提要
亞基帕王對保羅的辯訴印象深刻，他聽了保羅的話後，就對巡撫非斯都說：「這人若沒有上告於凱撒就可以釋放了。」但保羅已向凱撒上訴，所以他被送往羅馬。就在前往羅馬的海路中，他們的船遭遇風暴的襲擊。
颶風的威力在海中抓起大浪，使他們的船失去控制，船上的人都慌了手腳。水手為了保住被風浪擊打過度的船，只得試著用纜索捆綁船底（那需要極大的勇氣和高超的技巧）。他們把船上較不必要的貨物拋棄在海中，其至連一些船具都捨了。但狂風繼續肆虐，他們的船也逐漸解體。路加告訴我們，由於連續幾天看不見太陽或星辰，船上的人都失去了得救的指望……除了保羅例外。
保羅在搖晃的船上站在眾人面前，勇氣十足的對這群軟弱、憔悴、害怕的「會眾」說：「你們放心，你們的性命一個也不失喪」（27：22）。他怎麼知道﹖因為有天使告訴他。
在那群心慌意亂的成員中，一定有一些人懷疑保羅的心智是否健全，然而，保羅看起來那麼有信心、那麼確定，結果證明，他是對的！
後來全船二百七十六位成員在馬耳他島登陸後，大夥終於有時間回想保羅那不凡的信心。他們的纜索不能確保船的安全，因為纜索早已不見了。但保羅的信心卻成真──他們一個也沒有失落。他的信心比任何纜索更可靠。執著不移的信心可以救你脫離風暴。要對上帝有信心。
|
Overview
King Agrippa was impressed with Paul. After hearing Paul’s message, he said to Governor Festus, “This man could have been set free, if he ha not appealed to Caesar” (26:32). But appeal to Caesar he had, so Paul must be sent to Rome. It was on the way to Rome by sea that the storm struck.
What a storm it was! The “Northeaster” they called it, winds of hurricane force creating massive waves, driving the ship before it. Totally out of control, totally chaotic. The ship took such a beating that the sailors actually tried to hold it together by tying ropes under and around the hull (a feat which must have taken courage and skill). They threw everything off the ship that wasn’t essential to life, including the ship’s tackle. But the storm raged on, and the ship continued to disintegrate. After a few days without seeing either the sun or the stars, Luke tells us they had given up hope of life itself – all with the exception of Paul, that is.
Paul stands before them on the rolling ship, his “congregation” weary, emaciated, and terrified, and has the temerity to say, “keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost” (27:22). How did he know? Because an angel told him.
You can be sure there were a few cynics in that distraught crew who wandered about Paul’s sanity, and yet, he was so confident, so sure. And so right!
Later, as the 276-crew members, soldiers, and prisoners dried themselves off on the island of Malta, they had time to reflect on the remarkable faith of that man, Paul. Their ropes had done nothing to stabilize the ship, for it had been lost. But Paul’s faith had proven true – not one man was lost. It had wrapped them more securely than any ropes could have done. Committed faith will save you from the storm. Have faith in God.
|
