In search of 2 Acts: A meditation on Acts 28:30-31

The author working on 2 Acts?

“Paul lived for two years in his rented house. He welcomed everyone who came to visit. He urgently presented all matters of the kingdom of God. He explained everything about Jesus Christ. His door was always open.” Acts 28:30-31, The Message

“Whatever be the truth, the fate of Paul is secondary to that of the gospel. The final picture is of Paul preaching to the Gentiles the same message which he had preached throughout Acts with boldness and without hindrance. All the emphasis lies on that last phrase...Nothing that men can do can stop the progress and ultimate victory of the gospel. I. Howard Marshall in Acts: The Tyndale New Testament Commentary Series

A companion in the journey

And so the Book of Acts ends. Is it “The End” or, more properly, “The End?” In my year and a half personal study of The Book of Acts I have enjoyed the company of fellow-travelers who have accompanied me along the way – John R.W. Stott, I. Howard Marshall, Ajith Fernando, Sir William Ramsay, Paul Maier and a few of the Church fathers (mainly, Chrysostom) – serving at times like experienced tour guides pointing out things a novice like myself might have overlooked. Their observations have been insightful and helpful in understanding the work and I come away with a far more appreciation for it. It is definitely far more than just a history book. Good scholars that they are at times they have disagreed with one another, arriving at different conclusions about certain events in the story.

Certain that Luke was planning a third installment

Take, for example, the “abrupt” conclusion to the book itself. Sir William makes a strong case that Luke had always fully intended on writing 2 Acts but was prevented from doing so because of his premature death in the same persecution that ultimately claimed Peter's and Paul's life. Stott, Marshall and a whole lot of others who know their stuff counter that the enigmatic ending was Luke's intention all along: the great Story begun in Acts 1:8 will continue until its consummation at the End of the Age when the Lord Jesus returns as promised. Maybe both groups are right – while Luke had planned to write about what happened after Paul's release from his two year house arrest in Rome and the rest of his travels to Iberia and back unto martyrdom, Luke would have most likely ended his second treatise on a high note: the Founders may be gone but the Gospel continues to be carried forth into all the world.

Did he find out about the rain in Spain?

Maybe the question to ask is not Why does it end so abruptly but How does the abrupt end make me feel? After all that Paul has been through to get to Rome – getting nearly lynched in Jerusalem, the two-year house arrest in Caesarea which included several hearings beforeboth Jewish and Roman officials, the harrowing journey to Rome and at long last arriving there only to discover the same obstinacy among his Jewish brethren there as he found back in Palestine – is this really how his story should end? It leaves me wanting to know what happened to him, specifically with his hearing before the Roman Senate? As some speculate, was he released? And did he make his trip to Spain? Or did his two-year genial house arrest in Rome take a drastic turn due to the madness of Emperor Nero which led to his speedy demise and martyrdom? Whatever happened to Luke? Did he, as I have already speculated, die in the same wave of persecution that claimed the lives of Paul and Peter? Or was that his intent all along - to leave us hanging so that we would put ourselves in Paul's shoes and carry on what he and the other apostles began?

Frankly, after a year and a half of ruminating on this text I don't want it to end. I want to hear “the rest of the story”? I want to read Luke's proposed “third installment” even if he never intended on writing one. What's odd to me is that after my year-long sojourn in the patriarchs in 2011, I was eager to return to the study of Jesus as told by Luke in 2012. But now after a year and a half in Acts, I am hesitant to leave the study of Paul, Peter, Luke, Timothy, Aristarchus and all the brothers. Not because I don't think I need to learn more of Jesus – God knows I do – but simply because I have grown attached to these guys and their daring and their resolute determination to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. I want to know what happened to them, what they accomplished and their end. I think that's why I began reading Eusebius (The Church History) - out of the desire to learn of the fates of the men who followed in the path of Peter and Paul who in turn were following Christ.

