Bible Reading
Acts 27:1-12 “And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea. Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, 'Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.' But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.”
[02:16]Romans 8:37-39 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
[14:58]1 Kings 17:1-16 “Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.' And the word of the Lord came to him: 'Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.' So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him, 'Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.' So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, 'Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.' And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, 'Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.' And she said, 'As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.' And Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, "The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth."' And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.”
[11:07]Observation questions
- What details in Acts 27:1–12 show that Paul’s trip to Italy was difficult from the beginning, even before the major storm later in the chapter? [05:18]
- What kindness did Julius show Paul in Sidon, and why was that kindness significant for Paul’s needs during the journey? [09:27]
- What caused the ship to make slow progress toward Fair Havens, and how does the passage describe the crew’s movement? [16:06]
- When Paul warned the group about continuing the voyage, whose advice did Julius and the majority choose to follow instead? [22:33]
Interpretation questions
- Paul was headed toward a promise God had already given him—he would stand before Caesar—yet the winds still fought against the ship. What does this show about the relationship between God’s promises and hard circumstances? [25:07]
- Julius was a Roman officer responsible for prisoners, yet he became an unexpected source of kindness to Paul. What does this reveal about the ways God may provide for His people through people they would not expect? [10:50]
- Romans 8:37–39 says that nothing can separate believers from God’s love in Christ. How does that promise speak to a person whose circumstances have not changed and whose journey still feels painful? [14:57]
- The captain and ship owner had sailing experience, but Paul recognized the danger. How can a believer tell the difference between wise practical counsel and a decision that ignores what God is showing them? [23:16]
Application questions
- Where do you feel like you are facing headwinds right now—spiritually, relationally, financially, or emotionally? What would it look like to keep taking one faithful step instead of giving up? [21:54]
- Is there an area of your life where progress feels more like a crawl than a breakthrough? Name one small act of faithfulness you can continue this week: prayer, Scripture, church, a needed conversation, or an act of obedience. [16:39]
- Has God ever met a need through an unexpected person, opportunity, or act of kindness? How can remembering that provision help you trust Him with a need you are carrying now? [12:30]
- Are there relationships in your life that need to be held with more open hands? This does not mean treating people carelessly; it means asking whether they are helping you grow toward Jesus or pulling you away from obedience. [07:11]
- When life is painful, what does choosing joy look like for you in a real and honest way? What simple things can you thank God for when you are down to the “bare bones”? [19:34]
- Is there a decision in front of you where you have been leaning mostly on expert opinions, money, convenience, or pressure from others? What would it look like to slow down and seek God’s wisdom before moving forward? [26:29]
