Paul’s encouragement

“Men, you should have followed my advice and not have set sail from Crete, and thereby spared yourselves this damage and loss. And yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.” (1) Paul said, “Men, you should have followed my advice and not have set sail from Crete, and thereby spared yourselves this damage and loss.” Therefore, they must listen to the advice he is about to give. Paul was not blaming them for their past mistakes but rather directing their focus toward future hope. (2) Paul encouraged them by declaring: (a) Only the ship will be lost. (b) Not a single life will be lost. These words become the key to the events that unfold next. (3) Before leaving Fair Havens, Paul had said, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” This was his own judgment based on experience. However, here, he received a revelation from God, leading him to correct his earlier statement, now declaring with certainty: “there will be no loss of life among you.” “For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong, whom I also serve, came to me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar.’” (1) During the night, Paul received a message from an angel. The phrase “an angel of the God to whom I belong” distinguishes the true God Paul served from the false gods of the pagans. The angel told Paul that he would surely stand before Caesar. In other words, Paul would not die until that happened. (2) “God has graciously granted you all those who are sailing with you.” This means that everyone on board would be saved because of Paul. Paul encouraged them, saying, “Keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.” This emphasized that the one accomplishing this was the God whom Paul believed in. (3) Finally, Paul foretold that the ship would certainly run aground on some island. That island was Malta, but at this point, he had not been told its name. God’s guidance is given only as much as is needed at the time it is needed. The hope that Paul spoke of was a hope that comes from faith in God. Just before landing on Malta, all 276 people on the ship ate a meal and regained their strength. Paul provided them with both spiritual food and physical food. Let us learn from his well-balanced faith.