"Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Even running under the shelter of a small island (Clauda, verse 16), they could hardly get the ships dingy on board. 545 This seems to be the same Aristarchus mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. Reminder: You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. Airline pilots must constantly monitor weather conditions, and make decisions as to the route they will take, their altitude, and even their destination. The angel of God told Paul not to be afraid, which would indicate that he was afraid. Paul was a leader here because people followed him. Finally, in the following chapter, there will be the snake bite, from which Paul will be spared as well. (The term Augustan, i.e., His Imperial Majestys, was a title of honor bestowed on several cohorts of auxiliary troops.) Those who could swim should jump first, and make their way to shore. First, those who were considered the experts favored doing so. When they set sail from Fair Havens, fifty or sixty miles brought them under the lee of Cauda (v. 16); on the fourteenth night from Cauda they drew near the coast of Malta (v. 27), and the next day (v. 39) they landed on that island, where they spent three months (28:11). Doing so would be certain death, for the larger vessel offered more protection, so long as it held together. All 276 passengers were saved. In Acts 20:35, we see him say to the elders of the church in Ephesus, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more . If the leader becomes a wimp, he will lose his leadership role. As time went on, as Paul was better known, and as the crises on board the ship became more pronounced, Paul stepped forward, giving both direction and hope to all the others on ship. They just happened to run aground at the place where two seas met.562 It seems that the action of the water created some kind of sandbar or shallows, on which the ship stuck fast. Here is one passage that talks about the qualifications of a leader. In spite of Pauls words of encouragement, the passengers had still not eaten. This was, I think, to cause the ship to draw less water, and thus to float higher in the water, so that it would not as easily drag bottom.560 The ship would therefore be closer to shore when it struck bottom, making it a shorter swim (or float). They all waited for the morning light. You are the foundation. Order Curriculum, Literature, and Church Supplies, by Brooks Faulkner on Tuesday, September 08, 2015 at 6:00 AM. 544 We know that Luke was on board ship because of the we references, and because of the great detail that he includes, as an eyewitness of the journey, the storm, and the safe landing of the passengers. If Paul had been incompetent and impotent in this time of crisis, who would have wanted to hear him tell about faith in Jesus as the Messiah? This centurion was to develop a deep respect for Paul, so that he would extend considerable liberties to him, take seriously his advice, and make every effort to protect him. Given all these factors, the ship set sail from Fair Havens. He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. The ship would be lost, but not one of the passengers would perish. All one needs is a clean needle or a condom or possibility an abortion and theyre off and running, seeking a little pleasure, at the cost of the loss of their life, and of their soul. The bottom line is that everyone leads in some fashion, be it great or small. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. My guess is that he had skills the like of which Moses himself admired, perhaps even envied. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. 554 The wind would tend to blow the ship much more quickly than the current, and so a sea anchor would reduce the force of the wind on the ship by using the sea as a brake. I see people working for a place a leadership, rather than working to serve others, and letting leadership develop or not on its own. Three days have already passed, and Luke provides us with the description of some incident for each day. You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of the Bible. He wanted to spare him, and so he forbade them from killing any of the prisoners.564 All of the prisoners were spared, on account of one personPaul, just as all of the passengers were spared for Pauls sake. The question was where the ship would make port for the winter. I suspect so. Some things dont change. The meeting's facilitator will be acting democratically if they actively seek out the team's thoughts and opinions and encourage them to voice them. I would think that Paul would have more reason to be reckless than these seasoned seamen and the centurion, because he was a Christian. With great difficulty, the dinghy was hoisted on board, and then supporting cables were used to undergird the bottom of the ship, so that it might not break up under the weight of its cargo and the stresses of the storm. The following post is adapted from my personal academic coursework. 549 Smith observes that Fair Havens is so well protected by islands, that though not equal to Lutro [Loutron, a port some 40 miles farther west along the coast], it must be a very fair winter harbour; and that considering the suddenness, the frequency, and the violence with which gales of northerly wind spring up, and the certainty that, if such a gale sprang up in the passage from Fair Havens to Lutro, the ship must be driven off to sea, the prudence of the advice given by St. Paul may probably be supported even on nautical grounds. Bruce, pp. The cultural expectations on pastors are mostly unbiblical, entirely impractical, and generally downright unrealistic. Whether by divine revelation, intuition, or by learning of their plans from some human source, Paul became aware of their intentions. The gospel sustains men in the greatest storms of life. In Matthew 16, Peter was both a "rock" and a "stumbling block." 1. The sovereignty of God means not only that God is able to intervene supernaturally, but that He is also able to work naturally, through human instruments (like the Roman soldiers, and in our story, like the centurion, in Pauls behalf). A late night visitation by an angel of God and Pauls words of encouragement to his shipmates is reported in verses 21-26. When the ship is grounded and the passengers must swim for their lives, the soldiers plan to kill Paul, along with the other prisoners, to prevent any from escaping. The point was, before you can lead others you have to learn how to lead yourself. The centurion found an Alexandrian ship,547 laden with wheat that was headed for Italy. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). 