The Book of Acts is the story of Christ's continuing presence in the Church after His ascension. We have already...
The Book of Acts is the story of Christ's continuing presence in the Church after His ascension. We have already read how the apostles preached, healed, and comforted; that is, they did everything Jesus had commanded them when He said: "He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do" (Jn 14:12). Today's episode continues this parallel between Christ's earthly, tangible presence described in the Gospel and the actions of His disciples.
Once again there is a ship before us, once again a storm, frightened and desperate people, and in their midst someone who sees imitation of Christ as the meaning of his life. He does not stop the storm with an authoritative word, but he comforts the people, gives them hope of salvation, repeating words once spoken by the Teacher: "Not a hair from the head of any of you will perish." As Paul wrote, not each of us is called to perform real miracles and signs. But his appeal applies to everyone: "Imitate me, as I imitate Christ." And today we read how this happens in life...
27
27:27 The fourteenth night - Since they left Crete, Act 27:18-19. In the Adriatic sea - So the ancients called all that part of the Mediterranean, which lay south of Italy.
27:30 The sailors were attempting to flee out of the ship - Supposing the boat would go more safely over the shallows.
27:31 Unless these mariners abide in the ship - Without them ye know not how to manage her, ye cannot be saved - He does not say we.That they would not have regarded. The soldiers were not careful for the lives of the prisoners: nor was Paul careful for his own. We may learn hence, to use the most proper means for securityand success, even while we depend on Divine Providence, and wait for the accomplishment of God's own promise. He never designed any promise should encourage rational creatures to act in an irrational manner; or to remain inactive, when he has given them natural capacities of doing something, at least, for their own benefit. To expect the accomplishment of any promise, without exerting these, is at best vain and dangerous presumption, if all pretence of relying upon it be not profane hypocrisy.
27:33 Ye continue fasting, having taken nothing - No regular meal, through a deep sense of their extreme danger. Let us not wonder then, if men who have a deep sense of their extreme danger of everlasting death, for a time forget even to eat their bread, or to attend to their worldly affairs. Much less let us censure that as madness, which may be the beginning of true wisdom.
27:34 This is for your preservation - That ye may be the better able to swim to shore.
27:36 Then they were all encouraged - By his example, as well as words.
27:38 Casting out the wheat - So firmly did they now depend on what St. Paul had said.
27:39 They did not know the land - Which they saw near them: having a level shore.
27:40 Loosing the rudder bands - Their ships had frequently two rudders, one on each side. were fastened while they let the ship drive; but were now loosened, when they had need of them to steer her into the creek.
27:41 A place where two seas met - Probably by reason of a sand bank running parallel with the shore.
27:42 The counsel - Cruel, unjust, ungrateful.
27:44 They all escaped safe to land - And some of them doubtless received the apostle as a teacher sent from God. These would find their deliverance from the fury of the sea, but an earnest of an infinitely greater deliverance, and are long ere this lodged with him in a more peaceful harbour than Malta, or than the earth could afford.