"But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship." Acts 27:21-22
INTRODUCTION: All hope had died out for two hundred and seventy five men. The storm was raging; the ship was being tossed around on the sea like a leaf in a strong wind. The sun and stars were hidden, but Paul saw a bright light. It could be thought of as Paul saying, "I told you so." But there must be a better way to look at his words, "...Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss." Verse 21
In the context I think Paul referred to his former advice in order to cause them to listen to him now. He wanted them to say, "Paul was right the other time. We will listen to him this time. Let us notice three golden nuggets in these six verses. God has given us here in Acts 27 and 28 some glorious Biblical truths. I want us to see 3 beautiful points in my sermon: Words of Courage, Words about Caesar, and Words of Certainty.
I. Words of Courage
"And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship." Verse 22
Courage came to the men aboard the ship. Courage came from God through a man of God. God always uses people to help people. Satan uses people to hurt people. Here God used His servant, Paul. Paul was somewhat like Gideon when the Midianites were overthrown.
"The leader (Gideon) whom God chose to overthrow the Midianites occupied no prominent position in Israel. He was not a ruler, a priest, or a Levite. He thought himself the least in his father’s house. But God saw in him a man of COURAGE and INTEGRITY. He was distrustful of himself and willing to follow the guidance of the Lord. God does not always choose for His Work men of the greatest talents, but He selects those whom He can best use." Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 353, E. G. White "Before honor is humility." Proverbs 15:33
Gideon had no desire to be King of Israel. "I will not rule over you," he declared "neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you."
1. Paul REMEMBERED God’s Word!
The remembrance was that God made sure His Word would be given in Rome. Caesar would hear the gospel. Paul had not forgotten. It is a great and wonderful thing to know something of the present, but it is great to remember the good things of God’s working in the past. Paul was a humble man, a man of integrity and courage. So was Gideon.
2. Paul BELIEVED God’s Word!
"Wherefore sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe in God, that it shall be even as it was told me." Verse 25
Paul looked at the brighter side of the whole tragedy. His look was an upward look and the upward look was the look of faith in God’s Word. We have heard it many times; "The person who kneels before God can stand before any person or anything." It is also true that the person who looks up in faith can look around with a smile of victory.
R. L. Stevenson in the dairy, "A Family of Engineers" found where his grandfather had written the following.
"The grandfather the builder of the Bell Rock Lighthouse tells how when a frightful storm broke over them and threatened to engulf the ship, he ventured to look up and was much reassured when he saw the watch (man) on deck who was lashed to the mast, but appeared to smile."
If, looking upward through the murk and storm, we have seen the face of ONE, the Lord Jesus Christ whose smile has brought reassurance and peace to our hearts, if we have heard His Voice bidding us be of good cheer, then it becomes our high duty, as it is our privilege, to reflect the radiance of that smile and to echo that heavenly word of cheer to brighten some fainting brother’s path.
3. Paul gave WITNESS to God’s Word!
"For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve. Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and lo, God hath given thee all them that sailed with thee." Verses 23 and 24
Now, please notice what Paul does in these two verses. First, he identifies God. Secondly, Paul identifies himself. God is the Sovereign. Paul is the slave. "...whose I am, and whom I serve." The servant (slave) may be looked upon in three ways:
1. As a debtor, because we can never pay the great Debt of sins. We will always have liability that we can not pay.
2. As a prisoner, because we can not disentangle ourselves.
3. As a profitable possession and that is found in our love and service to God.
II. Words About Caesar:
"Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar:" Verse 24
There are three key words in this short sentence. Three key words in these twelve words and they are not personal pronouns. The three words are not God, as great as He is. They are not Paul, as good as he is and they are not Caesar, as important as he is.
Here are the THREE words I have in mind:
1. The word MUST: This word, MUST, has the meaning of God’s will. It is used in other places in the same meaning and context as found here in Acts 27:24. Paul must be brought before Caesar. It is God’s will that Paul shares the gospel in Rome.
2. There is the MUST of the New Birth. "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye MUST be born again." John 3:7
3. There is the MUST of soul winning. "And He (Jesus) must needs go through Samaria." John 4:4 Not only was the woman at the well converted, but the Scriptures tell us that many believed on Jesus because of her testimony. There is really a must in finding people for Jesus.
Now, in a storm Paul is not afraid. Let the sinners in Zion be afraid, but not so with the saints.
"The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites..." (Isaiah 33:14) The saints dwell on high. "He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure." Isaiah 33:16
Not only is Paul not afraid, he is assured of his safe journey to Rome. Thou MUST be brought before Caesar. As the rage of our enemies, so the rage of the storms at sea; neither can stop the plan and will of God. The witness of God must go forward. This brings a great joy to the heart of God’s servants. Troubles and difficulties never prevail against God’s faithful servants. As long as God has work for them to do the door will be left open and the way made plain. Courage and strength will be granted and the worker for God continues to advance the gospel. The worker is made glad and all of heaven rejoices.
God knows His children. He knows the very hairs of our head and they are numbered. Friend, God knows and understands all you are going through. Be of good cheer, we have the promises of our Lord. Paul did not say, be of good cheer, we have a fine pilot and he will bring us through. He did not say, our vessel is in good condition and very seaworthy. He did not say, the storm is dying down. No, Paul based his hope on the promise of God. The gospel must be shared in Rome and that is the purpose of Paul being on the ship.
"For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee." Acts 27:23-24
III. Words of Certainty
"Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island." Acts 27:26
God is ever faithful. He is every sure and certain; therefore all His children should believe His promises and be ever cheerful
Before the foundation of the world, God saw that this certain island was prepared. Just like Jacob’s well where Jesus sat waiting for the woman of Samaria to come and draw water. It was no accident; nor perchance that the island had been there throughout past ages. It was there for a number of reasons, but one reason for sure; it was there to help rescue Paul and his 275 fellow travelers.
1. We see a certain PROMISE: "...for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship." Acts 27:22
2. We see a certain PROTECTION: "Wherefore I (Paul) pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you." Acts 27:34
3. And we see a defeated PURPOSE: "And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land." Acts 27:42-44