The Close of the Harvest

Acts 27, And You Are In It
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And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band.—Acts 27:1

Ray Luke

Though the twenty-seventh chapter of Acts is a travelogue and historical narrative, it may also be seen as an allegory or parable for our times upon which the end of the age has come. What Paul experienced in his journey and the ending of his life in Rome may have lessons for the church of Laodicea as it completes the work of “filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ” (Colossians 1:24). Certainly there are interesting parallels of our twenty-first century society with that of the flourishing Roman empire of the past. These include world domination, control by military power in a culture of decadent sensuality, corruption, and violence. In a similar environment the Gospel age church finds itself at the end of the age (2 Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Peter 3:3,4; 1 John 3).

At Saul’s conversion, the Lord instructed Ananias to minister unto Saul of Tarsus with these words: “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). More than three decades later, in fulfillment of this commission, the apostle Paul was being sent to the court of Caesar to be put on trial for life. There he would have a golden opportunity to bring the message of the risen Christ into the very heartland of pagan Rome.

In Acts 27:1 we are told that he was a prisoner in the custody of Julius, a centurion of the Augustus Band, as they boarded a vessel in the eastern Mediterranean port of Adramyttium. With him were the intrepid Aristarchus and the chronicler Luke. We admire Aristarchus’ courage at Ephesus where he was seized by the mob instead of the apostle Paul (Acts 19:29, 30). A more perfectly suited team for such a mission could hardly be imagined. And so with us, the Lord will provide all the necessary means and supportive help to carry out whatever experience we are called upon to undergo.

The Journey

We are able to follow the route recorded in the account. Each port of call and place mentioned is in existence today or has been located. No Greek or Roman literature of that period can make that claim. Homer’s Iliad or The Odyssey, and even Josephus’ geographical accounts, cannot be verified in many instances. But the more scholars and archeologists view the objective evidence, the more they are forced to confirm the reliability of Scripture.

We note in the third verse that shore leave or liberty was given to Paul to visit the brethren at Sidon, a most generous act of kindness. Julius knew that should any prisoner escape, his own life would be forfeited. How unusual that he would “courteously entreat” a common prisoner to spend a full day at liberty so as to “refresh himself.” Julius may have known another centurion, Cornelius, who was at Joppa in the same area. Or, he also may have learned about Paul from other soldiers witnessed to by Paul during his various imprisonments. At any rate, Julius treated his prisoner with unusual respect throughout the voyage.

We can only imagine the joy and spiritual refreshment of that day! What it must have meant to Paul to have this final opportunity to meet those dear ones whom he would never see again this side of the veil. We can only imagine the tender emotion that must have been exchanged as the brethren poured out their fervent love to Paul while receiving his in return. The brethren accompanied him back to the pier and tearfully watched their beloved Paul slip away beyond the horizon. What a day of spiritual renewal for them all, never to be forgotten!

Being near the early part of October, sailing in that region of the Mediterranean was becoming dangerous. We know from the ninth verse that reference to the “fast” actually related to the observance of the Day of Atonement. Discerning the times and seasons, Paul cautioned about proceeding: “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the lading and the ship, but also of our lives” (Acts 27:10). Apparently the master and owner of the vessel paid little heed to Paul’s opinion. Since he was not a seaman, what would he know about such matters? But he was one who had faced peril on the water and had a healthy fear of the elements (2 Corinthians 11:25,26).

Likewise, in our day the harvest message of the impending destruction of the present order of things has largely gone unheeded, for what could Bible Students know about such matters seeing that they have no seminary or ecclesiastical credentials? (Matthew 24:37-39; 1 Thessalonians 5:2,3; 2 Peter 3:3,4).

In the Manna comment for October 16 we read: “We of today represent the Lord’s cause in the midst of the raging elements of human passions, opposition, etc., and our hearts would be at times dismayed except as faith is able to see the Lord with us in the ship, and able to grasp the thought of His mighty power in His own time and way to speak peace to the world. … It must not surprise us, however, if a dark hour is before us—if the time should come when the stormy winds will be so fierce that many will cry out in fear and trembling. Let us learn well the precious experiences of the present time, so that then our faith shall not fail us.” We find ourselves in the ship of state—in a social, economic, religious and political context—at a turbulent period of history wherein forces are unleashed which will bring about its destruction (Psalm 46:1,2).

The Storm Begins

“When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore. But after no long time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called Euraquilo.” (Acts 27:13,14).