Which brings me back to the idea of a Third Volume. I want the story to continue. And maybe that is the genius of Luke in the choice of his ending – it makes you want to look for more installments. And ultimately you do find them but not within Scripture so much as in the lives of those who have gone before us and those who continue to carry the gospel (myself included) up to the present time. Like Lloyd Oglivie once wrote, “The abrupt ending leaves us with the challenge and opportunity to allow the Spirit to write the next chapter in the Book of Acts today in and through us!” I pastor a small fellowship in a small town in a county in our State not known for its economic power nor political clout. But it's the place where he has planted me and to the best of my ability I will continue to preach the Scriptures, baptize and teach disciples and do all the regular kinds of stuff that come with the territory of gospel work. One day another will carry on the work I do now and within a few years after my departure to another post or to my inheritance, my name will be less known but Lord willing, the gospel will continue to be preached at the fellowship that currently meets at the corner of 8^th and Leonard in Chetek. It's how it should be. Like Frodo reminded Sam while they were ascending the steps of Cirith Ungol that while the great tale never ends “...the people in them come, and go when their part's ended. Our part will end later – or sooner” (“The Stairs of Cirith Ungol” in The Two Towers). Until that time, may I be found faithful and play whatever is my part to play in the greatest Story ever in the making.

Dr. Paul Maier's conclusion of his little book First Christians is a fitting conclusion to my devotional study of Acts:

“All of the apostles endured great hardships for the faith, many suffering martyrdom itself. Not one of them could see the ultimate triumph of Christianity – except through the eyes of faith and the inspiration of the same Spirit who arrived with the first Pentecost and never withdrew. Though at the time the Christian cause seemed persecuted, burned, crucified, beheaded, and even eaten out of existence by the greatest power in the world, a greater power was at work that would see Christianity conquer Rome a little more than two centuries later, and “the ends of the earth” after that, in Jesus' own prediction.”

“It was Christ, not Caesar, who captured the future.”

I'm a front-line worker, too

Paul walked here

“And so we came to Rome. The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged.” (Acts 28:14, NIV)

“At the forty-third milestone was a place called Forum of Appius. Both here and ten miles farther on at a village named Three Taverns, Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus were happily surprised to find a delegation from the Christians of Rome. The church there had been alerted to his arrival, and possibly many of the names found in Roman 16 were clustering along the sides of the Appian Way in a grand welcoming committee. What enormously cheered the travelers must have astonished Julius.” First Christians by Paul L. Maier

Like all pastors, I get a lot of mail from ministries of various causes and opportunities appealing for my money, prayer and whatever else they think I can offer them in their hour of need. Yesterday I opened a packet from a respected ministry which had a cover letter that had in large bold letters at the top -

Adopt a Front-Line Worker

This particular ministry is an advocate for the persecuted Church and I'm sure they do a lot of good stuff. And I get what they're trying to do – round up people who will pray and, if possible, give to a gospel worker in countries considered closed or hostile toward the gospel. I have no problem with that. What I take issue with is the phrase “front-line worker”. It makes me think of an evangelistic outreach that a number of fellowships in our area partnered together with back in the mid-90s. It was a worthy cause, the church who hosted the event was packed out nightly and several individuals made professions of faith. But every night, right before the offering was received, the leader of the traveling ministry would proudly tell us that his ministry was a “front-line” ministry and that our dollars were helping move the gospel forward. I'm sure they were. And I'm sure he and his associates used the money for the cause they said it was for. But that phrase - “front-line ministry” - stuck in my craw. Because the implication was that other ministries – specifically, my ministry with its hum-drum Sunday to Wednesday to Sunday rhythm was...well...not the front-line. I was “playing” while he and his team were “fighting”. I was working a garbage scow on the back-waters of the Pacific while he was in harm's way in Leyte Gulf.

Okay, maybe it was what he was taught to say by the larger ministry he worked for. Or the packed house and the eager and willing response of the crowd got him a little carried away in the moment (but night after night after night?) I wouldn't be surprised if some of those same folks who heard that appeal took money they otherwise would have normally given their fellowship and gave it to this guy and his “front-line” work. After all, if you give it to your local fellowship some of your offering may just go to pay the light bill whereas supporting a “front-line” worker doing “front-line” work advances the kingdom “in the trenches” where the real “fight”is at (or so some folks would be inclined to believe.)

But in the Kingdom of God, where is the “front-line”? About a hundred years ago when doughboys from America marched off to France to beat back the Hun they sang the ballad by George M. Cohan, “Over There”

Over there, over there,

Send the word, send the word over there

That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming

The drums rum-tumming everywhere.

