Acts

Friday, 26 April 2024

Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, Acts 27:9

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

A literal translation would be, “And much time having elapsed, and the sailing being already dangerous – and the Fast already passed by – Paul admonished” (CG).

With the ship at Fair Havens, near Lasaea, Luke next says, “And much time having elapsed.”

This is referring to the constant delays experienced by the contrary winds while sailing and the time stopped in the harbor. All of this brought about a delay in the expected arrival in Rome, which was rather important at this time of year. The reason it is so is explained in Luke’s next words, “and the sailing being already dangerous.”

The word translated as dangerous is episphalés. It is found only here. It is derived from epi, upon, and sphalló, to trip or cause to fall. Thus, it means “upon the falling.” Thus, inevitable danger is to be expected.

The time of year brings about changes in weather. This is true in most parts of the world. For the sailors on the Mediterranean Sea, this change in season can become a matter of life and death. Just as in many parts of the world, storms arise that can bring about immense waves and contrary winds.

Where the men are now, this is the case. One marking of time to understand this is given by Luke from a Hebrew perspective, saying, “and the Fast already passed by.”

This is speaking of the Day of Atonement. It is called the Fast out of respect for the weighty nature of the day. Leviticus 23:32 says –

“It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.”

This day corresponds to the end of September or early October each year. Sailing at that time, and because of the nature of the ancient ships in particular, was considered very hazardous from around this feast all the way until the time of the Passover in the spring.

The routes, however, would be busy from Passover until the time around the next Day of Atonement. Luke, being the excellent chronicler that he was, made a mental note of the time of year and Paul’s insistence concerning what it meant. As he notes, because of the late time of year, “Paul admonished.”

His words are ahead, but the fact that he is giving counsel on sailing to experienced sailors makes it evident that he himself knew exactly what he was talking about. His words are surely from personal experience, having traveled extensively. It may even be that this is what he refers to in 2 Corinthians 11 –

“Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren.” 2 Corinthians 11:25, 26

One more point concerning these words is that Paul uses a new word in Scripture here, paraineó, translated as admonish. It means to exhort or advise. However, HELPS Word Studies notes that it is “to urge acknowledging what is praiseworthy, i.e. ‘recommend, advise, urge.’” It is an up close and personal form of admonishment. This word will only be seen again in verse 27:22.

Life application: There are things that we need to do in life. Not doing them can be costly. However, there is also the truth that it might become more costly to attempt to do them as well. Thus, one must choose between two difficult situations.

There are some who are risk takers. Such people can easily lose everything, but they can also become quite rich because others are holding back while the opportunities are available. There are those who are more conservative and who will generally save what they have, even if it doesn’t bring about larger gains, and even if it means short-term losses.

Both types are needed to run the world and no matter what we do, there will always be 20/20 hindsight to kick us and tell us we did the wrong thing, or to comfort us that we really were wise to act or not act.

But at the time of looking forward, what is the best option? The answer is, “Whichever includes the Lord.” He is not here to interfere in our decisions. Rather, what we should be doing is praying to Him, asking for His direction, and then deciding once we have included Him in the process. With that, we can be confident that what we have done was with Him having been consulted.

Whatever the outcome, we will know that we at least had Him in our decision-making process. As with all things at such times, we can then say, “The Lord’s will be done.” It is a truth no matter what the outcome. Therefore, we can be satisfied that we have done the right thing with no added regrets.

Heavenly Father, help us to include You in our life’s decisions. We often get ahead of ourselves and jump into decisions without first petitioning You. In doing so, we cannot be satisfied with a negative outcome. And in a positive outcome, we may become boastful. Rather, let us not fret over losses when we first came to You, and may we never be arrogant in what You have blessed us with. May it be so, to Your glory. Amen.

Lake heading out of Wisconsin.

Thursday, 25 April 2024

Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. Acts 27:8

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

More exactingly, it reads, “And laboriously lying beside it, we came to a certain place being called Fair Havens, which was near Lasaea City” (CG).

Luke just detailed the slow and difficult sailing they had encountered on the Alexandrian ship since leaving Myra. He continues that now with the words, “And laboriously lying beside it.”

This is referring to sailing under the shelter of Crete off the shores of Salmone. The word translated as laboriously was just used in the previous verse. Luke repeats it here, providing extra emphasis concerning the immensely trying voyage they were on.

