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. 559 If the soundings were made at midnight, and if the passengers were at least inside the ship, rather than on deck, only the sailors would have known that land was approaching. It was still late at night, too dark to try to make shore until it was light. Verses 30-32 describe the sailors attempt to abandon ship, which they aborted, due to the action taken by the soldiers, who heeded Pauls words of warning. It was only some forty miles to Lutro. Robertson, p. 461. {For I am} confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). It was too late in the sailing season to travel on to Rome by sea. Featuring Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Kristi McLelland, and more! "He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. His military role came at a pivotal time in world history- World War II. Because of one prisoner on board that ship, all the other passengers were spared. He was going to survive. 543 The centurion Julius, into whose custody he was delivered, belonged (we are told) to the Augustan Cohort. nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. Third, the port where they were anchored was not as ideal for wintering as some other ports, which were not that far away. If Paul was completely right in his previous warning, then many were about to die. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. Unsaved men do not have the answers. It opens to the East and Southeast, but is not fit to winter in. Many of the great democratic leaders in history are today cult object and recognition, as an example to follow in the fight for more just, peaceful and orderly societies.. (2) The Sovereignty of God and Mans Safety. He was courageous as indicated by the spy scenario in Numbers 13:31. Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Netherlands are a few others. 542 The ship in which they embarked belonged to Adramyttium (modern Edremit), a seaport of Mysia in northwest Asia Minor, opposite the island of Lesbos. God used the centurion, who had come to deeply respect and admire Paul, to spare him, along with the rest. It is not surprising, though, that he would take the advice of the ships captain and its pilot as being more expert. Your family. Gods mission for Paul was to go to Rome and there to preach the gospel. If the prisoners were to make it to land, the soldiers would have to release them. If there was ever a time for Christians to emerge as leaders, it is now. The danger in which they found themselves was unnecessary. God used this two-year delay of Felix and the bungling of Festus to bring Paul to the point where he would appeal to Caesar. They were not men who manipulated people or their circumstances in order to further their own power or position. A church leader is a manager of Gods household, so he must live a blameless life. What he recognized was the person who had the ability to help bring deliverance to the Jews was Esther. But today, we want to focus on a . When you are walking in accordance with Gods purposes, whatever obstacles to the accomplishing of His will are encountered, He will overcome. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. I have always looked upon the Apostle Paul as a godly man, a zealous servant of Jesus Christ, and a powerful preacher of the gospel. It was Paul who showed caution, warning those in charge of the dangers ahead. A democratic leader likes people who disagree with them and challenge their views. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. Pauls circumstances certainly do no give him any status, any clout, with anyone on board that ship. What did Paul do to bring about such a change? Few managers or politicians understand that. The broad issue is that of leadership. Paul tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. Let me suggest a few characteristics of Pauls leadership in this crisis, which may provide fuel for future thought. Read Chapter All Versions. Photo Credit: Sparrowstock. Pauls skillfulness and leadership gave the gospel a credibility it would not have otherwise have had in the eyes of these people. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? Leading others is just too big of a responsibility for us to handle without continual prayer. The non-swimmers could wait a little longer, perhaps for the ship to further break up, and then clinging to some piece of floating wreckage, paddle their way to shore. Now, no one had the use of this boat. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow him. These prisoners were (pardon me for this) twice pardoned.. They were not going to get to Rome until after winter was over anyway, and they could stay right where they were, with no real problems. I do not believe that Lukes central purpose in Acts 27 is to teach us about leadership, but I do think that Pauls leadership is very apparent in our text. With difficulty, they finally arrived off Cnidus, but were then forced by the winds to sail under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone. If you possess these types of qualifications, would that make you a better leader? Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. The God whom Paul served was a God who was (and is) in control. Because of their very limited visibility, they might not see the land until it was too late. Since leadership is important, how does Godly leadership fit into the equation? He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, {being} more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:3-9). 