Shabbat Shalom. I would like today to continue in the study of the book of Acts to speak about the journey of the apostle Paul in the time in which he was taken to prison from Qesaria in Israel to the city of Rome in Italia, in Italy, and turn to Acts chapter 27 from verse 1 to verse 26. And these verses really deal with two major points here. The first one, we are dealing with the journey from Qesaria to Fairhaven. This is the first eight verses. And the second verses deal with the storm that the apostle Paul has experienced on the Mediterranean Sea on his journey to the city of Rome.

And I think that is such an appropriate chapter because this chapter helped us to perhaps see what kind of experiences this man have gone through his life. Let me first of all read these verses and we will take it one verse at a time. We begin with verse 1 of chapter 27. And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' bend. And entering into a ship of Adamitrium, we launched meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia. One, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica being with us. And the next day we touched at Sidon and Julius courteously entreated Paul and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus because the winds were contrary. And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pampilia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy and he put us therein. And when we had sailed slowly many days and scarce were come over against Snidius, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete over against Salmoni. And hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called the Fair Havens. Nigh where unto was the city of Lycia. Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already passed, Paul admonished them and said unto them, "I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

Nevertheless, the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship more than those things which were spoken by Paul. And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart, thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phineas, and there to winter, which is an haven of Crete, and lieth towards the southwest and the northwest." And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. And long after. And long after, there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Irokol Lidon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

And running under a certain island, we had much work to come by the boat, which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship, and fearing lest they should fall into a quicksand, strake sail, and so were driven. And we being exceedingly tossed with tempest, the next day they lightened the ship. And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long abstinence, Paul stood forth in the midst of them and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

And now I exhort you to be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul, thou must be brought before Caesar; and, lo, God has given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe, God, that it shall be even as it was told me. However, we must be cast upon a certain island. I am going to stop here with verse 26 because it takes a bit longer to get the full story here.

It will take us quite a long time to conclude with the journey on the ship, at least the first part of the journey from the city of Caesarea all the way towards the city of Rome. You remember, in our previous 26th chapter, we have concluded this chapter with King Agrippa II, speaking to Festus, the governor in the land of Israel, of Judea. He is speaking with Festus, and he is telling to Festus after he heard the testimony of Paul, of Shaul, "This man might have been set at liberty if he did not appeal unto Caesar." He did not accept the Messiah. He actually, in a sense, in a mocking way said to Shaul, to Paul, "Almost you have persuaded me to become a Christian, to become a Messiah follower." In other words, what he really said, "Do you think that with those words that you have spoken, and with the little time that you have shared with me, and I've heard that message that I will become a follower of the Messiah?" He was actually mocking at the testimony of Paul when he shared with him concerning the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah, and the promises that he gave to our people Israel of all.

So we find now Shaul, Paul, still bound, ready now to begin his journey to the city of Rome, really in fulfillment of the two exercises that he received. One, his own exercise, where he promised earlier in chapter 19, "I am yet going to arrive to Rome." He wanted to get to Rome, to speak there to the believers at Rome, and to share the gospel at Rome. But also, if you remember, it was our Lord Yeshua the Messiah that said to him in chapter 23, and verse 11, he said to him, "Paul, be of good cheer, for as you have testified of me in Yerushalayim, in Jerusalem, must thou bear witness of me also at the city of Rome." So, Paul knew that the Lord had in mind to take him to Rome, ultimately, and there to share the message of the gospel of Yeshua the Messiah.

Now, many Bible teachers, reading Acts chapter 27 and 28, So, in making a comparison, this journey of the Apostle Paul from Caesarea to Rome, oftentimes is being compared to the journey that each and every believer has experienced in his own life. Also, it is compared to the experience or the journey of the church, of the assembly of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. See, there is none of us that ever can say that our journey from the first day that we became believers in Yeshua, till the last day that God is going to take us to heaven, to take us home, that the journey is easy or without problems and challenges.

None of us can say that because we know very well that the journey of the believer is full of challenges and trials here in this world. That's what the Apostle Paul is really teaching us here through his own experience, how it is indeed a time of challenges and trial that the believers also are experiencing in their own lives. The journey of Paul to Rome is an illustration of life's journey. You will notice, for example, that we find out some expressions that are found here in these verses. For example, if you just go down the chapter, you will find out, for example, that the wind was contrary.