He also uses another new word seen only here and then again in verse 13 for “lying beside it,” paralegomai. It is another nautical term, coming from para, beside, and legó, a word that originally meant “lay down to sleep.” Later, it was used in the sense of “laying an argument to rest.” It is as if the ship were lying beside the coast, struggling to move on as the contrary winds and waves fought against them.

After this laborious time of trial, Luke says, “we came to a certain place being called Fair Havens, which was near Lasaea City.”

It was with great difficulty that they were able to pass the promontory. Eventually, they made it and came to Fair Havens. This is found on the southeast part of Crete. It was a place where the ship could be harbored temporarily.

The word translated as “havens” is the plural of the Greek word limén. It is found only here and twice in verse 12. It signifies a harbor, port, or haven.

Barnes notes, “It is called by Stephen, the geographer, ‘the fair shore.’ It still retains the name which it formerly had. It is called in ancient Dutch and French Sailing Directions ‘the beautiful bay.’”

The city of Lasaea appears to be otherwise unknown by this spelling, but Luke records it as a place that was well-known at his time.

Life application: Luke’s detailed record of the sailing continues to allow the modern reader to follow along with a map and see exactly where the voyage went from and to. One can almost imagine the laborious efforts of fighting wind and water as the sailors worked to get the ship forward.

An interesting part of what Luke has written is noting the city of Lasaea. As stated, Luke’s spelling of it seems to be otherwise unknown, however, Wikipedia notes –

“Lasaea or Lasaia (Ancient Greek: Λασαία) was a city on the south coast of ancient Crete, near the roadstead of the ‘Fair Havens’ where apostle Paul landed. This place is not mentioned by any other writer, under this name but is probably the same as the Lisia of the Peutinger Table, 16 M.P. to the east of Gortyna. Some manuscripts have Lasea; others, Alassa. The Vulgate reads Thalassa, which Theodore Beza contended was the true name. According to the Stadiasmus Maris Magni, which calls the place Halas (Άλας), it had a harbour and was located 50 stadia from Leben and 80 stadia from Matala.”

A Hellenistic gravestone was found at this location which is pictured in the Wikipedia article. For much of history, since Luke penned his words, even until more recent times, the city was more or less unknown to scholars. And yet, Luke’s record of it meant that it was there. By people getting out a spade and setting out in the area to search for it, evidence of it has been obtained.

If you are ever questioning the accuracy of what the Bible says because someone argues against it, be sure to do your own research. Don’t just take people’s arguments at face value. It is certain that there is a world full of people who are intent on destroying your faith.

Luke was a careful chronicler of the places and events he encountered. So give him a nod of trust as you continue your search for validation of something he has stated. Eventually, it will present itself. Someday, we will be able to thank him personally for his detailed writings that helped us know the story of how the church and the message of Jesus Christ spread out from the land of Israel to the inhabited world.

Lord God, what a treat it is to read Your word and to consider the people and places that we read about. The word comes alive as we think about their struggles, their trials, their victories, and the hope that they possessed because of Your promise to the people of the world. What a wonderful record of Your guiding hand upon the process of redemption of mankind! Thank You for Your precious word. Amen.

Wisconsin.

Wednesday, 24 April 2024

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. Acts 27:7

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The Greek more literally reads, “And in many days, having sailed slowly and laboriously, having come against Cnidus, the wind not permitting us, we sailed under Crete against Salmone” (CG).

The previous verse noted that the centurion had found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy. Therefore, Paul and the others were put on that ship. It now says, “And in many days.” What defines “many days” is left unstated. However, it gives the sense that either things are going well, or things are going poorly. It isn’t until the arrival of the next words, “having sailed slowly and laboriously,” that the intent is drawn out.

The ship had left Myra on the way to Italy, but things began to devolve once at sea. The word translated as “slowly” is found only here in the Bible, braduploeó. It is a verb derived from bradus, meaning slow or slow of understanding and pleó, to sail. The other word, molis, is an adverb that HELPS Word Studies says gives the sense of “what barely happens.” It comes from mogis, or “laborious toil.” Thus, it is something that comes laboriously.

The intent here is to show how cumbersome the journey was at this point. The western winds continued to be too strong to work against and it was with real difficulty that Luke next says, “having come against Cnidus.”

This is a city which stood on a promontory bearing the same name located in Asia Minor. It is a little bit northwest of the island of Rhodes. Once they were off the shores of this place, Luke says, “the wind not permitting us, we sailed under Crete against Salmone.”

