Acts 27:31-32
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it go.
Subject: Power and Influence
Chapter 27 of Acts is the final chapter of Paul's journey from Jerusalem to Rome. He is being charge by the Jews in the court of Caesar and is being brought to Rome by a centurion. It is important to remember that God wants him in Rome for the sole purpose of preaching the Gospel. Satan does not want him there for that very reason. Chapter 27 is Satan's attempt to destroy God's messenger. At first the centurion ignores most, if not all of Paul's warnings along this journey. In the above passage, because the wisdom God has given Paul is being demonstrated time and time again, Paul begins to accumulate influence over the centurion. The ship they are on is about to be destroyed so the sailors are ready to abandon ship. However, Paul tells them that everyone MUST stay on the ship for God to save them. In the past the centurion would have listened to the sailors. But, now the soldiers are listening to Paul. Why? Because Paul's faith is coming through in compassion and wisdom and that is a powerful combination for influence. Paul has already expressed that they need to eat and take care of their bodies. Paul has already given them several pieces of wisdom that, if they would have listened, they would not be in this boat (no pun intended). Now that the see Paul's faith and and wisdom (from God) they allow him to have influence and power of their decisions. That is how it works in the world. As we practice our faith and ask God for wisdom and boldly speak up in Christ, we are granted powerful influence in the affairs of men (think Joseph, Daniel, Nehemiah).
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