That there is a contrary wind as they journey towards the city of Rome. And we know that, beloved brothers and sisters, that in the life of the believer, there is constantly challenges. And the wind seemed to be contrary to the believer's walk. The enemy attacks the believer. The world influenced the believer. The believer has the sin nature which is struggling here in this world. So there is contrary, constantly there is a wind that is contrary to the walk of the believer here in this world. So you can see now what happened in the life of Paul and how we can really apply this in the life of each and every one of us today.

First of all, in the first eight verses, we have the journey from Qasariah in the land of Israel, all the way to the place that is called Fair Haven in verse 8. It is a place that was near the city of Lassia, mentioned here in verse 8. Let's just look at those verses first of all, and we'll see what we learn here. The first thing we find out in verse 1, 2, and 3, that a journey to Sidon from Qasariah had began. So we read here, when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and a certain other prisoners into one by the name of Julius, a centurion of Augustus Bend, and entering into a ship of Adramitium, we launched meaning to sail by the coast of Asia, and then to get ultimately to a place that is called Sidon.

The first thing you find out here, that is the word we, is mentioned in verse 1. When it was determined that we should sail into Italy. Who is the we now? The we is not only Paul, Shaul now. Luke is now joining again Paul on his journey to Italy. You know, the last time we stopped reading about Luke was in Acts chapter 21, where he went with Shaul Paul to Jerusalem, and there apparently Luke had retained. He was there in the city of Jerusalem, and there Paul was captured, if you remember, and he was brought to Qasariah, and there in Qasariah now Paul is about two years in prison.

Luke had remained somewhere in Jerusalem, and maybe later on joined Paul in the city of Caesarea, but apparently we don't read about Luke until now. We finally read about Luke joining this journey from Qasariah to the city of Rome. It tells us a lot about Luke, by the way. He records very clearly and very precisely the journey. He mentioned various things here that seem to be insignificant, but Luke recording this experience of the journey from Caesarea to Italy, to the city of Rome. So, Paul is now enjoying to have Luke with him. It must have been very important because Luke was a physician, he was a doctor, and he may have joined the journey to just be Paul's personal doctor there to assist him as he is going with him towards the city of Rome into Italy.

The second thing we find out that Paul was not only alone on that ship, because it says here certain other prisoners were there joining Paul on that trip. Now, so apparently there were prisoners that they took from Caesarea, and they wanted to bring them to Rome. Who knows what is the reason for bringing those prisoners? See, Paul was not yet condemned. He was only going to see Caesar. But those other prisoners, maybe they were taking them to Rome in order to be either crucified there, or I don't know what they were doing, what they were going to do with them. Have them play in that, you know, in the stadium where they have these games, the Romans games.

And they brought these prisoners with Paul, placed them in the ship, and they began to journey towards Italy, towards Rome. You notice another thing that we find interesting here, not only that they enter into the ship, but also we find another interesting servant by the name of Aristarchus. He was a Macedonian from the city of Thessalonica. He also joined the ship on the journey to the city of Rome. Now, he is mentioned a few times in the scripture. He was the kind of a man that is called a fellow prisoner by the apostle Paul. In Colossians chapter 4, Paul had mentioned his name. We know him in earlier passages that we read in the book of Acts.

I want to read what he said of him in Colossians chapter 4 and verse 10. "Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, salute you!" Aristarchus was perhaps not Jewish, but he was a believer in our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, and he was a fellow prisoner with the apostle Paul. Now, we don't read that he actually was captured like Paul was, but he was a prisoner of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. He bound himself, he committed himself to serve the Lord, and together with Paul he was serving our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. So, here together we have the many, many prisoners who came along. The apostle Paul is here. Luke joining him.

And Aristarchus of Macedonia from Thessalonica, he also was with them. It must have given a lot of comfort to Paul because he was alone, and there was an encouragement for him as he was now journeying towards the city of Rome. Now, notice that in verse 3. We read that he finally, there's about 70 mile journey. "They have arrived the next day, we touched at Sidon, and Julius courteously entreated Paul and gave him liberty to go into his friends to refresh himself." Well, what we learn here is that this centurion must have been a very gracious man. He treated Paul respectfully. He treated him courteously. He even allowed him, when they have arrived to Sidon, to get off the ship, and to go to have a visit, apparently, with his friends.

