19. “And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.”
The fifth thing the mariners lost was the “tackling” (rendered in the JND translation as “furniture”). These are things necessary to make the ship habitable and usable. Perhaps we can think of the “furniture” as part of the foundation of the assembly: “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone.” We find a very sobering question asked in Psalm 11:33If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3): “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Let us take care not to give up or throw out the apostles’ doctrine vital and foundational for the church of God.
20. “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.”
The sixth thing their self-will and refusal to hear Paul caused them to lose was “light” (to see during the day and to navigate by stars at night) for guidance. The seventh thing they lose is “all hope” the most solemn loss of all. Each saved soul knows in some measure the sense of hopelessness that they felt when convicted by the Spirit of their sins. If resting on our own works and efforts, it is quickly apparent there is no hope. Further, as Christians, if we give up the directions of the Word of God, refusing to heed its warnings, we too will eventually end up in a storm of life so severe that all hope of salvation from the problem may be lost.
21. “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.”
Paul had been left out of the mariners’ thoughts for a long time. Is his doctrine left out of our thoughts and ways today a day when “all they which are in Asia be turned away from me.” Professing Christianity does not want to listen to Paul, has abandoned him, and is suffering through awful storms of destruction as a result.
Thinking to have “gained” a comfortable port for the winter, they instead “gained... harm and loss.” Oh! may we heed Paul’s doctrine (teaching) that we not have to experience such sorrow!
22. “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.”
Paul, who described himself as an “insolent overbearing man” (1 Tim. 1:11Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; (1 Timothy 1:1)3 JnD), now speaks in the gracious spirit of Christ. Instead of angry rebuke, he encourages those on board to be of good cheer. His answer is full of grace and truth “no loss of any man’s life” (grace) and “but of the ship” (truth). May our lives be a continual proof of the grace and truth we have received from our blessed God.
23. “For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve.”
Only the Lord can and will stand by a child of God in life’s storms. Paul belonged to Christ, and Christ stood with him (by angelic means). He has promised us that “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
24. “Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.”
When in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances, only the Lord can truly speak those precious words, “Fear not.” This world is a scene full of despair and hopeless fear. How wonderful, in such a scene, to hear His blessed “soft gentle voice” (1 Kings 19:11And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. (1 Kings 19:1)2 JnD) speaking to us in times of stormy trial.
We also find here a vitally important promise for believers: “God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.” If we want to enjoy a happy and full Christian life, it is vital to sail with Paul. He had to say, “All they which are in Asia be turned away from me.” Later, the most doctrinally blessed assembly (Ephesus in Asia) is solemnly warned that its candlestick of testimony is about to be removed (Rev. 2:55Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Revelation 2:5)). What solemn results for refusing to stay with Paul!
25. “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”
Around them all was dark amid the fury of the storm. Nothing they could see with their natural eyes would encourage those on board ship to “be of good cheer. ” One thing alone can strengthen in life’s storms God’s Word. “I believe God” is the sole key to peace and comfort when all seems hopeless.
26-27. “Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country.”
There come yet more tests for faith. Paul had said, “Be of good cheer: for I believe God” yet the storm’s fury did not immediately abate, nor did they immediately gain the safety of land. Judging by natural appearances, nothing Paul said would give comfort but faith provides comfort by believing God. Midnight is the darkest part of the night, and it was in that darkness that the light of hope finally began to shine—“they drew near to some country.”
28. “And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.”
In a violent storm during the darkest part of the night, it was evident they were nearing shore. So for believers though enduring violent storms in the path of faith during a time of gross spiritual darkness, such things are but signs proving that we too are drawing nearer our heavenly shore (Heb. 10:3737For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (Hebrews 10:37)).
29. “Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.”
Those on board the ship, fearing the savage storm at sea, now fear the rocks as they near the safety of land. “Four anchors” were their only hope while awaiting the morning. Christians also have “four anchors” of preservation as we await that wonderful dawn about to be ushered in by the return of our Lord Jesus Christ for His church.
We find them in Jude 20-2120But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 20‑21): “Ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (1) building on holy faith rather than fleshly fear, (2) praying in the Spirit, (3) keeping ourselves in God’s love, and, (4) looking for the sure return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
30. “And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under color as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship.”
Men have developed many religious philosophies meant to guide, stabilize and comfort in life’s storms. But those very storms prove their utter worthlessness-“vanity of vanities.” Pretending to help, the sailors, thinking only of themselves, try to abandon the ship. What sweet comfort to rest in our Lord Jesus, who has promised to never leave or forsake His own in balmy days or stormy nights.
Ed.