurion listens to Paul and has the boat cut away so that everyone would remain under God’s protection through Paul.  The people listen to Paul, have a good meal before abandoning ship, and then make their way to an island where they might find refuge.  Wisdom does occasionally carry the day in human circles.  When it does, the credit should go ack to God as it does here in this chapter.

<><