Paul tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. The hour is hopeless. 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). I suspect so. He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. They had to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. It has long been acknowledged as one of the most instructive documents for the knowledge of ancient seamanship. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 474. The following post is adapted from my personal academic coursework. 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. Sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia (verse 5).546 It was here that they had to change ships. An elder must live a blameless life. They were now well into the dangerous season; as Luke notes, even the Fast had now gone by. Paul was as secure as any man could be. Every passenger made it safely to shore. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 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. Bruce writes. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. Moses was seen as the patient leader of a people with little faith (Ex. 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. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. 558 The fourteenth night is reckoned from the time they left Fair Havens. They boarded this ship and set sail. A crucial decision had to be made at Fair Havens.549 Sailing was not safe in the winter, due to wind conditions and seasonal storms. 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 you see shortcomings, those are the areas that you can ask God to help you develop. In Acts 20:35, we see him say to the elders of the church in Ephesus, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more . 31 What then shall we say to these things? . 555 From verse 38 we know that all the cargo was not thrown overboard at this time. A centurion of the Augustan cohort by the name of Julius543 was placed in charge of the prisoners. Several days before, Paul had told the passengers, who had lost all hope, that they would all be saved, although the ship would run aground (verses 21-26). What was it about Paul that made him a leader among men, even in matters pertaining to sailing and storms? Looking at leadership honestly means looking at the best and the worst. And Joshua did so.". A friend of mine, Jonathan Leath, wrote a book he titled You Only Lead One (YOLO). The lives which Paul warned would be lost were those lives which were spared by God, for Pauls sake (see verses 22-24). His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. Inclusive Meetings A weekly meeting provides the best illustrations of the democratic ideology. If Gods sovereignty is the source of comfort to the Christian, it is the source of terror for the unbeliever, for God has warned of His coming judgment. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 33 Who will bring a charge against Gods elect? He was generous and that in itself bridges the gaps of selfish and greedy people if God's grace is given the opportunity to be operative. (4) The Sovereignty of God and Human Responsibility. The most memorable aspect of effective leadership of a pastor is when he has survived the polarities of differing opinions and modeled having each side respect the other's. 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. 541 Lukes narrative of the voyage and shipwreck of Paul on his way to Italy is a small classic in its own right, as graphic a piece of descriptive writing as anything in the Bible. He was not the captain of the ship, nor one of the soldiers. With difficulty, they finally arrived off Cnidus, but were then forced by the winds to sail under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone. 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 was overruled. (1) A look at leadership. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. He did not claim to have a certain (prophetic) knowledge of what was going to happen. He was thoroughly subservient to the will of God, and he was committed to a specific, meaningful mission. Time would prove Paul right. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. 556 The following day, a more drastic measure was necessary: the spare gear had to go if the ship was to have any chance of surviving. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . They made port in Sidon, a city about 70 miles north of Caesarea. After all, the ships captain and the pilot had more experience, and they also had more to lose. Other words for democratic leadership For others it extends beyond the walls of your home possibly into your community, your job, or even your ministry. After all, a number of the passengers could not even swim (see verses 43-44). To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. 560 The higher the ship floated in the water, the closer to shore they could get before the ship grounded. Did he do anything? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? The sovereignty of God is no excuse for us not to work, but the assurance that our work is not in vain, in the Lord. And so they were strengthened, both in spirit and in body. Here, Julius, the centurion in charge of Paul and the other prisoners, allowed Paul to go to his friends and be cared for by them (verse 3). The centurion did not seem to be concerned with any of the prisoners, except one Paul. The storms of your life may not have been sent your way to destroy you, but to turn you to Gods salvation. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. This proposal pleased the whole group. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. Silent team members are specifically asked their opinions to make sure all perspectives are heard. You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. The broad issue is that of leadership. They want to use numbers and influence decisions based upon voting power. The wise leader will work hard at blinding his or her eyes to the pettiness of church members' criticism. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. There was some level of favoritism going on. 1 Peter 5:3. Pauls skillfulness and leadership gave the gospel a credibility it would not have otherwise have had in the eyes of these people. Whether by divine revelation, intuition, or by learning of their plans from some human source, Paul became aware of their intentions. Our world, like that ship of Pauls, was headed for destruction. 36 Just as it is written, For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. In 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman to serve as a governor in the United States when she was inaugurated in Wyoming. Consider these two things: Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home (Titus 1:8). He has surrounded himself with executives that are experienced and insightful. This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. Why not get better at it? How this decision would be regretted, and soon! And He has come forth from death and the grave, to give us new life. The passengers were not to lose hope, but to keep up their courage. These people saw first hand the hope of the gospel in Paul, when all hope was lost. He took Pauls warnings seriously here, too. