Emerging with Gratitude and Courage—Acts Series—Josiah Kagin

Paul was on his way to Rome to stand before Nero because he had exercised his right of appeal to Caesar as a Roman citizen. He had done this because the likelihood of a fair trial in Jerusalem was doubtful and his case continued to be stalled with political tensions between the the Roman governors and Jewish religious leaders. Paul would be transported to Rome along with a couple friends and a ship full of criminals likely to the coliseum to provide gory entertainment for the Romans.  During the voyage, some risky decisions were made by the pilot to continue to sail during the winter months. A violent Nor’Easter storm arose in the Mediterranean and after fourteen long days caused their large wooden, grain ship to run aground on the rocky coast of Mileta or Malta. Paul was stuck there for three months. Today we will see how Paul emerges with gratitude and courage from a season of storms at sea and being stuck on an island. May this be our reality as well.