If you don't have an aversion for this kind of music, it's the kind of song to get you marching somewhere, preferably to the “front lines” to resist the evil empire that threatens to subdue freedom-loving people everywhere. In a similar way, when we pray over someone bound for the mission field in what used to be called “darkest” Africa it is fairly normal to think of these individuals as some elite squad being inserted deep behind enemy lines for the saving of many Private Ryans while we carry on with our quiet but otherwise mundane lives back in the States. Except for this – it doesn't wash with the record of Scripture which says that the so-called “front-line” is not over there but everywhere. Which means all of us – not just the traveling-evangelist type or the missionaries bound for war-torn South Sudan – are engaged in the epic struggle to advance the Kingdom of God to the ends of the earth.

A novel Church growth plan

Following the martyrdom of Stephen in the mid-30s, life in Jerusalem for disciples of Jesus was chaotic. Saul is on a rampage rounding up followers of the Messiah everywhere he finds them. Most don't stick around to give him that pleasure but do what people have always done in times like this – get out of Dodge.

“Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus.” (Acts 8:4, Msg)

They were running for their lives but they weren't mum of why they were fleeing. They didn't seek to keep a low profile. They shared the faith and spread the Word. The irony is palpable – even while he is trying to stomp the movement out Saul is inadvertently helping it spread. As merchants and traders wherever they landed they found opportunity to share about Jesus the Messiah. Some time later when the dust settles and Peter and John are sent down to Samaria to confirm the rumors that many in this region have received the gospel, they find that Philip, a former associate of Stephen's, and others like him have been here for awhile working the Samarian fields. All that's left for the apostles to do is lay their hands on these new Samarian disciples and affirm God's work and impart Spirit baptism (see Acts 8:14-17).

Some of those unnamed missionaries from Jerusalem got further afield than Samaria, however.

Once a hub of the Christian movement

“Those who had been scattered by the persecution triggered by Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews. Then some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch started talking to Greeks, giving them the Message of the Master Jesus. God was pleased with what they were doing and put his stamp of approval on it—quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master.” (Acts 11:22-24, Msg)

When the home office hears about the strange happenings in this city in what is today southern Turkey they deputize Barnabus to go up there and investigate. What he finds there is a thriving fellowship of believers that is having influence in their community without any help from the apostles in Jerusalem. In time, he'll recognize that they need the help of a good teacher and will go in search of Saul the former persecutor and invite him to return to Antioch to join the ministry there. But the point is way before Barnabus or Saul arrived “over there”, the battle for Antioch was being capably handled by men whose names we'll never know.

Years later when Paul at long last arrives in the capital city of the Empire he doesn't come as a master tactician ready to take the fight to the pagans there. On the contrary, he comes as a prisoner who is warmly greeted by a large delegation of disciples of the Church of Jesus in Rome who have heard rumors of his arrival. Long before Paul and later Peter arrive in the Capital, unnamed disciples had beat them to it and were gathering together regularly to strengthen and encourage one another. 

A few of the Church's greatest hits

He was all the rage in his day

   

There will always be men and women who God raises up to articulate his message for a certain time and hour. We'd be tempted to call them “stars” if it weren't so unbiblical – Peter, Paul, John, Origen of Alexandria (3^rd Century), Augustine (4^th Century), St. Benedict and St. Patrick (6^th Century), Bernard of Clairvaux (12^th Century), Martin Luther and John Calvin (16^th Century), George Whitfield and John Wesley (18^th Cenutry), William Carey, Adoniram Judson and Hudson Taylor (19^th Century), Billy Graham, Loren Cunningham and Keith Green (20^th Century). For a short time they and a lot of others I haven't mentioned captured the attention of their generation and were in the spotlight, front-liners the lot of them. But for every D.L. Moody who barnstorms across the Midwest all the way to England proclaiming the gospel to packed houses and theaters there are how many other Sunday School teachers quietly sharing the love of God with the kids in their Sunday School class? In the late 1800s, Moody was a household name in evangelical circles but who had heard of Edward Kimball who had been Moody's Sunday School teacher and had been the very first to share the gospel with him? In the late 20^th Century Billy Graham was pretty much everywhere sharing the gospel to packed auditoriums in city-wide crusades. Who didn't at that time turn on the television only to find that their regular programming had been preempted by this evangelist from North Carolina who was calling people to repent and be born again? But who remembers Albert McMakin, the farmhand on the farm that Billy grew up on who finally persuaded his boss' son to come to a series of revival meetings by promising he could drive the truck? Billy did and though he was a Presbyterian went forward to receive Christ. Who can tell how that brokered deal between McMakin and Graham has influenced the course of history?