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow him. The angel of God told Paul not to be afraid, which would indicate that he was afraid. Their objective was to work with two groups of people from different cultures and make sure one did not feel slighted over the other. Is there not a kind of parable here? This created a serious problem. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. 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). You can look at the qualities and simply see how you measure up. His military role came at a pivotal time in world history- World War II. Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969) - The 34th President of the U.S. Eisenhower was the Supreme Command of NATO before he served two terms as the U.S. President. They could not see the sun nor the stars (verse 20) and so they were unable to navigate. "He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Thankfully if God has called you to leadership, he will take the time to help you grow into it. He arose, then, for two reasons: (1) his shipmates were in desperate need of encouragement, and (2) he now had a word from God for them. 1 Timothy 3:5. It was still late at night, too dark to try to make shore until it was light. From here on, sailing will not be smooth. Third, the port where they were anchored was not as ideal for wintering as some other ports, which were not that far away. The sovereignty of God means that we dare not presume that God will work a miracle for us, at the time and in the way we choose, due to our foolishness, carelessness, or sin. What he recognized was the person who had the ability to help bring deliverance to the Jews was Esther. Leading others is just too big of a responsibility for us to handle without continual prayer. There is no place safer than the place of obedience to the Word of God. With great difficulty, the dinghy was hoisted on board, and then supporting cables were used to undergird the bottom of the ship, so that it might not break up under the weight of its cargo and the stresses of the storm. While Paul had not lost hope, as had his shipmates, he must have been afraid. The reason this type of leadership was necessary is because they were not just passing out food; they were solving a potentially bigger problem. His previous warning did not take into account the intervention of God, resulting in the escape of every person on board the ship. Discouraged by the disapproval of Jesus, yet blessed by the warmth and affection of Jesus. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:28-39). Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. Pauls execution was sought by the Sanhedrin, which first tried to execute him legally (like Stephen) and then by assassination, but God used Roman soldiers once again to spare His servant. He did get disgusted. If the relative safety of the passengers was in being on board ship, with Paul, our certain safety is in being in Christ. He has weathered the storm of Gods wrath on the sinner. In verses 27-29, Luke describes the ships approach to some body of land. The danger in which they found themselves was unnecessary. If the leader becomes a wimp, he will lose his leadership role. But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. Without God's constant guidance in our lives, how can we be confident of what we are teaching, how we are ministering, or why we are even leading? Let us, like Paul, have a word from God for such needy times as ours. The assassination conspiracy was still the main hope of the Sanhedrin as Paul was imprisoned for two years by Felix, but God kept Paul from Jerusalem. Even running under the shelter of a small island (Clauda, verse 16), they could hardly get the ships dingy on board. Paul was told by the angel not to be afraid, because he was going to stand before Caesar. I could talk about David, Moses, or Nehemiah, but I want to talk about three lesser-known leaders who make great examples of Godly leadership in the Bible. He would later, on the island, work signs and wonders. The centurion found an Alexandrian ship,547 laden with wheat that was headed for Italy. Here is another example of Godly leadership in the Bible that sometimes gets overlooked. So, says Luke, they lowered the instrument, not being more specific perhaps because he did not know, or did not remember, the technical name for whatever it was that was lowered. Remember, he struck the rock and disobeyed God, but his patience had worn thin. 548 This harbour is named Kalus Limeonas, a small bay two miles east of Cape Matala. This is influence and leadership in action. The otherstwo hundred and seventy-six in allfollowed his example. They all waited for the morning light. Gods power and His sovereign control are no pretext for carelessness or recklessness. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. 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. 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. Pauls influence was not the result of his political maneuverings, but mens response to his personal competence. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. Pauls faith and his courage were contagious. nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. Those who could swim should jump first, and make their way to shore. Examples have not been reviewed. Here are some examples of their leadership. Airline pilots must constantly monitor weather conditions, and make decisions as to the route they will take, their altitude, and even their destination. But we can still have hope, even when we are afraid. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. Three days have already passed, and Luke provides us with the description of some incident for each day. 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. In Matthew 16, Peter was both a "rock" and a "stumbling block." While it is great to learn from others, you dont have to try to be like others. in 1971. You are the devil's advocate. 