On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.
In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. Altogether there were 276 of us on board. When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

Will I be swimming with the sharks or standing on land? I think this might have been the question asked by these sailors right now.

Imagine with me the size of this boat, able to carry cargo and 276 sailors. It was not a small skiff, but a good-sized ship. This was an ocean-bearing vessel.

Now we must consider the size of the storm that pushed this boat around like it was a toothpick in the middle of a large river. It was a large, hurricane force storm! So when comparing how we might respond in this situation, we must fully understand the situation.

Fear had gripped these men as a group. They were desperate. They were trying everything they could think of to escape, including leaving behind some of their party and stealing a lifeboat. When fear grips a person, what they are looking for is not people to tell them they should not be fearful. They are primarily looking for something to hope in, something to focus on other than the fear.

Paul had told these men that God would save them, that an angel of God had told him this. Apparently the Centurion and the soldiers decided to believe Paul, or at least give him a little leash. He might have seemed to them one of the few men on board with a level head and a sound mind. The Apostle Peter talks about the type of stability Paul exhibits here: “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (I Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭8‬)

God can give me a clear mind in the most challenging situation. I just have to believe, trust him, and obey his word and his call on my life.

Paul, also, is thinking about what they need to survive going forward. Sometimes in a panic we forget to take care of ourselves and our bodies. So he encourages them to eat, as they have gone without food as they have been in a panic.

The food settles them down. They then cast the food off board to lighten the ship. This is both a smart move if they are going to have a rough landing, and a show of trust in Paul and his God, that they will not be needing food in the future.

When all around me seems chaotic, Lord, teach me to be a calm and stable voice of reason for others to trust and to give them hope.