Because of the contrary winds that would not allow them to continue on as planned, they had to sail under Crete, just as they did with Cyprus. This would help break up the heavy winds and allow them to proceed, even if slowly and cumbersomely. It was in this leeward spot that they traveled close to Salmone which is “the name of a promontory which formed the eastern extremity of the island of Crete” (Barnes).

Life application: A journey that should have taken a short time has suddenly become one that has taken an extended period as well as one that has come with a great amount of effort on the part of those in charge of the ship. In today’s lingo, we might say they were out there spinning their wheels.

How often this happens to us as well! Everyone understands the metaphor because it is something we all experience. We are all gassed up, the tires are new, there is nothing wrong with the transmission, and yet, when we step on the gas, there is no traction. What was supposed to be a simple day with various achievements suddenly becomes a day where there is more to do at the end of it than there was at the beginning.

And more, the things we planned on doing have all failed to come about. This is frustrating and it can cause us to want to just climb into bed and forget the day. It is at times like this that we should step back and consider things from a greater perspective.

It says in Galatians 4 –

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4, 5

God has a plan laid out. Certain things have transpired at key moments just as He has determined. And more things will come about at the exact moment He has already decided. For those in the church, there is the hope of the rapture –

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52

This event is more fully described by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4. This is one of the “times and seasons” referred to by Jesus in Acts 1:7 and then by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:1. In other words, God has a plan that is set out, it will come about at the exact moment He has already pre-determined. As such, our own days of seeming waste and wheel spinning are all factored into what He has already decided.

Therefore, let us not get overly frustrated. Instead, we can say, “Lord, today was a day of futility to me, but it was a day that has met Your expectations for Your plan nonetheless.”

When we have this perspective, we can then let go of the frustrations and accept that we are exactly where the Lord wants us and we have done exactly what He knew we would do in order to continue the stream of human existence as it is prepared for His next big event in the unfolding redemptive scenario. Yes. God has a plan and the things we do are a part of it. Rest in that at the end of a seemingly difficult day.

Lord God, thank You that what we do is a part of Your great unfolding plan for the ages. Nothing is overlooked, nothing is unimportant, and all is coming about as it should. We can rest in that, knowing that You have it all under control. Amen.

Green pastures of Wisconsin.

Monday, 22 April 2024

And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. Acts 27:5

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

More literally, it reads, “And having sailed through the depth against Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra of Lycia” (CG).

Luke just noted that when they put out from Sidon, they had to sail under the lee of Cyprus due to contrary winds. This brought them between Cyprus and the main continent. He now notes, “And having sailed through the depth.”

Here are a couple of rare words. One is found only here, diapleó. It comes from dia (through) and pleó, to sail. Thus, they are sailing through the deep. The next word, translated as deep, is found only in Matthew 18:6 and in this verse, pelagos. In Matthew 18:6, it says –

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth [pelagos] of the sea.”

It signifies the high seas, meaning the deep. In this case, it is the depth of the waters north of Cyprus and south of the mainland.  Thus, Luke says this is “against Cilicia and Pamphylia.”

These would have been the two major regions on which the sea borders. They would have been to the starboard, or right side of their ship, as they crossed through this deep area of ocean. From there, using the first-person plural, he says, “we came to Myra of Lycia.”

Myra was a city in the province of Lycia. This is in the southwest area of Asia Minor. It has “Phrygia and Pisidia on the north, the Mediterranean on the south, Pamphylia on the east, and Carla on the west” (Barnes).

Life application: Luke is specific in his use of wording. A lot of this information seems unnecessary, but by providing it, we find things that are verifiable. As such, we can reasonably conclude that the events recorded by him really took place. As such, Paul really left to be taken to Rome.

From there, they really were caught up in the storm that will be described. They really were stranded on a particular island, and so forth. As these things seem certain to have occurred, then we can be more assured that the details concerning the spread of the gospel, the writing of Paul’s letters by the apostle, the accuracy of how the church was established, etc., actually occurred as well.

Luke’s careful attention to particular words and details gives us a really confirming sense that all of this is reliable and accurate. Therefore, let us hold fast to the idea that Paul’s epistles are exactly what is inspired by God for our edification and instruction during this church age. Luke and his writings stand as a reliable and exemplary witness to this fact.

Lord God Almighty, when we look into the contents, structure, and reliability of what is found in Scripture, it sure helps us to be confident that what it proclaims about Your plan of redemption is also sure and reliable. Thank You for those who have compiled it, preserved it, translated it, and evaluated it for us. Thank You, above all, for Jesus, the Subject of this wonderful gift. Amen.