“When it was decided we would sail to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. We went on board a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to various ports along the coast of the province of Asia and put out to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. The next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him to go to his friends so they could provide him with what he needed. From there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. After we had sailed across the open sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we put in at Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found a ship from Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. We sailed slowly for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus. Because the wind prevented us from going any farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. With difficulty we sailed along the coast of Crete and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea.

Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the fast was already over, Paul advised them, “Men, I can see the voyage is going to end in disaster and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” But the centurion was more convinced by the captain and the shipʼs owner than by what Paul said. Because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there. They hoped that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.” Acts 27:1-12

It was determined by G-d first, and then by Festus, that Paul should go to Rome; for G-d had work for him to do there. The course they sailed, and the places they visited, are included in our texts, including all of the difficulties they experienced along the passage. Paul tries to warn them not to put out to sea, yet they decide to push onward in the struggle. We often hear how G-d encourages those who suffer for G-d, to trust G-d, even if it means “rough sailing”. Sailors must make the best of and trust the wind just as truck drivers must make the best of and trust their rigs and the roads. As such, in our journeys in life and faith, we all must trust God in our passages – in our journeys throughout the regions of our existence. When the winds are contrary and buffet us, we must keep moving forward as best as we can. I liken it to walking in a snow blizzard — we put our heads down and continue on one step at a time.

Where is God sending you that you would rather not go? Will you go even though it seems perilous or dangerous? Can a life of faith be lived one step at a time? I don’t know any other way to live a life of faith except to move forward in trust — no matter where and no matter how difficult.

Pastor Dave

“While doing this very thing, as I was going to Damascus with authority and complete power from the chief priests, about noon along the road, Your Majesty, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining everywhere around me and those traveling with me. When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ʻSaul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself by kicking against the goads.ʼ So I said, ʻWho are you, Lord?ʼ And the Lord replied, ʻI am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance as a servant and witness to the things you have seen and to the things in which I will appear to you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.ʼ

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and were trying to kill me. I have experienced help from God to this day, and so I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what the prophets and Moses said was going to happen: that the Christ was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” As Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed loudly, “You have lost your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!” But Paul replied, “I have not lost my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking true and rational words.” Acts 26:12-25

Oh, if we had the courage to proclaim and witness like Paul…the story that he recounts of his conversion differs from the earlier account (Acts 9:7). But, Paul’s purpose is not to give a detailed accounting but to let all know that it is Jesus who sends him to the Gentiles. Although he is deemed to be innocent by Agrippa and Festus, Paul remains in prison and now will be sent on to Rome.

Today, pundits would make a lot of hay about the differences in Paul’s original conversion story, and the one he recounts in this text. They would say Paul is adding and changing his story — and that fact alone would be reason to dismiss his account. But we hear nothing that is contradictory— in fact each account simply adds to the richness of the entire conversion event. What does remain throughout the story is Paul’s steadfastness in his zeal for his faith as he continues to proclaim to all who will hear the story of Jesus as light for all people.

Pastor Dave