Today's reading concludes the account of the miraculous salvation of Paul and his companions during the storm. And here another, practical side of the witness becomes clearly visible. Indeed, Paul, knowing in advance that neither he himself nor his companions would have to perish, managed to...
Today's reading concludes the account of the miraculous salvation of Paul and his companions during the storm. And here another, practical side of the witness becomes clearly visible. Indeed, Paul, knowing in advance that neither he himself nor his companions would have to perish, managed, as is evident, to give hope to his comrades in misfortune. But, probably, as always happens in such cases, despair fought with hope in their souls. It is not surprising that they ate nothing for two weeks (v. 33): stress and the feeling of complete hopelessness of a situation usually deprive a person of appetite, often even causing a complete aversion to food. And seasickness, probably, must have played its role as well. Be that as it may, the situation had to be reversed, otherwise everyone sailing was threatened with death from starvation.
And then Paul sets an example for the rest: he takes bread and, having read the prayer of blessing usual for Jews in such cases, begins to eat in front of his companions (vv. 34–35). Of course, there would be nothing unusual in this fact itself, were it not for the situation that had developed. As can be seen, Paul's companions were nevertheless more prepared for death than for life; perhaps they did not eat precisely because they no longer saw any sense in sustaining their life, which, as it seemed to them, would very soon be cut short anyway. But the apostle, by his example, showed them that there is hope and it is too early to give up. By doing so, as is evident, he instilled in his companions a confidence that encouraged them and made them eat (v. 36).
It would seem that all this has no direct bearing on Paul's witness about God, Who sends salvation. But it only seems so at first glance. In reality, such behavior is also a witness, and first of all — a witness of trust in God and in the revelation received from Him. The apostle's companions, as can be seen, both believed and at the same time did not believe in the promised salvation; Paul, however, believed in it unconditionally, so much so that no one who saw him had even a shadow of a doubt in his certainty. Moreover, seeing such certainty, even those who quite recently had been close to complete despair were filled with hope. And it became clear to everyone that such certainty is unattainable by human efforts alone, that this unusual man finds the strength in himself to behave this way only because he relies on Someone infinitely stronger than himself. Thus Paul's hope and certainty become a witness about God, Who is leading the apostle to the place of his final witness.
27
27:27 The fourteenth night - Since they left Crete, Actus 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.