His name will live on

Definite front-liners

That story has occurred repeatedly throughout the history of the Church and will continue to be repeated until her consummation. In the congregation I serve as pastor there is a couple who have been serving with Youth With A Mission for over twenty years now. During that time they have led many schools in Hawaii, the Philippines and now northwest Wisconsin. Many of their former students are missionaries themselves now in Asia and many other places in the world. In the 1980s they were farming south of Chetek and Duane was pastoring a small fellowship in nearby New Auburn. Following the tragic death of Keith Green in 1982, there were a series of memorial concerts all across America. Duane and his wife, Lois, attended one of them and though they were serving Jesus as both farmers and individuals serving a local fellowship they stood when the invitation was given to go wherever the Lord would lead them. The way Lois describes the moment it was almost impulsive but standing up in that meeting has led to a life of ministry to foreign nationals in places in out-of-the-way places like Dbunko, Palanan, Philippines and Weyerhaeuser, Wisconsin. Believe me, they, too, are front-liners. Their faithfulness and obedience has led to the advancement of the Kingdom of God as well. They just don't get the press that Franklin Graham or Bill Hybel does.

So we can go ahead and adopt that “front-line” worker in the County of Timbuktu if we feel so inclined so long as we don't forget that wherever we are – in Chicago, in Minneapolis or in Chetek, Wisconsin or Wairaka, Uganda – the front line is not “over there” but right here if we have eyes to see it. All the more reason to take the Apostle Paul's words to heart, to “...don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort” (1 Cor 15:58, Msg). I wholeheartedly agree.

Godspeed and may the wind be in your sails: A farewell to VBS 2014

Another Vacation Bible School is now in the books. This past week Chetek's one-and-only “Multi-Church VBS” was held at Chetek United Methodist. “SonTreasure Island” was well-attended (67 kids plus approximately 30 volunteers) and as usual, was lots of fun. Who would have thunk that the Methodists were not only open to the idea of having sand in their fellowship room (on their relatively new carpet) but were the ones who came up with the idea in the first place! There were little waterfalls and palm trees in different rooms of their facility along with all kinds of decorations that gave the illusion that we really were on an island somewhere in the Caribbean. Having a kindly pirate walk around throughout the day as well as the presence of a real live parrot (Duke not Polly) only helped contribute to the atmosphere.

His name is Duke not Polly

"Arggh!"

Of course you find sand at the beach

"You think you've got troubles..."

Paul may get to school yet

In 2 ½ days (SonTreasure's planning group chose to conduct a 5-day VBS in half the time with a Sunday evening, and all-day Monday and Tuesday faith experience) the kids raised $818 and some odd-change for Ekisa Ministries, an orphanage in Jinja, Uganda that cares for approximately two dozen children with various types of disabilities. Our goal is to raise $1800 which would enable three kids from Ekisa to go to school. We're nearly half-way there and the five participating fellowships have yet to receive an offering.

When we moved to town in 1991 there were five Vacation Bible Schools that were held during any given summer in Chetek – at Prairie Lake Covenant, Faith Baptist, Christ Lutheran, Chetek Lutheran and the Multi-Church VBS (Advent, Alliance, UMC and Refuge). What that meant is that if you were a parent of an elementary-age child you could pretty much sew up planning half of their summer mornings by just enrolling them in one school after another (and some did just that thing!) But the dynamics of the various faith communities have changed over the last twenty years. Prairie Lake, Faith and Christ Lutheran have all ceased to provide this kind of faith experience at their respective fellowship and this year for the very first time Chetek Lutheran joined “the Four.” We were only too happy to have them on board.