551 Although there almost certainly would have been some loss of life, apart from divine intervention. Just so you know, the person they are talking about in Acts 18:26 is Apollos. He's Where the Joy Is by Tara-Leigh Cobble, Black Church Leadership & Family Conference, 10 Gift Ideas for Pastor Appreciation Month, Pastor Appreciation Month: 5 Ways to Say Thanks, Why Prayer is Essential in the Life of a Leader. I read in the paper the other day that when faced with the decision as to whether he should change to an alternate airport or press on to the original destination, the pilot of a commercial airliner left the choice with his passengers. But more than this, God had already assured Paul that he would reach Rome. The passengers were not to lose hope, but to keep up their courage. But Paul did not presume to have God on tap and thus to be able to perform some miracle any time his wished. Paul was spared so that he could go to Rome, and there proclaim the gospel. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). Examples have not been reviewed. The stern of the ship began to break up. Nobody said it would be easy. As the journey to Rome continues, there are yet to be more signs and wonders accomplished through the hands of Paul (see 28:3-10). The doctrine of Gods sovereignty is multi-faceted, something which careless and thoughtless Christians often forget or set aside. Godly leadership is honest leadership that allows you to lead out of who you are. Furthermore, Paul was an apostle, a man through whom God had worked many signs and wonders. Clearly the answer is yes. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to {obtain} an inheritance {which is} imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Now they were ready for the days activities. Moses was seen as the patient leader of a people with little faith (Ex. Several days before, Paul had told the passengers, who had lost all hope, that they would all be saved, although the ship would run aground (verses 21-26). True leaders aren't afraid to call a spade a spade. They took bribes and perverted justice. los lderes demcratas (41) dirigentes socialdemcratas (18) lderes democrticos (15) lderes demcratas (13) demcratas (8) If elected in free elections, the usurpers of power are usually democratic leaders. All in all, it would be best to wait out the storm at sea. But we can still have hope, even when we are afraid. Up to this point in time, they had gone a long while without food. He bridged the gaps between the Greek and Jewish worlds. Sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia (verse 5).546 It was here that they had to change ships. Pauls leadership enhanced the preaching of the gospel. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. Discouraged by the disapproval of Jesus, yet blessed by the warmth and affection of Jesus. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. Far to the south, off the African coast, lay the notorious Syrtes (17), the graveyard of many ships, as underwater archaeology has vividly revealed in recent years. 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose. What are we to make of this dramatic change in Pauls standing before his fellow-shipmates? He was thoroughly subservient to the will of God, and he was committed to a specific, meaningful mission. Today's nomenclature calls it tough love. Time would prove Paul right. It will, however, come eventually. Other words for democratic leadership of "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. Julius and the others did not seem to look upon Paul in religious or spiritual terms, but only in terms of practical and proven ability and knowledge. Third, the port where they were anchored was not as ideal for wintering as some other ports, which were not that far away. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. What can we learn about leadership, which can benefit others, and can promote the gospel? He refused to bow to the king and ended up in the lion's den. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. He was nicknamed "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36). An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude, 10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others. The Greater Syrtis was still a great distance away, but the wind might continue to blow for many days, and that was the direction in which it was blowing them. He has been beaten by the storm of Gods anger toward sin. [1] It is important to note that he learned leadership principles and faith from his parents (Hebrew 11:23 . Had they heeded his warnings, this would not have happened. But he was wrong about the loss of passengers. These people saw first hand the hope of the gospel in Paul, when all hope was lost. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. Related articlesHow and Why Should I Pray for Leaders?An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others, Photo credit: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages. He portrays Paul in many roles throughout Acts, but here he shows him standing out as the practical man in a critical emergency--keeping his head when all about him are losing theirs. Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969) - The 34th President of the U.S. Eisenhower was the Supreme Command of NATO before he served two terms as the U.S. President. Their safety was relative, however. The prisoners (at least the dangerous or violent ones) may have been in chains. These are examples of democratic leadership: All opinions are brought forward in team meetings. Even when John Mark was being severely ostracized by Paul, Barnabas stood by John Mark. Great leaders wash their people's feet. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately (Acts 18:26). Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. Mordecais words influenced Esther to take an action that she would have otherwise not taken. After all, a number of the passengers could not even swim (see verses 43-44). The final verses (42-44) tell of the plan of the soldiers to kill the prisoners, of the intervention of the centurion, and the safe arrival on land of all 276 passengers. This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). How often, I wonder, are others benefited by the presence of a believer? . I am not certain that anyone ever thought of Paul as the leader, but he did lead and they followed. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . As a church staff or volunteer ministry leader, you can learn valuable and unique lessons from several biblical characters. In the early church there was a problem. A true leader has to be brutally honest with all those he comes in contact with. 552 A south wind having blown gently, in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. They were also able to build a church that met in their home. It was the crew of the ship who lived dangerously, foolishly risking the ship, the cargo, and the lives of all on board, just to get ahead a little. He must live wisely and be just. One of the most outstanding examples of leadership in the Bible is the example of Moses. In other words, your leadership style should be authentic to you.