Apparently, they may have been an assembly, a local congregation in Sidon. Can you imagine Paul getting off the boat, going to meet his friends there, and to have some time with them to refresh himself with the brothers and sisters. This had been an encouragement to Paul as he was heading now towards the city of Rome to see Caesar there, and there perhaps to be condemned and judged. We know that ultimately he had been killed in that city. So, verses 1 to 3. From Kessaria to Sidon. As he arrived to Sidon, he took some time to visit his friends and to refresh his heart with them. Then notice, beloved brothers and sisters, there is a journey now from Sidon to Myra.

They continue on the next day. It says in verse 4 and 5, And when we had launched from thence. This is Sidon. We sailed under Cyprus, because the wind was contrary. You notice that expression about the wind. You'll find this a few times in this chapter. There is a wind that is against them as they were sailing towards Myra. Verse 5, it says, When we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pampylia, we came unto Myra, a city in Lucia or Lycia. In Hebrew, we call it Lucia. Here in English, it says Lycia. So, here is the following day. They launched the left Sidon. They went under Cyprus, because the wind was contrary.

You see, they were hugging the shores. They were trying to find a way where they would not be on the open sea, because the wind was against them. And then they finally arrived to Myra, a city in Lucia. Now, for you and I, it's foreign names. We don't hear those names often. We can hardly pronounce them. But the journey to Rome from Caesarea demanded them, because of the contrary wind, to go in a different way. So, they will be, ultimately, arriving to the city of Rome. Now, here is the third name that is mentioned to us here. So, we have Caesarea to Sidon, Sidon to Myra.

Now, from Myra, verses 6, 7, and 8. They had another journey the following day. They continue on, and here we're talking about quite a few miles. Not only one day, by the way. It had been a long journey. Here they arrived to a place that is not too far from a city called La Sia, to a place that is called Fair Havens. I'm reading those verses now. Verses 6, 7, and 8. And there, the centurion found a ship of Alexandria. Alexandria is in Egypt. So, apparently, there was an Egyptian ship, which he now found. It must have been a larger ship. So, they left the first ship, entered into a second ship.

And the centurion now went in it, put everyone inside that second ship. And now they were journeying. They sailed slowly, many days, and scarce were come over against Snidius, the wind not suffering us. We sailed under Crete, and over against Salmoni, and hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called Fair Havens. Nigh where unto was the city of La Sia. Again, I would like to suggest, beloved brothers and sisters, from these verses, that we see that there is a sailing, there is a progress, but there is constantly the wind is against them. There is a constant challenges to try to get from one place to another in order to arrive finally in Rome.

Now, remember, brothers and sisters, that the Lord said in chapter 23 to the apostle Paul. Paul, he said to him, you remember the verse that we have read? "You have testified for me in Yerushalayim, you will also testify for me in the city of Rome." But he didn't tell Paul how he is going to arrive there, how long time will it take, what he will experience on the journey. But he did tell him that ultimately you are going to testify for me at Rome. To make an application for us, the Lord also tells us, used us and desired to use us in various ministries, in various services for him.

He does not tell us how we are going to get there and to the place where he wants us to go. But he tells us, you are going to do so. But as we journey and go ahead of the Lord's ministry, we do not know how things will develop. There will be challenges on the way. There will be a wind that will be contrary as we are serving the Lord. And actually the whole life of the believer is full of challenges until we finally arrive to the place where the Lord has intended for us. And so they arrive to fair havens. The word for fair, it's beautiful or a good place.

And really the word havens is really a harbor. It was a place where you can place yourself towards a measure of protection from the wind. And they could stay there for a while because of the storm and the wind that is coming against them on their journey. So we see them moving from one place to another slowly for many days. Scarcely they went over Snidius. The wind did not suffer them to continue and to sail under Cray and over against Salmoni and so on. And then hardly, notice these words that I mentioned, the wind, this country, they hardly have arrived to one place and another.

