Acts 27:25
Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.
To understand the above statement made by Paul while standing on a sinking ship, we have to fully grasp the context of where he is, who he is talking to and what he is intending to do. In the last chapter of Acts, Paul was brought before the foreign leadership, Governor Fetus and King Agrippa. Although they could find nothing to convict him of in regard to any crimes against the state, they decided to send him to appear before Caesar, in Rome, at his request. Had Paul not appealed to Caesar, he would have been released (Acts 26:32). However, he did appeal to Caesar and they put him on a ship to make the journey. However, as Paul had predicted (Acts 27:9) the ship was met with a violent storm and his guards and men aboard the ship were about to perish. These men, like all of us on a sinking ship, were about to jump overboard. However, by this time, realizing all of Paul's previous prophecies had come true, the men were ready to listen to Paul. Paul, having again received a message from the Lord, told them all to stay on the ship and, if they believed, God will keep them safe. Even though the Centurion in charge did not listen to Paul earlier and went with majority vote and set sail (Acts 27:10), this time he would listen. Paul spoke with confidence to an unbelieving world, about a non-spiritual topic (a ship sinking and being torn apart by a storm). Of course, all things are spiritual, when we consider our response to any situation in life. The passage we have above is the reason why Paul could be so confident in the midst of disaster. Paul believed God. Paul believed that what God had said, He will bring it to pass. Although Paul had special revelation about this particular journey (he was, after all, the Apostle Paul) we also have revelation in His Word, today. In the midst of difficulty we have the promised revelation of Romans 8:28; all things work together for those who walk in His will. In the midst of the dark times of life we have the revelation of 1 Peter 5:7; cast your care on Him, for He cares for you. In the midst of loneliness we have the revelation of Matthew 28:20; I am with you always. When we fail Him and sin and guilt washes over all our body and mind we have the revelatory promises of Romans 8:1; there is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, and 1 John 1:9; if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Paul was willing, in the midst of a storm, to stand on the deck of a boat, being torn apart by the wind, rain, and waves, that God can and will protect them because God is a God of His Word. He will not protect them because they deserve it. He will protect them because He said He would. God does what He says He will do. The unbelieving world needs to hear that message and see us act upon it.
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