The White Witch points the way ('12)

Since the mid-1980s our “Multi-Church VBS” has been presented annually to the kids of our community. In my time here we have been to SonCreek Junction (2001) and SonHarvest County Fair (2003). We've turned different facilities into an army base (Boot Camp, 2009), an ancient market (Jerusalem Marketplace, 2008) and even a castle (SonCastle Faire, 1999). We've been to Narnia (A Journey to Narnia, 2012), held a sports camp (Mega Sports Camp, 2010) and dug for gold (Gold Rush, 2011). We've been to the savannah of Africa (SonMountain, 1992), the wilds of the Okefenoke Swamp (SonRise Balloon Adventure, 1997) and down a perilous river gorge (SonCanyon River Adventure, 2002). Some of the kids who have grown up attending VBS have gone on to serve at it (at this year's VBS there were kids helping in rec who not too long ago were playing in those games as participants and our youngest daughter, Emma [18], was one of our teachers.)  

Classroom at SonRise Balloon Adventure ('97)

The rec crew from Jerusalem Marketplace ('08)

SonZone Discovery Center ('00)

But to me the most remarkable thing about this VBS is that over nearly thirty years the players have changed (none of “the founders” remain in our community and I am the only one left who has participated in some way or fashion in the past 22 campaigns) and from time to time the format as well (we've tried an evening school, a family school, an off-site school and this year's half-week version) but the message remains the same: Jesus loves children and calls them to himself. Granted there are many ways to go about affecting the growth of the kingdom of God in our kids; VBS is but one way to do it. And while tradition can become a dead-thing this annual coming-together persists in our town and has proven over time to be life-giving to those who attend as well as to those who serve.

They throw a good party

There is one other subtle and yet tangible benefit to this annual tradition: it sparks and promotes unity within the Body of Christ in our community. For several months leading up to VBS, folks from the participating fellowships meet regularly to strategize, brainstorm, dream about and pray together for our upcoming school. A working harmony naturally develops which in turn fosters camaraderie and, if you will, Esprit de corps. Frankly, it's just a whole lot of fun. This year, Refuge shut down on the Sunday VBS began and joined Chetek UMC for a combined worship gathering. Pastor Carrie asked me the next day, "So when do we do that again?" 

The last time we were on Main Street

When the party is over and the last decoration is taken down and put away for me its rather a melancholy thing, like closing night at the Red Barn when the set is deconstructed and we all say good-bye. The good news is that if the status quo remains by March of next year we'll all start coming together again planning the 2015 school at Advent Christian. I always like it when it's there because we're on the main drag and that gives us high visibility. Some of our best sets have been there (SonCastle Faire, 1999, and Gold Rush, 2011). But what I like best of all is being with some of my friends from the other fellowships in town working together to see the Kingdom come in greater fullness to our city. I can't wait.

For better or for worse: An open letter to someone I know who just got baptized

Baptism in the Red Cedar

[The acting governor of Egypt] ordered me to abandon my Christianity, assuming that if I were to change the rest would follow me. But I replied in effect, “We must obey God rather then men” [Acts 5:29], that I worship the only God and no other, and would never cease to be a Christian. At that he ordered us to leave for a village near the desert, called Cephro. - Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria (Egypt) circa 251 AD 

So, yesterday you decided to follow Jesus in water baptism. Good for you. My only regret is that I could not be there to witness it. Despite how secular a country we are becoming there are still lots of people who profess Christian faith of one kind or another. But not everybody goes public with their profession. Some prefer to keep that on the “down-low” for fear that they will be perceived as being weird or goofy or, God-forbid, serious about their religion.

That was a great day

A few years ago I had the privilege of leading a man to Christ who by his own admission was a no-good drunk. When he was a kid, he had gone to church now and again but at 40 he hadn't been near one in a real long time. Like you, he prayed a prayer inviting Jesus Christ into his heart. And a month or so later he was baptized just like you were yesterday (although he got dunked in a lake not in an indoor pool). A little while later I overheard him sharing his story with someone else and this is how he explained it: “When I was born-again it was like I got engaged to Jesus. But when I got baptized it was like I got married to him.” I was struck by the language he used - “engaged”, “married” - he hadn't been a Christian long enough to pick up this kind of lingo by simply attending the weekly gatherings of our fellowship. No, Someone else had been instructing him because in that statement he was giving about as clear a definition of baptism that I can think of.