And finally they have arrived to a place that is called the fair haven in this area, not too far from a city called La Sia. So in the first eight verses, we see the earlier part of the journey of the apostle Paul. But it's not the end because it's only the beginning. He doesn't want to go to the city of Rome. He must stand before Caesar. And he is anticipating that and going through these experiences on the ship. This is the two ships that he already have entered in as he was journeying towards the city of Rome. Now that is just the beginning because right now in verse 9 to verse 26, where we read today, we find out that there is not only those little experiences, but ultimately there will be a strong storm that will endanger the lives of all those that were at sea inside that ship.

So that's how we find out here in verses 9 to 26. So in verse 9, the apostle Paul now, because he has some experiences, he admonishes the captain and the owner of the ship and the sailors. He says, listen, let's don't go. Let's not continue on for a while. There is a danger on the way. But look at this. Verse 9. He says, now when much time was spent and when sailing was now dangerous, apparently he knew from experience that there is danger in certain season at sea. How do we know that the apostle Paul knew that? Because apparently much of his past three missionary journeys were involved being in ship, being at sea.

So he had a measure of experience, even though he was not captain of a ship, he was not a sailor per se, but he had experiences in his life and journey. And he knew more or less the time and the season where it will be safer to stay put and not to go on a journey. So he said in verse 9, after much time that they spent there in Fairhaven, when sailing was now dangerous, because the fest was now already passed, Paul admonished them. Paul said to everyone at the ship, he said to the captain of the ship. He said to the owner of the ship, you'll notice that the owner of the ship is here as well.

He said to the sailor, he said to them, listen, I want you to know that it's going to be a danger to go now to leave Fairhaven and to go to the open sea. We notice the timing here because it says here that because the fast was now already passed. What fast was he talking about? Being Jewish. And I presume coming from Kessariah, from the land of Israel, where perhaps many of those prisoners were Jewish. They celebrated the fast of Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. And if you remember in Leviticus chapter 23, God gave instruction to our people of old Israel to have that Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, Leviticus 23, verse 27 to 29, to cause themselves to abstain from that which is necessary for themselves.

And therefore, the apostle Paul is in a season, in a time where the fast is over. It's about September, October, winter season. He knew that it will be dangerous now to take sail. But nevertheless, look at this. They don't listen to him. They don't take his counsel. In verse 10, he said unto them, sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage. Not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Paul is saying to them, listen, it's not only that what we have on the ship is in danger. Not only that the ship itself is in danger, but even our lives is in danger.

If we are going to live for a haven and continue now in this season, we are endangering ourselves. But of course, they have not listened to Paul and they were going to experience now some of the consequences of not listening to the apostle Paul. I'd like you to turn for a moment to 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 25. You know, Paul is sharing some of his trials as a believer. Listen to this verse. I'll read a little bit earlier. Paul is speaking about his persecution. He said, are they ministers of the Messiah, verse 23. I speak as a fool. I am more in labors, in abundance, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in death often.

And then of the Jewish people, five times I received, 40 stripes, save one. And then he says, three times I was bitten with rods. Once I was stoned, thrice, listen to this, three times I suffered shipwreck. Now what he had this statement that he could say to the people that are on the ship on the way to Rome from Fairhaven. Don't leave now because we are in danger. Because he had already the experience of being shipwrecked three times. Can you imagine? So he's now telling the people, the captain, the owner of the ship, and the sailors, and the centurion. He's saying to them in verse 9 and 10, listen, sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading or the things that we have, but also of the whole ship and ultimately also of our lives.

He gave them a warning. Now remember, he's a prisoner. He's being taken to Rome in order to be sitting before Caesar and there ultimately if he was guilty to be condemned. And yet, he had an experience in his life that he shared this with these men. But look at the result. It says in verse 11, "Nevertheless, the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship more than those things which were spoken by Paul." Well, the centurion who actually hired that ship did not believe what Paul said, but he believed what the captain, the master of the ship, and also the owner of the ship, and more than to believe to what the apostle Paul had said unto them.

Well, so they decided to go. And so in verses 12 and 13, they departed from fair haven. And again, I wanted to see how there is constant wind that is against them as they journey towards the city of Rome. And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart. Thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenis, and thereto winter, which is an haven of Crete, and lieth towards the south and northwest." So you notice that, how many times we find the word, the haven, that word for haven really, it simply means harbor. It's a place where the ship could stay for a while, stay there until the time will pass by.

