October 27, 2026 - Acts 27

Luke reports, “And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. . . . [and] we put to sea” (27:1-2).  And so, they were off.  At Myra in Lycia, they transferred to another ship and, the sailors rejecting Paul’s counsel to seek shelter, they soon were facing fierce storms.  A “northeaster” struck them and, in great danger, they began jettisoning cargo.  Paul got in a good I-told-you-so:  “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss” (27:21). J  But Paul also added, “Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.  For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told’” (27:22-25).  Now, lest I end up typing a couple full pages, this installment must necessarily take a page from Paul Harvey.  For the young, he was a famous radio broadcaster and editorialist who also broadcast his famous “The Rest of the Story” episodes in which he would tell an historical story or anecdote and leave the listener with a cliff hanger as the broadcast went to an advertisement.  He would come back on, complete the story, and end with “And now . . . you know the rest of the story.”  Well, the rest of the story, tomorrow . . .  But there is this, today:  with Paul, we have a faithful God and a safe rest.

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,

will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

steadfast and sure while the billows roll;

fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

It is safely moored; ‘twill the storm withstand,

for ‘tis well-secured by the Savior's hand.

Though the tempest rage and the wild winds blow,

not an angry wave shall our boat o’erflow.

When our eyes behold through the gath’ring night

the city of gold, our harbor bright,

we shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore,

with the storms all past forevermore.   --Priscilla J. Owens (1882)