One day this will be you

One day far in your future you will mostly likely get married. And on that day people will gather to see you and your intended share vows with one another. It will be a day worth remembering for years to come because on that day you will “go public” with your devotion to the man you will one day call “husband.” He'll give you a ring and forever after when people see that on your left ring-finger they'll know, “well, she may be a look-er but she's off the market.” Creative as you are, you'll probably come up with your own vows but whatever you write they'll be an echo of the promises that couples have shared with each other time out of mind:

...to have and to hold...

...for better, for worse...

...for richer, for poorer...

...in sickness and in health...

...'til death parts us...

In other words, for always.

To be baptized is to say the same thing: To go public with what one guy refers to as the most important love relationship in your life; to make a statement to yourself and anyone else who happens to be paying attention that your heart belongs to Another. In some countries today that kind of profession comes at great price. People have been known to suffer bodily harm, economic hardship and emotional duress for publicly confessing Jesus as the Lord of their life. Jesus promised as much which is why he said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” which is to say he's in the driver seat not you. And if that's the case there may be times he may take you where you never planned on going or even chose to go. It comes with the territory of being a disciple of Jesus Christ in any day as Dionysius could tell you.

The man himself

Who was he? Dionysius was the recognized leader of the Church of Jesus in Alexandria, Egypt, which at the time was quite a hub of Christian faith. As part of the Roman Empire, there was always an imperial presence in the city a fact that usually didn't affect the Christians there at all. Until Decius (249 AD) became emperor and after him, Gallus (251 AD). These guys were the first emperors to implement an organized and systematic rounding-up of anyone who wouldn't take the empire-wide loyalty oath, “Caesar is Lord!” Usually that meant Christians and those who refused to swear by the Emperor paid the ultimate penalty, usually after enduring great suffering first. Of course, some weaseled out of it and publicly denied that they had any association with Jesus, took the oath but, as they would later claim, with their fingers crossed. Others had friends in high places who claimed that they had, in fact, taken the oath when in fact they hadn't. But there were always were and always will be those who will be stubborn about the right kinds of things when called upon, the “7000 who have never bent the knee to Baal” (see 1 Kings 19). Dionysius was one of them. When he refused to take the oath, he was banished from his home and sent to live in what eventually became a penal colony for Christians like himself. His response to the governor's demand was, in so many words, “I am a Christian for always.”

Which brings me back to the whole idea of baptism being something like marriage in that it's for always too. Anybody who has been married for awhile knows that every good marriage is ultimately a labor of love, in that you have to work at it. As wonderful as your husband will be he will, from time to time, stress you out perhaps to the degree that you may think to yourself, “Did I make a mistake? Did I promise too much? (Just know if that happens then you'll know for sure you're a married woman) But most likely you and your guy will talk it through and work it out, forgive and forget, and move on. Real love and devotion is like that – you stick with each other through thick and thin, good times and bad, for always.

Universal symbol for "spoken for"

Being a disciple of Jesus requires the same kind of love. In my opinion, there are a lot of people who don't have a problem with me or any other Christian doing “our thing.” But to follow Christ means more often than not you will feel out of place and out of step. The pressure will be to conform to the mentality and habits of your classmates or your future colleagues. You know, it's okay to be religious so long as you're not too serious about it. But in my mind that's like someone saying, “It's okay to be married just so you don't get carried away about it.” Is there really any other way to do marriage? If you're not all-in, why get married at all?

So may God bless you at this juncture of your life and may he give you the grace to continue to choose him when tempted to do things on the sly or to quit altogether. Remember, as much as you chose to follow him and publicly express your devotion to him yesterday he, first, chose you to be in relationship with him and will give you the grace to stick with him for better or for worse.

Surviving the Storm (a meditation from Acts 27)

“Next day, out on the high seas again and badly damaged now by the storm, we dumped the cargo overboard. The third day the sailors lightened the ship further by throwing off all the tackle and provisions. It had been many days since we had seen either sun or stars. Wind and waves were battering us unmercifully, and we lost all hope of rescue.”

