March 26th, 2022

When we are at the Fourth Sunday in Lent, we are closer to the end of our Lenten journey than to its beginning. And that is the same way with our look this week at St. Paul’s journey to Rome in the book of Acts. He is almost there, but he is also a bit off-track. In fact, he is not quite sure where he is. Last week we took a close look at St. Paul’s words to the others on the ship during that terrible storm. He focused on both necessity and God, and those two things are very closely related.

The connection was made between St. Paul’s speech and God’s very close involvement with the creation account. The first verse of Genesis says that, ‘In beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.’ And it would be a totally different thing to say that ‘God was there while the heavens and the earth evolved over billions of years.’ The latter perspective easily leads to a huge focus on self and great selfishness. The centrality and intimate involvement of God is a totally opposite and unique thing, and that perspective works its way into the rest of St. Paul’s journey as well, although not in an obvious way.

In one part of St. Paul’s speech that he related to the others on the ship, he indicated that the angel of God had said this to him: ‘God has granted to you all the ones sailing with you.’ And it was mentioned that the word ‘granted’ is closely connected to the words ‘gift’ and ‘grace’, and that certainly makes it an amazing gift. And it is a huge gift as well, since it is revealed that there are two hundred and seventy-six people on this ship. That gift explains some of the actions of St. Paul as he receives this huge gift and takes good care of it. And he makes a good example for other Christians to follow when they receive both huge and wonderful gifts.

What follows is a somewhat-literal translation of a somewhat-lengthy section of text, from the time immediately following St. Paul’s talk to those on the ship to the safe arrival on land of those on the ship. They are still not in Rome, and we are still not celebrating Easter Sunday. [The text below is Acts 27:27-44; now since this is describing the travels of a ship, there is some rare and unique terminology, and you may wish to look at another translation; but an effort was made in the following translation to translate in the same way if the word was recently used.]

And as the fourteenth night came, we, being carried about in the Adria[tic Sea], toward the middle of the night, the sailors suspecting a certain country to come near to them. And, sounding, they found twenty fathoms. And having moved a little, also again sounding, they found fifteen fathoms.  And fearing, that not toward rough places we might fall out, throwing four anchors from the stern, they wished for day to come.

And the sailors, seeking to flee from the ship, and lowering the boat into the sea, pretending, as from the bow, being about to cast out anchors. Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers: “If these themselves do not remain in the ship, you yourselves are not able to be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and they let it fall out.

And until the day was about to come, Paul encouraged all to partake of food, saying: “The fourteenth day is today, you continue waiting without food, taking nothing. Therefore, I encourage you to partake of food. For this is to your salvation; for of no one of you a hair from the head will be lost.” And saying these things and taking bread, he gave thanks to God before all, and having broken, he began to eat. And all becoming in good spirits, they themselves also took food. And we were, all the souls in the ship, two hundred, seventy-six. And, having been satisfied with food, they lightened the ship, throwing out the grain into the sea.

And when day came, the land they did not recognize, but they noticed a certain bay having a beach, onto which they were resolved, if they were able to push out the ship. And the anchors, having cast off, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the fastenings of the rudders, and raising the foresail to the breeze, they held course to the beach.

And falling into a place between two seas, they drove the vessel, and the bow, on the one hand, having got stuck, remained immovable, on the other hand, the stern was being destroyed by the force of the waves. And of the soldiers, the plan was that they would kill the prisoners, that not anyone swimming away should escape; and the centurion, planning to bring Paul safely through, he prevented them from the plan, and he commanded the ones being able to swim, throwing out first, to go out onto the land, and the rest, some on planks, others on some of the things from the ship. And thus it happened, all brought safely through to the land.

Right before St. Paul’s talk, there was mention that ‘all hope for being saved was taken away (27:20b).’ God started working through the mouthpiece of St. Paul, and positive things started to happen. The two hundred and seventy-six people were kept together, they ended up eating, and they ended up all being saved. And that is the way that this part of the journey ends. Although that could be called a miracle, it was also a ‘hidden miracle’, and while that phrase may be a type of contradiction, it was certainly due to a gracious God.