“Acts 27: Boat Voyage to Rome”

Friday, January 27, 2017

Paul could have been set free because he was innocent of any crime. Why then did he appeal to Caesar? Wouldn’t it have been better for him to be free? Couldn’t he have reached more people for the Lord living free rather than being a prisoner?

Perhaps so, but now Paul has the opportunity to preach the gospel to the most powerful man in the world, the Roman Caesar. His name is Nero and as the leader of the Roman Empire, he is well known for his disdain for Christians. The Great Persecutor is about to meet the great apostle to hear about the Great Savior.

Just imagine how much good could have resulted from Nero’s conversion. Everyone would know about it. Everyone could have the chance to hear about salvation in Christ, in many cases, sooner rather than later.

Is he likely to be converted? Probably not, and of course, history tells us he was not. He is more likely to order Paul to be executed immediately. Nero could easily reject the gospel message and we now know that he did.

But to Paul, it is a chance worth taking. He understands that the Great Commission says: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Paul’s job is not to pre-judge anyone’s response to the gospel, even Caesar’s. His mission is to preach the truth to everyone and to let each soul make the personal decision to accept or to reject the gospel. That was his point in 1 Corinthians 1:17-18.

We can learn from his example that we should just teach the message of the cross every chance we get and then allow the Holy Spirit to work through those efforts to convert the lost. We plant the seed and water it. God gives the increase, or not. We must simply be faithful to meet our responsibility. And we must not pre-judge someone’s interest and decide not to give him the chance to accept or reject the message.

Acts 27 chronicles Paul’s treacherous voyage by ship toward the headquarters of the Empire. There are many dangers and problems but the Lord’s providence sees Paul and the other 275 passengers through. Verse 37 tells us that Luke is accompanying the apostle on this hazardous trip. This account describes one of three shipwrecks that Paul suffered in his life (2 Corinthians 11:25).

Slowly, but surely the apostle Paul is making his way toward Rome.

--Roger Hillis

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