Acts 27:18-20, The Message

“Again trials, again contrary winds. See how the life of the saints is so composed of all these things: he escaped the court, and they fall into a shipwreck and a storm.” Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople (347-407 AD)

For most of us, when we think of Luke's companion volume to his gospel probably some of the great moments in early Church History come to mind - the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), the conversion of Saul-later-turned-Paul the Apostle (Acts 9), the conversion of the first Gentile (Acts 10) and the council in Jerusalem where policy was made that Gentiles did not have to first convert to Judaism before they were considered full fledged disciples of Christ (Acts 15). And while Acts is history it's so much more: it's biography (specifically regarding the Apostle Paul), theology (e.g., what it means to be saved, who is “in” the greater family of God and the ongoing ministry of Jesus in the life of the Church through the Spirit), rhetoric (there are 26 recorded speeches in the book spoken by both Christians and non-Christians alike), poignant drama – Pentecost (Acts 2), the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3), and Peter's “great escape” from prison (Acts 12) to name three - and adventure. Acts 27 is the great sea-story of the book which one commentator considers “...the most vivid descriptive writing in the whole Bible” (Richard Longenecker), “like an excerpt from an exciting novel” (Ajith Fernando) says another. And it is good reading and given that Luke is on board what we have is not a second-hand report of a harrowing adventure but a testimonial written by one of its survivors.

But when I re-read it the other day I was struck by a thought I had never had before in previous readings of the chapter: “Why?” Given all the weighty matters that Luke has been addressing through his second volume why devote so much space to a perilous and near-fatal adventure? I was relieved to find that at least one commentator agreed: “It is surprising to find fifty-nine verses [he must be including the first part of Acts 28 to come to this number] devoted to a journey in a history book with a strong theological orientation. As we seek to apply this passage the most important questions to ask are, 'Why did Luke devote so much space to this journey?' and 'What does he want to achieve from this passage?'” (Fernando, The NIV Application Commentary for Acts). Why indeed.

When this episode of Acts begins, Paul is but one of many prisoners aboard a ship bound for Rome; by the time the ship hits a sandbar off of the island of Malta and its near 300 passengers drag themselves to shore a few weeks later Paul emerges as the unofficial leader of the venture. There's a tale that warrants listening to. How is it that a man under guard and one of many prisoners on board, comes to be recognized by the Roman centurion, at least, as someone whose counsel is ignored only at great peril? And other than being a cool story to read, why put it in the Bible? What can we moderns who prefer travel by air than by sea glean from the telling of it again?

If juxtaposition is the literary technique of placing two opposite things side by side in order to make a point,

Acts 27 is certainly a primary example of it. On the one hand you have the power-brokers – the professionals (in this case, the captain and his crew), the owner (who Luke informs us is on board) and the authorities (i.e., the Roman centurion and his men). They are the ones in charge, calling the shots and making the decisions that influence the fate of the lives of everyone on board. Opposite them are the prisoners, perhaps chained but definitely confined and there against their will and among them are three disciples of Jesus – Paul, Luke and Aristarchus. The contrast could not be greater – power and might aside weakness and impotence.

It was the wrong time of the year, really, to be sailing across the Med and it took them longer than usual to get to the half-way point at Fair Havens on the island of Crete. Both the captain and the owner are eager to press on but Paul smells trouble on the wind. He is no rube, mind you. Paul was an ancient-world equivalent of today's frequent flier having crossed these waters before. In fact, over the course of the last fifteen years he had logged thousands of leagues at sea, certainly enough to be able to report to the Corinthians of having been shipwrecked three times (2 Corinthians 11). So even though he is a man in chains and expected to keep his place he pipes up and warns the centurion and the crew that if they leave the relative confines of the bay disaster will befall the ship resulting in the doom of some or all on board (v. 10). Centurion Julius, however, will have none of it. Deferring to the counsel of those who do this sort of thing for a living when a gentle wind out of the south begins to blow, he gives the go ahead to make sail for a better harbor some forty miles west.

No sooner are they out at sea, however, and their beautiful day for sailing turns quickly ominous when a wind of hurricane force arises and drives the ship far out to sea. After a few days even the experienced hands on deck recognize that apart from good fortune the sea will claim their ship before they reach a safe harbor. After several more days of this, Paul speaks up for the second time.

“Friends, you really should have listened to me back in Crete. We could have avoided all this trouble and trial. But there’s no need to dwell on that now. From now on, things are looking up! I can assure you that there’ll not be a single drowning among us, although I can’t say as much for the ship—the ship itself is doomed.

