Ignoring God’s Warnings

Acts 27:1-12

The Voyage to Rome Begins

1 And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. 2 So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. 3 And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care. 4 When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 5 And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.

7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone. 8 Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

Paul's Warning Ignored

9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives." 11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.

Paul finally set sail for Rome where he had been heading but stopping many other places along the way for years.  He went as a prisoner by God’s design while proven innocent to the magistrate because that was where the Lord was leading him to deliver the good news of repentance to salvation for people of all nations to include Rome where paganism reigned and the center of the Roman Empire could have the seeds of God’s word planted.  Paul was therefore kept from being lynched by the jealous Jews of his own people and transported with other prisoners of the realm under the watchcare of a centurion named Julius.  It is worthy to note how the scriptures record actual names of all involved in the accounts of the work of God’s Spirit in and through the lives and work of the apostles and disciples.  We even see Aristarchus of Thessalonica mentioned here (Acts 19:29, 20:4) who would be imprisoned with Paul later as we read in Colossians 4:10.  Paul was given exceptional freedom to visit other disciples he knew in the port of Sidon by the grace of God and they changed ships in Myra and fought the weather on the sea past Crete as the stormy winds picked up to slow their progress.  Paul was given insight by the Lord’s Spirit that they were heading into danger and disaster.  Many would die unless they changed course.  The owner and captain of the ship dismissed the warning and sailed on into the storm to try reaching a safe port to shelter in as they disbelieved and charted their own course in opposition to God’s good direction.  How often people do this when they hear the good news of deliverance from the danger of the final judgment for their sin and the eternal consequences instead of hearing and heeding the warnings given bynHis word through His servants and messengers to deliver them!  People think that they know better than God and forge their way into disaster and destruction instead of heeding the warnings and hope of the gospel for deliverance.  The crew of the ship then kept pushing and fighting against the wind while ignoring the wind of God to turn to a better course and aimed for the western side of Crete to harbor for the winter until the stormy season passed.  We find that our tendency is to find safety of our own devices and sail past the safe harbor in Jesus Christ who alone can protect and shelter us under the shadow of His wings.  What we really need to do is heed the warnings before we lose our lives not just in a sea journey but in eternity.  We dare not ignore the warnings of God delivered to Jesus and entrusted to His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).  Be reconciled with God to harbor in Him in Him and stop seeking to find your own safety through life’s troubled waters!  Ignoring God’s warnings only leads to disaster.