Now and Later

Day 191: Acts 27:1-20

“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.”- ‭‭Acts‬ ‭27:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Many believe this group of Christians that shows kindness to Paul were in Sidon as a result of Stephen’s martyrdom (26 years earlier), as believers scattered from Jerusalem.

“Paul received permission to go ashore and visit members of this community (for so we should certainly understand “his friends”) and enjoy all the attention that their Christian love could suggest while the ship was in harbor.”  - Bruce, F. F. (1988). The Book of the Acts (p. 478)

SPOILER ALERT: Tomorrow, there will be a shipwreck.

It is interesting here to play a “what-if” game. Knowing what Paul and the boat’s occupants (totaling 276) were about to face, it should not surprise us that God gave Paul favor with Julius the Centurion.

God will always give us what we need now to help us lead and persevere later.

So, what happens if the Jesus-followers here at Sidon don't meet Paul’s needs? Does he have the strength or focus necessary to lead well throughout the storm and shipwreck? We can’t know for sure, but we do know from the rest of the chapter that he was a difference-maker.

Ready for two challenges today from our passage?

1) Be open to receiving kindness from fellow Christians.

2) Be ready to extend encouragement to those who need this kind of care.

We will be amazed at what Jesus does in us and through us because of these two life-giving acts of openness.