So they were hoping to leave fair haven because it was not so safe to stay too long there because of the winter. And they were hoping to get to the haven there by Crete, and therefore they left and they departed. Notice the word, they depart from hence also. And finally, listen to this in verse 13. When the south wind blew softly, they supposed, they thought, oh, it's just a little bit of wind. They supposed that they had obtained their purpose, they loosed from thence, and they sailed close by Crete. So they didn't listen to what Paul suggested to them. They continued on because they were assuming the wind is being softly blowing so they can continue on and get all the way to a place that is another haven, another harbor, where they can ultimately stay there over the winter.

Now, you and I read these texts and we see here going from place to place, a ship moving from here and moving from that island to another harbor, from that harbor to another harbor, and it seemed to be for us redundant. What's the lessons here from these verses? And why is it that Luke is so meticulous and he's telling us the name of the places and how they stayed close to this island and close to that island? And it seemed to be for us redundant and not important. But there is a lesson, brothers and sisters here, and the lesson is that the people of God's life journey is full of experiences, is full of challenges, is full of a time that the wind is against them, is contrary to them.

And they are experiencing all kinds of challenges in their lives. And it is always good to take a counsel from the men of God, the men who has some advice to give to the people of God. When I say men of God, I mean people of God, men and women who are godly people who have a good counsel to give us in our lives. And Paul gave them the counsel. Paul gave them what he suggested to them, but they did not listen to what Paul have to say. And they, supposing that things are fine, the wind seems to blow softly in a certain place. And yet they sail close by Crete.

Hopefully they wanted to get to the place where they will stay there for a longer time. But here it is, brothers and sisters, in verses 14 to 20, the storm at sea. You know, make an application here. When storms coming into our lives, what do we do about those storms? How do we handle a situation such as this in our lives? You remember when we read Psalm 77? The writer of the Psalm, Asaph, he said, I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice. And he gave ear unto me. In a day of my trouble, I sought the Lord. My soul ran in the night and sees not.

My soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God and was troubled. I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed, Selah. And then he was wondering when he was crying to God, Why does God allow things to happen to him in his life? And then he asked the question, Will the Lord cast off forever? And will he be favorable no more? Is his mercy clean gone forever? Does his promise fail forever more? Has God forgotten to be gracious? He asked all these questions. The Psalm is in his own life. You and I may ask the very same question. In our own life, did the Lord forget me?

Why does he not answer my prayer? Is he no longer going to be gracious to me like he was in the past? That's the lesson that we learn from such verses as this, Because those verses seem to be redundant. He went from this town to that place, from this island to that island. And the wind was contrary. All these teach us those spiritual lessons concerning the life experience of the people of God. And here is the storm now in verses 14 to verse 20. We have the wind, the tempest, the stormy wind at the sea as the apostle and Luke and others are joining them on the way to the city of Rome.

Let's just look at those verses, just a few verses at a time. First of all, verse 14. The stormy wind began. Not long after, there arose against it a tempestuous wind. The word for tempestuous is simply mean a stormy wind. And there's even a name for that wind. It's called Eosleidon. And that is such a strong wind, apparently, that it's simply called here tempestuous or a stormy wind. A strong wind came against them. Well, earlier, the wind blew softly in verse 13. Now, as they left assuming that everything is going to be fine, not listening to the advice of Shaul Paul. Now they experience that stormy wind that come against them in verse 14.

In verse 15, the ship could no longer bear that storm, that wind. And when the ship was caught and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. They couldn't handle now anymore the ship. They were perhaps trying to hold on the sails and so on that they carry on to maintain straight the ship. They couldn't any longer. So you know what they did? They let it go. As it says here in verse 15, we let her drive. They could no longer control the ship. And they let the ship drive on its own. In the middle of that storm. In verse 16, it says here that they had to even bring in that lifeboat that was in the back.