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. They want to use numbers and influence decisions based upon voting power. Now, in our text, Paul is again in great danger. The prisoners (at least the dangerous or violent ones) may have been in chains. The centurion respected and trusted Paul a great deal, as can be seen by his previous dealings with him (see verse 3). Their objective was to work with two groups of people from different cultures and make sure one did not feel slighted over the other. As Paul had already informed them, neither the ship nor its cargo would survive, only the passengers. The soldiers were acting, as it were, on Pauls orders. 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. Flee to safety today. The soldiers heed Pauls words and cut the ropes to the lifeboat, letting it fall away. Pauls execution was sought by the Sanhedrin, which first tried to execute him legally (like Stephen) and then by assassination, but God used Roman soldiers once again to spare His servant. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. Please see below for details. The sovereignty of God means that He is not at our disposal, to carry out our whims or wishes, but that we are at His disposal. And who would not be afraid in such a storm. Food supplies may have been washed overboard or ruined by moisture. God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Smith suggests that the mainyard is meant; an immense spar, probably as long as the ship, which would require the united efforts of passengers and crews to launch overboard. Bruce p. 486. If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). The time which had been lost, due to unfavorable winds, made it evident that they would not be able to reach Rome, not without wintering at some port, and finishing the journey in the Spring.550 The only question now was where they would winter, and whether or not they would press on to some more favorable port. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. 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). It is enough to discourage any pastor. 557 This is not to suggest that Paul now emerged because he knew that this was the low-point of his fellow-passengers, but because the night before the angel of God had appeared to him. 1. Born a Cypriot and reared a Levite, he linked the Hellenistic world and the Jerusalem church. 546 With the westerly winds which prevail in those seas, says James Smith, ships, particularly those of the ancients, unprovided with a compass and ill calculated to work to windward, would naturally stand to the north till they made the land of Asia Minor, which is peculiarly favourable for navigation by such vessels, because the coast is bold and safe, and the elevation of the mountains makes it visible at a great distance; it abounds in harbours, and the sinuosities of its shores and the westerly current would enable them, if the wind was at all off the land, to work to windward, at least as far as Cnidus, where these advantages ceased. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Verses 14-20: A Sudden Storm and Lost Hope, Verses 21-26: Pauls Night Visitation and Words of Encouragement, Verses 30-32: Sailors Stopped From Abandoning Ship, Verses 33-41: Pauls Encouragement and the Ships Grounding, Verses 42-44: Prisoners and Passengers Spared From Death. I would say that is a great example of Godly leadership. The grounding of the ship, some distance from shore, and then its breaking up poses another threat, which all survive. of Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. Democratic leaders: Encourage group members to share their ideas: The leader asks for and considers employee input. It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. Paul reminded his shipmates that they should have listened to him sooner. I confess, I am distressed at the ways in which Christians are trying to take control of the political and governmental positions of authority. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate them this year. How this decision would be regretted, and soon! He is the author ofThe Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. Inclusive Meetings A weekly meeting provides the best illustrations of the democratic ideology. 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. Why not get better at it? Such would have been the case in Sodom and Gomorrah. 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). These are examples of democratic leadership: All opinions are brought forward in team meetings. Beyond this, God is free to act or not to act in any way that He chooses. The seas were closed to sailing until the beginning of February at the earliest; the three months spent in Malta must therefore have corresponded roughly to November, December, and January, so they must have left Fair Havens not much before mid-October. The precise status of Julius is difficult to determine: from the authority which he assumed when once (from Myra onward) he found himself on board a ship of the Alexandrian grain fleet, it might be inferred that he was a frumentarius, an officer charged with supervising the transport of grain (frumentum) to Rome. Bruce p. 477. Let us consider just a few: 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for us not to work, but the assurance that our work is not in vain, in the Lord. 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. They all waited for the morning light. 4 The United States is one. Paul's leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. Paul was spared so that he could go to Rome, and there proclaim the gospel. Their troubles to this point would seem insignificant compared to what was soon to come. Mordecais words influenced Esther to take an action that she would have otherwise not taken. 