Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  2024  Day 61

March 1;        Acts 27:44;          116/260;        ‘The Prisoner In Charge’

Acts 27:44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.

What a blessing to be born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit.  Paul, by ship was on his way to Rome.  Due to contrary seas, the prisoners, including Paul, under the authority of a Romans Centurion finally reached a port called Fair Havens.  Paul, by the leading of the Holy Spirit advised the Centurion that if they continued on their way to Rome, the ship, its cargo and many lives would be lost.  The Centurion disregarded what Paul said and they continued their voyage.  As they sailed, just as the Holy Spirit told Paul, a powerful wind and tempest buffeted the ship.  The crew did everything they could to save themselves and the ship, but after many days the entire crew and everyone else, except Paul, gave up hope that they would be saved.  On a side note, the words of our mouth are powerful for good or for evil.  By continually declaring they and the ship would be lost, they would have been, if it had not been for Paul.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).  After no one had eaten for a long period of time, Paul stood in the midst of everyone on board and addressed them.  Paul told them that that night an angel appeared to him and told Paul, the ship would be lost, but the lives of all of those on board (276 people) would be spared.  Paul, by faith, told everyone that he believed God that it would turn out exactly as the angel told him.  And it did.  The ship was lost but all 276 Roman soldiers, the crew and prisoners made it ashore safely. What a blessing being Spirit filled is, as the Spirit leads you.