Because that lifeboat probably would have been gone away and sunk. Because it says here in verse 16, running under a certain island, which is called Claudia. We had much work to come by the boat. In other words, we had a hard time to even bring in the lifeboat. You know, when you take a ride on a big ship, you have a lifeboat somewhere. Sometimes they drag it along that in case something happened, people can go into the small lifeboat and get out of the area. But they had to bring it into the ship, this lifeboat. And they had a hard time to bring it into the ship.

In verse 17, 18 and 19, look at the labor of the people who sought to save themselves and to save the ship. Look what they've been doing. In verse 17, 18 and 19, when they had taken up, they used helps undergirding the ship. And fearing lest they should fall into the quicksand, strike sail, and so were driven. That quicksand, shallow water, they were worried about an area that the wind and the wave will take them into a lower area. There was a quicksand, there will be a shallow water. They were trying to maintain the ship and everything that is there. They were struggling on that ship, on that storm. And then look at this in verse 18.

And we've been exceedingly tossed with a tempest. The next day, they lightened the ship as well. Now, what did they do? They started to throw things outside to lighten the ship. It reminds me, in the time of Yonah Hanavi. You remember Jonah, the prophet of Israel in chapter 1, when he was called to go to Nineveh. And instead of going to Nineveh, he disobeyed the Lord. And he went down to Yaffa, went into a ship, and went towards Tarshish. And on the way, God sent that storm. If you remember, beloved brothers and sisters. And the sailors didn't know what to do. They started to throw everything outside so the ship would be lightened.

It would be easier to sail. They were afraid for their lives. And here we see the very same thing. The people there, Paul, Luke, and their friend, their servant, Aristarchus with them. And the soldiers, and the centurion, and the prisoners, and many other sailors, and so on. All are working hard in order to save themselves out of this storm. You will notice how many times we have the word "we", which include Luke. Even Luke was working along, trying to help in order to maintain the ship in a right way. So they will not ultimately lose their lives. I'm reading again in verse 19. The third day we, notice Luke including, we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

We cast it out with our very own hands. Everybody participated in trying to save themselves from the damage that could happen to the ship and to their own life. As they are journeying here on the way to the city of Rome. Not listening to the counsel of Paul, of Shaul. Not listening to his advice. And simply continue on their journey. Because obviously the captain knew better. And the owner of the ship knew better. And the sailors knew better. And they did not listen to the advice of Shaul, Paul. And notice what happened in verse 20. At the end, it was so awful, so terrible, they lost even hope that they will remain alive.

Verse 20 says, When neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest, this is wind, lay on us. Now look at this, a less expression. All hope that we should be saved was taken away. So here we have a ship full of people, prisoners, centurion and soldiers, and the sailors and so on, the captain, the owner of the ship. All lost hope that they will be saved because the storm was so strong against them. I do not know if you have experienced a little bit, being on a sea, when the storm came and the wave came, that you really were afraid that you may not retain your life.

The life is over because of the way things have been. I remember just one time, and I did tell you this, I mentioned it before, on a wave from the island of Patmos, when we returned from Patmos to Turkey on our tour to Israel. I remember this very well. We had a small boat, not a big ship like perhaps they have had here, but when we came back, the wind was literally contrary. You see the wind, by the way the wave rose, and the boat was going boom and up and hitting back the sea, and again up and hitting, and many of us went on the side of the boat, holding tight, puking.

There was a terrible experience there. No one could really rest. We're all praying, laying there in our back and talking to the Lord. We all of a sudden become very spiritual, you see. When there are problems coming such as this, you all of a sudden become very spiritual. The people in Jonah's time, they cried to their God, each one to his own God, when the storm had happened there, when Jonah was laying asleep there in the lower part of the ship, and all were praying, each one to their own God. According to this passage, all hope that we should be saved. By the way, the "we" is mentioned here, Luke is writing.

All hope that we should be saved was then taken away. They thought it is gone. It is the end of their lives. And in the midst of it, beloved brothers and sisters, in the midst of a storm, in the midst of difficulty, praise God for the servant of the Lord. Praise God for one such, the apostle Paul, though a prisoner here, and yet one that the Lord can speak to use him to give an encouragement in the midst of a storm. We need that so much. The journey of the believer is full of experiences. Sometimes we are so discouraged. Sometimes we are so dismayed. Sometimes we feel like things are not worthwhile.

