32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? The centurion did not seem to be concerned with any of the prisoners, except one Paul. By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. They intended to put all the prisoners to death,563 thus eliminating the risk of an escape.

The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. Fourth, a moderate south wind had come up,552 which seemed to promise fair sailing to a better port.

D Why We Must Prioritize Both Prayer and Scripture Reading, 3 Truths These Verses about Breastfeeding Moms Can Teach Us All, Let's Go Back to the Beginning to Find the Gospel in Genesis, The Beauty of Humility Found in the Verse "My Ways Are Not Your Ways". Honor everyone. endobj

The centurion found an Alexandrian ship,547 laden with wheat that was headed for Italy. Famous autocratic leaders include Napoleon Bonaparte, King Henry III, and Queen Elizabeth I.

Paul tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. Since leadership happens inside and outside the church, these examples are good wherever you lead. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. It is as certain as the salvation of His own. of 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. 558 The fourteenth night is reckoned from the time they left Fair Havens. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. . 38 0 obj F Several factors contributed to the decision to sail on.

Jesus wasnt seeking Paul lived dangerously, in one respect, but no one could have been any safer. Autocratic leadership is also common in professions where life-and-death decisions occur. Think ambulatory care and hospitals, police, military personnel and fire departments. The music business is often overlooked when it comes to autocratic leaders. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club.

This created a serious problem. We refer to the coaching process as a coaching conversation. Paul was told by the angel not to be afraid, because he was going to stand before Caesar. Now, in our text, Paul is again in great danger. Lessons in Leadership from Solomon, the Bibles Wisest and Worst Ruler. endobj And so Paul was correct, though not speaking at the moment with prophetic inspiration, authority, or inerrancy.

Here is one passage that talks about the qualifications of a leader. The Bible is pretty clear about what Godly leadership looks like. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Remember this applies whether you are leading one or many. Autocratic leadership is exercised by various leaders in the Bible including King Solomon and King David. Such leadership involves having the leader exercise total authority bestowed upon him or her by people. In autocratic leadership, the leader is in control over all decisions with little or no input from group members. 1. Now they were ready for the days activities. Their arrival had not been without difficulty, but things were only to go from bad to worse. They all waited for the morning light. 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. endobj You can be an authentic leader; you constantly grow and betters yourself.

L They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. 25 0 obj If they were to have the strength necessary to make it to shore, they would need to start the day with a good meal. I know it sounds more like mother or a TV commercial, but Paul was dealing with a very practical necessity. Not once or twice the world has had to thank the great saints and mystics for providing timely help in moments of crisis when realistic, practical men of affairs were unable to supply it. Bruce, p. 475. Webbegin to see the power of the coaching model being used to motivate and develop others, including leaders. About midnight on the fourteenth day, the sailors determined that land was nearing because the depth of the sea below had diminished from twenty fathoms to fifteen.

Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The chapter may therefore be outlined in this way: One way or the other, Festus must have found some way to explain Pauls appearance before Caesar. <>19]/P 21 0 R/Pg 42 0 R/S/Link>>

WebThose who should be leading are not and those who should not are. Not the Adriatic Sea as we now call the sea between Italy and the mainland of Illyricum, but all the lower Mediterranean between Italy and Greece. Robertson, p. 469. That sounds like leadership to me.

The hour is hopeless. application/pdf Take aids, or drugs, for example. He is the author ofThe Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. Nevertheless, they decided to press on to a better harbor. 5 0 obj Too often, I hear leadership spoken of as a place of status, rather than a place of service. 551 Although there almost certainly would have been some loss of life, apart from divine intervention. Why do you pass judgment on your brother? 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. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong (Titus 1:6-9). But what are some of these purposes and promises? 1. 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. He must live wisely and be just. The otherstwo hundred and seventy-six in allfollowed his example. Discipline, preparation and victory are three pillars of autocratic leadership. These objectives are present on all successful football teams from the Alabama Crimson Tide to the New England Patriots. Outstanding gridiron coaches such as Bill Belichick, Bear Bryant, Bill Parcells and Woody Hayes belong on the list of autocratic leaders. endstream But we can still have hope, even when we are afraid. 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. 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. When Esthers words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: Do not think that because you are in the kings house you alone of all the Jews will escape. Godly leadership is honest leadership that allows you to lead out of who you are.

The decision that faced these sailors is not an uncommon one, even in our day. Nearing land in a storm is a very dangerous thing. Lets examine some of these, because whether you lead one, a few, or many we all have to lead. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. When the ship set sail, they began to encounter unfavorable winds. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 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. If we are not in Christ, who has weathered the storm, then we must endure the storm ourselves, to our eternal destruction. When the outcome is known, and the One who determines it is both faithful and sovereign (in control), the danger of harm is removed, along with the need for fear.

Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative. Why not get better at it? They hoped that daybreak would come so that they could visually navigate the ship, rather than to attempt to make port (or even to ground the ship) in the dark. 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? <>stream <>4]/P 6 0 R/Pg 42 0 R/S/Link>> He was filled with divine power and wisdom as long as he doubted his own ability (Exodus 4:10). Thus, he did not expect a miracle, nor did he even ask for one. Pauls leadership emerged in a time of crisis, in an hour of need, when no one else seemed to have any answers.565 Functional leadership (as opposed to formal leadership) emerges in times of need. The Greek-speaking Jewish believers complained that their widows were being overlooked in the distribution of food when compared to the widows who were Hebrew-speaking. Paul reminded his shipmates that they should have listened to him sooner. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not send her husband away. I see leadership held out to men and women as a prize, rather than as a humbling responsibility. Think of it. Accompanying Paul were Luke544 and Aristarchus, who was from Thessalonica.545. 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. Pauls influence was not the result of his political maneuverings, but mens response to his personal competence. But once the sailors discerned that land was nearby, staying on board ship became increasingly dangerous. Up to this point in time, they had gone a long while without food. However, there is no story of Esther

This channel is the place between two seas. Here the ship, in Smiths words, would strike a bottom of mud graduating into tenacious clay, into which the fore part would fix itself and be held fast, whilst the stern was exposed to the worst of the waves. After the long battering which the ship had endured for the past two weeks, its exposed part could not take this further punishment, and it quickly disintegrated. Bruce, p. 494. Geocoding 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. 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.

What was required for this situation was Godly leadership. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. Christianity is not a fair weather religion. 6 0 obj It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. Would any have heeded Paul or the gospel as seriously as they did, had the trip to Rome gone quickly and smoothly? And also for Pauls sake, all of the prisoners were spared from execution by the soldiers. What did Paul do to bring about such a change? 2022-07-22T09:37:21-07:00 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. This type of leadership style is helpful during stressful and last-minute circumstances. endobj

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.

For some, your leadership responsibilities are limited to yourself and your home. There is nothing wrong with a healthy fear of danger. H 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). First, those who were considered the experts favored doing so. But he was wrong about the loss of passengers. WebMoses is often cited as a biblical example of servant leadership (Bell, 2014; Crowther, 2018, Boyer, 2019); he demonstrated a deep love for God and others, humility in his approach to God and his own abilities, and an impetus to 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. 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. {I have been} on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from {my} countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren (2 Corinthians 11:25-26). Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ. Had they heeded his warnings, this would not have happened.

Their troubles to this point would seem insignificant compared to what was soon to come. Bruce writes. Except for Paul, they had all reached the conclusion that the situation was hopeless and that they were doomed. J In spite of Pauls words of encouragement, the passengers had still not eaten. Paul did not seek to sanctify his words by giving them any spiritual flavor. As it was the middle of the night and the storm was still fierce, the sailors put out anchors, to drag along the bottom, to slow down their drifting. The angel of God told Paul not to be afraid, which would indicate that he was afraid. 2022-07-22T09:37:21-07:00 A friend of mine, Jonathan Leath, wrote a book he titled You Only Lead One (YOLO). 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. They could not handle the ship in the stormy waters. 107 Charismatic leaders also are extremely self-confident and convinced of the rightness of their own beliefs and ideals. It was too late in the sailing season to travel on to Rome by sea.

Then the passengers would have a better chance to reach shore. There was some level of favoritism going on. In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. Whatever dangers might arise, He will protect His people, in accordance with His purposes and promises. This type of leadership can be effective in situations where 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.

The broad issue is that of leadership. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. Autocratic leadership is exercised by various leaders in the Bible including King Solomon and King David. U

Allow me to make one last observation here. Paul is one of a number of prisoners, on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. Matthew records 65 questions; Mark, 45; Luke, 73; John, 45. 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). This may have been the case, and if so the calculations upon which the shipmaster (not owner as AV and RV, according to Ramsay) based his rash advice are less apparent. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable. endobj

And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you. So they went. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
The passengers were not to lose hope, but to keep up their courage. His previous warning did not take into account the intervention of God, resulting in the escape of every person on board the ship. They boarded this ship and set sail.

One more detail about the future was revealed by Paul: the ship must run aground on a certain, but unnamed, island. What was it about Paul that made him a leader among men, even in matters pertaining to sailing and storms? Perhaps the most well-known modern example of autocratic government is the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, also known as North Korea. Salem Media Group. A free-wheeling, laissez faire, hedonistic, immoral, and After all, a number of the passengers could not even swim (see verses 43-44). 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. I think not.

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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. Neither Lasea nor Fair Havens is mentioned by any ancient writer, two of the hundred cities of Crete. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 460. I take it that this was a form of democratic rule. The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it.

Paul was spared so that he could go to Rome, and there proclaim the gospel. When you are walking in accordance with Gods purposes, whatever obstacles to the accomplishing of His will are encountered, He will overcome. Web8. 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 cut loose the anchors, which set the ship free, as wind and waves propelled it toward land.