Acts 27-28

Acts 27  

This chapter describes the difficulty and danger that the sailing of Paul and his friends has to go through just to reach Rome. They boarded ship from Adramyttium. In the middle of their sailing they were caught by a storm. Paul told people who sailed with him to be courageous and have faith with God as an angel told him that they will reach Rome alive. 

            ..."Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has

              graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you."   - Acts 27:24

On the fourteenth night, they were still sailing on Adriatic Sea. On the dawn of that day, Paul convinced them to eat so that they could survive. They have not eaten in the fourteen days of their sailing. After eating, they threw the remaining grain into the sea so that their boat will become lighter. During the daylight, they saw the bay with a sandy beach and they swam to it. They left the ship and it was eventually broken by the pounding of the surf. All of them reached the land safely. 

Acts 28 

The land that they reached was called Malta. Natives of that place welcomed them and they thought that Paul was a god because a snake hanged on his hand and after he shook it off into the fire, Paul did not suffer any illness. Paul also treated the father of Publius who has fever and dysentery and other islander who were also sick. Because of these, people from Malta were thankful and they gave Paul and his people things that they needed.

After three months, they sailed to sea using an Alexandrian ship. They reached Syracuse first and stayed there for three days and then after that they reached Rhegium. Two days later they reached Puteoli. From Puteoli, they met some brothers and asked them to spend a week with them. After that they came to Rome. In Rome, Paul was allowed to live alone with a soldier to guard him. 

There in Rome, Paul preached the good news about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. He boldly preached about the Kingdom of God and about the Lord Jesus Christ. 

"Therefore, I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"

- Acts 28:28

I thought it was easy to read the Bible. But it is not. When I was reading these two chapters, I was just reading it because it is my goal of being able to read all the chapters of Bible. I know and I believe that I can get wisdom from this most wonderful and greatest book in the whole world. Indeed, it is very challenging for me. But I read it anyway. I read it lightly. I cannot comprehend it easily in one reading. I have to read it again. I think I have read it five to seven times before I was able to get the significance of these chapters. 

When I first read these chapters, what came to my mind was that Paul is just documenting the places that they went into before reaching their final destination which is Rome. I thought it was just for the purpose of like putting it in history. For giving information on the places or the trace of the sailing that they did before reaching Rome.

But after reading it several times, I have realized that Paul has to experienced hardship and he has to wait minimum of three months just to reached Rome. I have realized that it was a great challenged for Paul to go to Rome. It was like a trial as well. Other people would easily give up if that happens to them. But since Paul knows his mission and purpose, he pushed it through anyway. He was courageous and patient and he did his job excellently. When he reached Rome, he did not relax but he did his mission courageously and boldly. He spread the good news to people of Rome. He spread the good news about Jesus not only to the Jews in Rome but also to the Gentiles. 

What is the lesson that I got? I say that we just have to be persistent and disciplined in life specially in pursuing our dreams and goals. It would not be an easy sailing. We will be tested. But if we will only focus on our goals, dreams or missions and through our faith in God, then we will be victorious.