16:8, 16-20). Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. . Pay attention to the type of men they chose to handle this problem. Second, the majority of those who voted on this issue favored going further. They could not handle the ship in the stormy waters. Pauls safety and deliverance was so certain that it was sufficient for others as well. For Pauls sake, all the passengers on board his ship were spared from the storm. He has surrounded himself with executives that are experienced and insightful. But it is here, in our text, that I see Paul as a very wise man in practical matters, a man who is a leader of men, and whose counsel is taken seriously because he knows what he is doing. Remember this applies whether you are leading one or many. Is there not a kind of parable here? It was drifting wherever the storm carried it. And so they were strengthened, both in spirit and in body. 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. Our world, like that ship of Pauls, was headed for destruction. The winds seem to have blown the ship away from the island of Crete. Paul once again stepped forward, speaking out to all aboard, so as to assure and encourage them, as well as to persuade them to prepare themselves for the rigors and physical demands of the hours that were to follow. A democratic leader encourages open conversation and helps their employees set goals, evaluate their own performance and motivates them to grow. 482-483. Looking at leadership honestly means looking at the best and the worst. In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. He believed in himself, but he believed in something bigger than himself, namely, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Cor. They planned to slip away, on the pretext of laying out anchors, but they were going to take the lifeboat (as it were) and leave the people to fend for themselves in the ravaging storm, in a ship drifting ever near the rocks of the approaching shore. I think not. Bruce writes. The most probable account is that they dropped a floating anchor or drift anchor, which was dragged astern at the end of a rope of suitable length so as to offer the maximum resistance every time the ship plunged down from the crest of a wave. Bruce, p. 486. The soldiers who were guarding them were not as concerned about their survival as much as the possibility of an escape. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . Verses 9-13 describe a crucial decision that was made. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. But he was wrong about the loss of passengers. The decision that faced these sailors is not an uncommon one, even in our day. When Daniel was living in captivity in Babylon, he was obedient to the point of losing his life if necessary. Time would prove Paul right. This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company [photolithoprinted], 1966), p. 191, quoting Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen, p. 319. Paul encouragement the passengers to trust God to do all that He promised. This inside information was, I think, a factor in their plan to abandon ship. You can look at the qualities and simply see how you measure up. During the night, an angel of God had appeared to Paul, with a sure and certain word about the future, a word that would bring encouragement to all on board ship. He was nicknamed "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36). As a church staff or volunteer ministry leader, you can learn valuable and unique lessons from several biblical characters. They boarded this ship and set sail. There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy (1 Corinthians 7:13-14). 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). They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:3-6). The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. They invited Apollos into their home and spent time explaining the truth to him. 565 In particular, much may be learned from Lukes portrayal of Pauls character and behavior in circumstances in which the real man is most likely to be revealed. Some things dont change. Here are three unique leaders who serve as great examples of democratic leadership: Abraham Lincoln President Lincoln took office understanding his decisions over the next four years would determine the fate of the United States. Godly leadership like this can impact homes, communities, churches, businesses, schools, politics, sports basically every area of life. He was not an "out front" kind of person, but rather stayed in the background as a fan and supporter of Paul. In 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman to serve as a governor in the United States when she was inaugurated in Wyoming. Let us, like Paul, have a word from God for such needy times as ours. Now, when they knew where they wanted to go, they again began to rig the ship for sailing, to whatever degree this could be done in such a storm. There was some level of favoritism going on. Is this principle of extended deliverance perhaps an explanation of Pauls comments in 1 Corinthians 7, that the unbeliever is sanctified on account of the believer? Here is a list of famous examples of democratic leaders: Dwight Eisenhower, The 34th U.S. President Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple Larry Page, Co-founder of Google Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter Read more about these Famous examples of democratic leadership and feel inspired.