History records that at the beginning of the twentieth century a wave of optimism swept over the western world as the Industrial Revolution heralded an era of unprecedented development and prosperity. As late as 1913 there were high level assurances that war between the central and western powers of Europe was unthinkable. They had reached an understanding that any future differences could be peaceably resolved through diplomatic channels.

Suddenly the balmy south wind of peace turned into the whirlwind of war. In June 1914, shots rang out in the obscure Balkan town of Sarajevo. The visiting Crown Prince Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Em­pire, and his wife, lay dead. There followed a series of events that historians to this day cannot fully account for which led to an escalation of diplomatic blunders, resulting in the outbreak of a war which was totally unexpected by its suddenness and ferocity. It marked the end of Gentile times exactly as prophesy and chronology declared. The time had come for removing the old ruling powers—“In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom” (Daniel 2:44)—and sweeping away the royal ruling houses of Europe!

Caught in the throes of a “tempestuous wind” the seventeenth and eighteenth verses state that being battered unmercifully by wind and wave they took down the sails and could do nothing but ride out the storm. In desperation they lightened the ship. The crew used emergency measures to stabilize and keep afloat the ship that was beginning to leak. Cables were strapped around the hull to keep it from being torn apart by the pounding waves and overboard went everything that was not absolutely essential.

Evidence of the lightening of the ship of state is all around us today in the global redistribution of wealth, the end of colonialism, proliferation of social legislation and entitlements, the labor movement, economic and political reforms, etc. They are last ditch efforts to forestall the violent convulsions of rebellion and anarchy prevalent everywhere. The Jubilee Trumpet has sounded, the Gentile times have ended, and earth’s new king is present to establish his kingdom. The time has come for the angry turbulent masses to cast off the shackles of ignorance and oppression and to demand a fair share of earth’s blessings.

Recognizing the dissolution of the present world order, the words of Peter take on special meaning: “Seeing … all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought [we] to be in all holy conversation [deportment]” (2 Peter 3:11). How are we jettisoning or discarding our worldly cares and influence as we are engaged in the Lord’s service? Whatever is not yielded in sacrifice on the Lord’s altar now will be lost at the end of our journey.

A Message of Hope

Verse 20 describes the gravity of the situation, but in the darkest hour Paul delivered a startling message of hope: “There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer” (verses 23-25). He gave a message of encouragement that they would all be saved by God’s deliverance, though the ship would be a total loss.

We of today have a similar message of comfort for the world. Though the present order is breaking up, nonetheless there will be deliverance for all mankind. Paul had a solid basis for this promise in that an angel of the Lord declared it. We too have a sure word of prophesy from the Lord. Therefore we also may use the same vocabulary as our Lord’s when he calmed the tempest on the Sea of Galilee: “Be of good cheer” (Matthew 14:27). We can assure the world that the long promised kingdom of God, the times of restitution of all things, is at hand (Acts 3:19-21; 15:14-17; Ephesians 1:9,10). Let us spend and be spent in putting forth this kingdom message.

Be it noted that it was for Paul’s sake that all the passengers aboard were saved. It was essential that he go to Rome and even “the prince of the power of the air”—the great adversary—could not abort Paul’s mission. Just so, Jesus indicated that the church is “the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?” (Matthew 5:13). While the church is still this side the veil, complete destruction by the four winds is held back until the saints are sealed in their foreheads (Revelation 7:1-4). Then and only then will Armageddon demolish the remaining elements of this present evil world in the fury of anarchy.

A New Peril Approaching

Verses 27 and 28 tell of a new peril. Perhaps it was the sighting of a sea gull, or the sound of crashing surf upon the distant rocky coast that warned of the nearness of land and led them to check their situation. By letting down a calibrated weighted line they were able to measure the depth of the water which was getting dangerously shallow.

Christians throughout the Gospel age have been instructed to watch for God’s promised kingdom, and have eagerly waited for any indication of its nearness. As they plumbed the prophecies of God’s word they have been able to discern the times and seasons foreshadowing the return of Christ and the end of the age (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; Revelation 6:9-11). At the appointed hour God’s chronometer sounded! The measuring line of chronology marked out the time of the end, the return of Christ, the resurrection of his sleeping saints, the end of Gentile times and collateral events associated with each. The expiration of the Gentile times in 1914 raised unwarranted expectations that the overthrow of the present world order would be complete at that time. But while 1914 saw the ousting of the ruling houses of Europe and the end of an era, this “present evil world” continues a while longer (Galatians 1:4; 2 Peter 3:10-13).