What in the world am I doing and why things have turned up like this in my life? And we get so discouraged and so dismayed that we have to be so thankful for someone such as Paul and others throughout our life who give us a word of encouragement in the midst of a stormy days of our life. And here the apostle Paul is such an encouragement. And why he was an encouragement? Because he had the mind of the Lord. Because the Lord has spoken to him. Because he was discerning the purposes and the plans of God for his life. And even though he knew that he was going to get to Rome, he didn't necessarily know what will transpire through this experience all the way to Rome.

And all along he trusted the Lord and the Lord have revealed things unto him. And here, brothers and sisters, you can see the cheering of the people in the ship by this man by the name of the apostle Paul. And here he began to speak. These are the last verses in this portion of the ministry today. Verses 21 to verse 26. A few things we find out. First of all, notice Paul. While all hope that we should be saved was taken away. Look what we find out in verse 21. After long abstinence, Paul stood forth in the midst of them. And he said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me and have not loosed from Crete.

This is from Fairhaven area. And to have gained this harm and loss. Now he's telling them, you should have listened to me because it was not a good time. It was a danger time to travel at sea. But in the next verses, the apostle Paul tells them. So notice this verse 22. He assured them that they will not lose their lives. Look what he said. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer. He's encouraging them. For there shall be no loss of any man's life among you. But only the ship. He's telling them, listen. I can assure you that you're not going to lose your life.

Anyone that is here on that ship will not lose their life. The ship will suffer ultimately damage. But no one that is on that ship will lose his own life. And can you imagine they're in the middle of the storm. They're probably looking at him and wondering what is this man is saying here. But yet Paul giving them a reason why he say what he says. Because he received a revelation from the Lord. The angel of the Lord spoke with him and said to him, look at this. Verse 23. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve.

This is amazing. The Lord is through an angel. Now we're speaking to the apostle Paul, as he mentioned. By night, this night, the angel of God spoke to him and said to him, listen, Paul, you and the rest of the people on the ship will not lose their life. None of them will lose their life. What a promise that the Lord had given to the apostle Paul through this angel. And the word here, the angel stood by me. This is not the first time that he uses this expression. When he was writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy, chapter 4, verse 17. He said to Timothy about an angel that stood by him.

He says, notwithstanding the Lord in this time, stood by me and he strengthened me that by me the preaching might be fully known. Paul already, you could see, again, encouraged him to continue on and to move about and to serve him. And he says, listen, the angel of the Lord stood by me this night and he says, I am belonging to him and I serve him. Now, some may suggest that this expression, the angel of the Lord or the angel of God applied to the Messiah, Yeshua himself. Because in 2 Timothy, chapter 4 and verse 17, he says, the Lord himself stood by me. In Acts chapter 23 and verse 11, we find that the Lord himself stood by him in verse 11 and spoke with him.

It may be a direct revelation from the Lord, the Messiah in glory, who spoke to the apostle Paul in the midst of the storm to give him an encouragement that they will not lose their lives. He says, I belong to him in verse 23 and I am the one who serve him. I am the servant of the Lord. He stood by me at night and gave me a promise that no one's life will be lost in this storm. Yes, the ship will be ultimately broken, but the lives of those that were in the ship will be maintained and safely arriving to shore. And again, brothers and sisters, many Bible teachers make an application here on this journey of the apostle Paul to the church, to the body of Messiah.

Because we are all on a journey, the body of Messiah, the believers are on a journey. The church had a beginning and the church will have an end when the rapture will occur. And the church will be completed. And the journey is full of storms, is full of trials, is full of wind, which is contrary. But there is an assurance that even though there are many storms in the lives of the people of God, everyone will come to shore safely, even though the ship will be broken into pieces. And we know the church in many ways is broken into pieces. The divided condition of the church of Yeshua, the Messiah, many frictions and divisions among the people of God.

But every child of God that is truly belong to Yeshua, the Messiah, going to arrive safe on shore to the other side is the promise that we have in the scripture. We can bring many verses into here. "My sheep hear my voice and I know them and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish and so on, and no one is able to pluck them out of my hand." "There is the promise for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." Many take this lesson here and apply it to the condition of the church on its journey towards the other end.

