-November 16, 2022-
Good morning, happy Wednesday,
“But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land.”
(Acts 27:43).
Paul along with 275 others on the ship sailing to Rome endured one of the worst storms. They all thought they would surely die, except Paul. The Lord told him that he and all those on board would survive. In Acts 27:22-25, Paul said, “And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. However we must run aground on a certain island.”
The centurion took Paul’s words as from the mouth of God. Prior to this, Paul warned them of impending disaster, but the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship to move forward on their journey to Rome. The plan was to get to Phoenix, and the harbor there so they could spent the winter there. Big mistake! This time, he does well to heed the words of Paul. It is always good to learn from our mistakes.
God was true to His promise to Paul and they reached land. The ship was destroyed but all the people were saved and they landed on the island of Malta. As they were about to crash into the sand on the beach, the soldiers on board were about to kill all prisoners so they wouldn’t escape. Praise God, the centurion wanted to save Paul and ordered those who could swim should jump overboard and swim to shore. Not one person perished.
God often uses people saved or unsaved to save, deliver, and help His people. Whether it is a government official or some “Good Samaritan.” In the OT, King Cyrus issued a decree that the Jews be allowed to return to their land after the Seventy Year captivity, and rebuild the temple on its former site, and take back all those things from the original temple that Nebuchadnezzar had taken. It mentions this in Ezra 6:3 and Isaiah 44:28.
This centurion was, like Cyrus, used by God. God can turn the hearts of people to accomplish His will and purpose. We should always be thankful that God sends us the help at just the right time. When we see with our eyes God’s deliverance, we should trust Him more and walk more by faith. This centurion took Paul safely to Rome, where he was put under house arrest and given liberty to entertain whomever he wished. The last two verses in the book of Acts say, “Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31).
I trust these meditations on the centurions were a blessing to all. Thank God for His mercies and His grace throughout our lives. Stay safe and healthy.
In praise to God for His help from heaven through people on earth,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 