“Last night God’s angel stood at my side, an angel of this God I serve, saying to me, ‘Don’t give up, Paul. You’re going to stand before Caesar yet—and everyone sailing with you is also going to make it.’ So, dear friends, take heart. I believe God will do exactly what he told me. (27:21-25, Msg)

Upon first reading, it seems out of place to hear Paul upbraid them with a “I told you so” but he doesn't dwell on the matter and quickly seeks to encourage everyone who will listen. “We're gonna make it. God has told me so hang in there even though the ship will certainly sink.” Luke is mute on the response of the men to such a statement. Do they mock him? Do they raise their eyebrows at the old man's admonition? Or do they simply strengthen their grip on whatever it is they've been holding on to while the ship continues to toss about endlessly upon the sea?

For fourteen days the storm rages without respite and then at last the crew senses that the ship is approaching land. Soundings are taken and their instincts are confirmed – the ship will run aground soon. It's at that point that some of the sailors lower the lifeboat feigning to let out further anchors in order to slow the ship down but Paul sees through the ruse and speaks up a third time addressing Julius: 

“If these sailors don’t stay with the ship, we’re all going down.” (v. 31). 

If at the beginning of the story Julius brushed Paul off and was annoyed by his meddling in matters that don't concern him two weeks later his opinion of Paul has radically changed. When Paul warns him that these sailors are abandoning ship at everyone's peril, he adroitly orders that the lines be cut loose. The irony is acute. As Chrysostom pointed out, “The centurion who was free needed his prisoner who was in chains, the skillful pilot needed him who was not a pilot, or rather, who was the true pilot” (Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles). With the lifeboat adrift, now everyone is definitely in the same boat, their lives, from a human point of view, in the hands of a guy whose own hands are chained.

As dawn approaches, Paul speaks up for the fourth and final time:

“This is the fourteenth day we’ve gone without food. None of us has felt like eating! But I urge you to eat something now. You’ll need strength for the rescue ahead. You’re going to come out of this without even a scratch!”

He broke the bread, gave thanks to God, passed it around, and they all ate heartily—276 of us, all told! With the meal finished and everyone full, the ship was further lightened by dumping the grain overboard. (27:33-38, Msg)

Land at last

Twice during their journey it's Paul's voice that has steadied men who are seasick, exhausted and besides themselves with fear. While all hell is breaking loose he retains his sense of composure because God has assured him that he and everyone else on board will make it. It is a word of hope in the midst of a literal storm. And therein maybe lies one of the morals of the story. Christians experience hardship and trouble just like everyone else on the planet. Our devotion to Christ does not necessarily shield us from the effects of gruesome war, catastrophic flooding, murderous terrorists or devastating tornadoes. Frequently we are, like Paul and his traveling companions, literally in the same boat as our pagan neighbors and friends hanging on for dear life. Our houses burn down like theirs or are swallowed mercilessly by a river of mud like theirs. We may be unfortunate to find ourselves on the floor of a classroom with the rest of our classmates while a crazed gunman blasts away. But at times like these what is needed are men and women who know God and have a sense of what he is doing at that particular moment. What's more, that knowledge provokes them to wade into whatever trouble they are facing and by word and deed profess that despite the trauma we may be facing God is here. It's that kind of word that can turn an awful circumstance into something that can be borne by Christian and pagan alike.

Shortly after their hastily devoured meal, the ship does indeed run aground. The force of the relentless surf will quickly pound the boat to splinters. So the guards make ready to kill the prisoners. It is a trade rule of the Legion that if the prisoner under your watch escapes that you suffer the punishment that would have been his. But wanting to spare Paul's life (v. 43), Commander Julius forbids his men from doing so and orders everyone over the side and make for shore the best they can. A short while later all 276 men lay about the beach alive and relatively unharmed. Just as Paul had promised they lost their ship but they had all survived. That they had the author wants us to know was due largely in part not to the sailing prowess of the crew or the competence of the soldiers but to a word of God spoken to one of his own, a prisoner no less, who in turn had shared it with everyone else. As far as Luke is concerned, this was the difference-maker as their lives hung by a thread – a word “fitly spoken and in due season” (Proverbs 25:11, AMP). 

The monument on Malta that commemorates the saving of a crew because of a word from God