The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 296

I. THE VARIETY IN OUR COMPANIONSHIPS. As ea.eh passenger on board found himself inseparably associated with a. strange admixture of fellow-travellers, so we find our- selves compelled to mingle, more or less closely, with various companions a.s we and they journey together over the waters of life. There a.re (1) those who have a. right to command us (the captain); (2) those in whose power we stand (the soldiern, ver. 42); (3) those who are bound to ea.re for our safety (the sailors), many of whom will selfishly neglect their duty (ver. 30); (4) those who can enlighten, heal, refresh us in spirit or in body (Paul, Luke, Aristarchus); (5) fellow-sufferers (the prisoners). II. THE NEED FOR LABOUR AND FOR PATIENCE. Not only did the sailors $trive strenuously to discharge their nautical duties (vers. 7, 8, 17), but all the passencrer~ worked with all their strength in co-operation with them (vers. 16, 19). And ,~i,h what long r,atience had they to wait, not merely at Fair Haven, "where much time was spent, ' but also and chiefly when the vessel was drifting before the wind, "when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared" (ver. 20), and when riding at anchor, and fearing greatly that they would be forced on the neighbouring rocks, they "wished for the day." Labour and patience are the two oars which will bring the boat to shore in the everyday passage of our life. III. THE CERTAINTY OF HARDSHIP AND PERIL, MORE OB LESS SEVERE. The winds arn sUie to be contrary, as in the earlier part of this celebrated voyage (vers. 4, 7, 8), and they may be tempestuous, as they were at the latter part (vers. 14, 18, 27). We must reckon upon some adversity, some checks and disappointments, as certain to befall us; we ought to be prepared for calamity and disaster. No human voyager across the sea of life can tell that there is not a very cyclone of misfortune through which he is about to pass, IV. THE EXCELLENCY OF A REFUGE IN Goo. What an admirable figure does Paul present in this interesting picture I What calmness he shows (vers. 21-25) ! What comfort he conveys I What strength he affords (vers. 33-36) ! What ascendency he acquires (ver. 43) I It is the prisoner, Paul, who is the central figure there, not the centurion, nor even the captain. If in the emergencies that will arise, in the crises that must occUI, on those occasions when the higher virtues and heavenlier graces are demanded, we would show ourselves brave, noble, helpful, truly admirable, let us see to it that we have then-because we seek now---a Friend, a Refuge, a Stay in Almighty God. V. THE OCCASIONAL DEMAND FOB SACRIFICE. To save life they "lightened the ship" (ver. 18) ; they " cast out the tackling" (ver. 19) ; they " cast out the wheat into the sea" (ver. 38). To save moral or spiritual integrity it is well worth while, and some- times positively necessary, to abandon that which· is precious to us as citizens of this present life (Matt. xviii. 8, 9). VI. THE POSSIBILITY OF REACHING THE SHORE. (Ver. 44.) In one way or another they all came "safe to land." We may arrive at the end like the captain who steers into port, bis vessel whole, every sail spread to the wind, rich and glad with a prosperous voyage; or we may reach the strand lik8 Paul and his fellow-passengers, on planks and broken pieces of the ship. We may die honoUied, strong, influential, triumphant; or we may roach our end poor, unregarded, shattered. It is of small account, so that we do reach that blessed shore-so that we are" found in him," the Divine Saviour, and pBBB to his presence and his glory.-C. Ver. 3.-Spirieual refreshment. We like to think of Paul at Sidon. We are not only glad to know that he had the opportunity of gaining such material provision as would help to mitigate the severities of the long weeks of suffering in store; we like to dwell on that one day's "happy interlude," when, forgetting the imprisonment at Cresarea, and ignorant of the imprisonment at Rome, he speni some hours of spiritual refroshment among his friends. We ni,,y dwell upon-  3M THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.