To halt the shoreward drift to possible disaster on treacherous shoal or rock, four anchors were dropped from the stern (verse 29). In Revelation 7:1-4 four angels are pictured holding back the winds of destruction upon the earth until the servants of God are “sealed in their foreheads.” The end of the existing order of things cannot come about until the foreordained number of the body of Christ is “called, and chosen and faithful.” When the bride “has made herself ready” the forces of anarchy will then consume organized society. Until then the “tempestuous wind” is held in restraint by the four anchors cast out by divine providence. The four pillars of society—political, economic, social, and religious—are buoyed up and sustained by the amazing changes brought about in the aftermath of World War I. The rapid growth of the middle class, economic and social mobility, increase of productivity in all areas of manufacturing, agriculture, information, communication, global trade, transportation, etc. created more wealth and opportunity for more people. But this also created greater avarice, insecurity, and discontent at all levels. In spite of unprecedented material progress, the twentieth century has been the most violent and bloody period in history. The winds of destruction verily have been held back, albeit building up to an even greater intensity.

All Are Saved

Verses 30 to 32 tell of an attempt by some crew members to avert the coming trouble by abandoning ship. The plot was foiled, and all aboard realized there was no way out and efforts to escape the inevitable were futile. Thus will all men realize their fearful and helpless condition while waiting for the darkness of trouble to give way to the dawning of the day (Psalm 30:5; Isaiah 13:6-13; Luke 21:25, 26; 1 Thessalonians 5:2,3).

In the meantime we are told in verses 33 to 38 that Paul and his companions were ministering to the needs of others and were spreading a message of hope and salvation. After fourteen days of fasting Paul took bread for nourishment and urged all to do likewise. At the same time he again reassured the other 275 persons aboard they would all survive. As Jesus said of the Church, “there shall not a hair of your head perish” (Acts 27:34; cf., Luke 21:18), and here, for the sake of Paul, the other passengers were spared as well.

How illustrative this is of the Laodicean church at the end of the Gospel age. Following 1,260 years of famine for the Word of God, the Lord promised that upon his return to those watching and waiting for him, he would “gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them”; that he would “sup” with them and nourish them with “meat in due season” (Matthew 24:44,45; Luke 12:36,37; Revelation 3:14,20). Saints living in these last days have been served the glad tidings of the imminence of God’s kingdom and the restitution of all things—how eager they are to share it with others (Isaiah 52:7,8). After their needs were met; the food was cast overboard to lighten the ship in preparation for beaching. And so in our analogy, when the bride of Christ is complete, the world situation will become so grave that no man can work; the harvest work of holding forth the Word of God to his people will end (Matthew 5:13; John 9:4).

Daybreak

The remaining verses (39 to 44) detail the exciting climax to the fateful journey. The light of day revealed an unknown coast, but a bay and beach offered them the possibility of running the ship ashore. Hoisting the remaining sail into the full blown fury of the winds, they released the rudder bands, cut away the four anchors and were propelled towards the shore. Approaching land, the battered vessel was caught in the cross current of two turbulent bodies of water and driven upon a sand bar where the bow was stuck fast. Pounding waves shattered the stern, but all made it safely to shore either by swimming or clinging to pieces of wreckage.

Just as the two opposing currents drew Paul’s ship to its inevitable fate, so will the irresistible force of the exploited and impoverished rise against the immovable object of entrenched wealth and power to demolish organized society. It has been suggested that the final spasm of trouble bringing about this destruction might well be the competing forces of capital and labor; but whoever the antagonists are, the result will be the same (Ezekiel 7:19-24; Joel 2:2-11; Haggai 2:21,22; Matthew 24:21,22).

Malta (Melita in Latin), the island on which they were thrust, was described by Winston Churchill as “the unsinkable aircraft carrier” for its strategic position off the southern coast of Sicily. Malta played a critical role during World War II in cutting the supply route to the German army, which was only forty miles from occupying the Suez Canal and the nearby Holy Land. At that point the German army was defeated in battle and forced into disastrous retreat be­cause of supply shortages. Six years later the state of Israel was born.

The early part of the twenty-eighth chapter of Acts begins with the account of Paul’s miraculous works on the island, which are suggestive of the work of the glorified Christ in the peaceable kingdom of God.

Then all will know why we have joined with Paul and his companions on that perilous journey to Rome!