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? He was going to survive. This inside information was, I think, a factor in their plan to abandon ship. It opens to the East and Southeast, but is not fit to winter in. 16:8, 16-20). Pauls caution is rather interesting. Remember this applies whether you are leading one or many. Examples. Furthermore, Paul was an apostle, a man through whom God had worked many signs and wonders. When this happens, there will be no protection for the lost. Now, in our text, Paul is again in great danger. Since leadership is important, how does Godly leadership fit into the equation? To ensure you receive the best experience on Lifeway.com, we use cookies to process information about your visit. Fourteen days have passed since they left Fair Havens and the storm first struck the ship.558 The sailors now have little idea as to where they were, or how far they might be from land. How can Paul, a prisoner, emerge as the leader on board a ship, while in the midst of a storm? Leaders in the bible had six key characteristics that included commitment, credibility, purpose, gifts, accountability, and self-discipline. Clearly the answer is yes. Examples of delegated authority include parents and their children, masters and their servants, priests serving in the temple, and Christian leaders, as Christ's servants, with the members of a church. If Paul was completely right in his previous warning, then many were about to die. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He doesn't mince words when he calls them "a brood of vipers.". Did Paul pray for their meal, as well as his own? It seems as though the passengers, including Luke and Paul, were needed to help carry out this operation (see verse 19).556. A democratic leader encourages open conversation and helps their employees set goals, evaluate their own performance and motivates them to grow. 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). Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. 547 Ramsay is of the opinion that the ship was a government vessel of which the centurion, as senior officer, was properly in charge. Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable. Julius and the others did not seem to look upon Paul in religious or spiritual terms, but only in terms of practical and proven ability and knowledge. . The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. Los usurpadores de poder suelen ser democrticos si han sido elegidos en elecciones . Thus, he did not expect a miracle, nor did he even ask for one. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. 4. God used the centurion, who had come to deeply respect and admire Paul, to spare him, along with the rest. It seems that there was no protest from the sailors when the ropes to the lifeboat were cut. In a democracy leaders. They invited Apollos into their home and spent time explaining the truth to him. There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. 563 This seems to suggest that the charges against these prisoners were serious. He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. The journey was delayed by unfavorable winds. You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of the Bible. There are also plenty of real-life examples of leadership in action. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Paul need no longer fear, because he knew the outcome of this storm. Now they were ready for the days activities. (The term Augustan, i.e., His Imperial Majestys, was a title of honor bestowed on several cohorts of auxiliary troops.) 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. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. It was a coasting vessel, which was to call at various ports of the province of Asia; at one of these Julius knew he would find a ship, preferably a grain ship, bound for Italy. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 477. He bridged the gaps between the Greek and Jewish worlds. Democratic Leadership Examples President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was famously democratic in his leadership style, once said that "leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well." What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? Here is a list of famous examples of democratic leaders: Dwight Eisenhower, The 34th U.S. President Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple Larry Page, Co-founder of Google Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter Read more about these Famous examples of democratic leadership and feel inspired. Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even . Nearing land in a storm is a very dangerous thing. Allow me to make one last observation here. He was most likely the envy of other young leaders. All one needs is a clean needle or a condom or possibility an abortion and theyre off and running, seeking a little pleasure, at the cost of the loss of their life, and of their soul. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. If you are a Christian, the same safety is yours, when you are walking in obedience to His commands, and within His purposes. Paul once again stepped forward, speaking out to all aboard, so as to assure and encourage them, as well as to persuade them to prepare themselves for the rigors and physical demands of the hours that were to follow. The God who was to rescue them was Pauls God, the God whom he served, and to whom he would bear testimony before Caesar. A true leader has to be brutally honest with all those he comes in contact with. He left this to God. When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. But Pauls concern here was not for himself, but for others. To Paul (in my opinion) this would be akin to jumping off the pinnacle of the temple, and thus putting God to the test (Luke 4:9-12). Paul was a prisoner, on his way to stand trial before Caesar in Rome. What kind of leadership did Paul exercise, and how did this impact the gospel? Their safety was relative, however. In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. Pauls safety and deliverance was so certain that it was sufficient for others as well. 7 Best Democratic Leadership Examples to Know 1. Paul's leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. He was not an "out front" kind of person, but rather stayed in the background as a fan and supporter of Paul. I do not agree. It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. We're sorry, an error occurred. 4. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). 545 This seems to be the same Aristarchus mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. It was only some forty miles to Lutro. Robertson, p. 461. That sounds like leadership to me. When the ship set sail, they began to encounter unfavorable winds. 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. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a common goal. Susan Ward. The decision that faced these sailors is not an uncommon one, even in our day. Please see below for details. What are we to make of this dramatic change in Pauls standing before his fellow-shipmates? If this was all that Paul said to these soldiers, he did not tell them that these men were attempting to abandon ship. "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. The question was where the ship would make port for the winter. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. For Pauls sake, all the passengers on board his ship were spared from the storm. If that doesn't work, he outlasts them.