And so what an encouragement here He gives them. "They stood by me this night, the angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve." And look what he said to me in verse 24. "Paul, fear not, you must be brought before Caesar, and lo, God has given thee all them that sail with thee." Look at this. Here's the promise that the angel tell to Paul on the journey there. He says, "God has given to you all those that are here in that ship, and you must be brought ultimately to stand before Caesar." Two-fold promises. "Fear not, Paul, you must be brought before Caesar." Number one.

"And God had given to you all them that sail with thee." And now, brothers and sisters, just by way of reference, how many times God gave historically to our people Israel these promises such as, "Fear not, Israel." Fear not, He said so many times to Israel, when Israel as a nation were under tremendous amount of persecution. For example, even with our forefather Abraham, in Genesis chapter 15, He says, "Fear not, Abraham. I am your shield, and I am your great reward. I promised you something, and I am going to fulfill this." Abraham, God said in chapter 15 of Genesis in verse 1. "When Jacob had all his children, specifically Joseph, now in Egypt, and he didn't know what to do, and Joseph has invited him to come down to him after so many years that he didn't see him.

God said to Jacob, "Jacob, don't be afraid, Yaakov, to go down to Egypt. Don't be afraid, fear not." He encourages him to go ahead and see and have a visit with his son, which ultimately promised him to bring his people out of the land of Egypt back into the promised land. And we can just look at how many times God encourages the people of God to trust Him, and not to be afraid, and to continue to move after Him. If you don't mind for a moment, just turn to the prophet Isaiah. I just want to read you a verse there in Isaiah chapter 41 in verse 8.

"But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend, thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, thou art my servant, I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not, God says to Israel, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God." This is Isaiah 41 and verses 8, 9, and 10. "Fear thou not, for I am with thee," God had said to the people of Israel. And we can go on and on. Even Yeshua, the Messiah, if you remember, he said to Simon Peter, "Fear not," in Luke chapter 5 and verse 10.

You know, every one of us, brothers and sisters, need this encouragement from the Lord when there are storms in our life, to trust Him, and to be encouraged to continue to follow after Him. So, here's the twofold promises to the Apostle Paul. Number one, in verse 24, you must get into Caesar, to see Caesar, to give a testimony before him. That's a promise that he's going to arrive to Rome safe and sound. Number two, God also has given all these men that in the ship, the giving to you as well, for safety. Well, I'm going to end here with verses 25 and verses 26. And Paul encourages the people there that own the ship.

And he said to them, in verse 25, "Sirs, in light of all these sirs, be of good cheer, for I believe God that it shall be even as it was told unto me." I believe God. How many times Paul said, "I know whom have I believed, and I am persuaded that He would keep the promises which He has given unto me. I know whom I believe." He's saying to them, "I believe God." If He said that we are going to arrive safe and sound without losing our lives to Rome, He will definitely do so. The ship will be broken, but we are not going to lose our lives.

The cheering of the people by the Apostle Paul who believe God. And, beloved brothers and sisters, just by way of conclusion here of this ministry meeting, this is one of the greatest weakness we can say, that we have in our life. We don't trust God in experiences in our life. We simply, like the man of old who said to the Lord, "Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief." We have often find ourselves in our lives simply don't trust God for many things in our own life. Not trusting Him. And the Apostle Paul here said simply to those people in the midst of the storm, "I believe God." And that he said, "It shall be even as He had said in His word to me." Paul is saying to the people at the ship.

But look at this. It says, "However, we must be cast upon a certain island." We're going to get to Rome eventually. We're not going to lose our lives, all of us here on this ship, but we're going to end up to be cast into a certain island. And we're going to spend some time, and apparently, when we're going to get to chapter 28, we're going to find out that this island, that they end up to be cast, all those people, 276 people, have been cast into an island, safe and sound, alive. The island is called Melita, and ultimately, they're going to arrive to Melita, and they will continue there on the way to Rome.

But the promises of the Lord to the Apostle Paul will surely come to pass. A man that said, "I believe God." May the Lord also help us, also, to just simply believe God, believe His word, even though we are in stormy situations in our life, difficulties coming across our way, simply to say, "God, help me to simply believe in you, to trust you for what you allow me to experience in my own life."