Atos 27
J. Vernon McGee · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 27
Vernon McGee adds "Dr. Luke says that "no small tempest" lay on them. We have already seen how Dr. Luke likes to use the diminutive like this. He means that it was really a terrible storm. In fact, they did not think they would escape from it alive. It was in the storm that the voice of the Lord was heard through the lips of Paul." John MacArthur gives us a graphic description of what they must have been experiencing writing that "Only those who have been in a violent storm at sea can fully appreciate the terror the passengers and crew must have felt. The towering, white-capped seas; the roaring of the wind; the violent rocking of the ship as first the bow, then the stern rose high in the air, only to plunge quickly down again; the constant motion, inducing seasickness and making it difficult to stand, let alone walk; the wind-driven salt spray stinging and blinding those exposed on deck; and, worst of all, the looming reality of an awful death by drowning—all those factors combined to unnerve even the most experienced sailor." (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts) John Phillips gives his version of the storm tossed ship - Day followed day, overcast with thick clouds, an invisible sun revealing a wildly heaving sea and a tumultuous wilderness of gray, angry waves. Night followed night—thick, black, dark night with no sign of a single star. Dreadful days followed by appalling nights, with the wind shrieking in the rigging and the vessel lurching and plunging. And all the while the gale-force winds howled like tormented demons so that one could hardly think. On deck was a roaring nightmare. Between decks was a scene of horror, fear, and despair, made worse by seasickness and the fearful knowledge that even the sailors had given up hope. Nobody knew where the ship was. It was being driven before the wind in a sinking condition, still shipping water from the leaks in the hold. (Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary) Storm (5494)(cheimon from cheima = winter weather) describes the winter the season of bad weather, when rains would pour on the land, with storms and foul weather. Louw-Nida has "stormy weather involving strong wind, overcast sky, and often cold temperature; thunder and lightning may also be present." Jesus uses cheimon in His Olivet Discourse (in the context of the onset of the Great Tribulation) declares "pray that your flight will not be in the winter." (Mt 24:20+, cf Mk 13:18). Cheim - 6x/6v - storm(2), winter(4). Matt. 16:3; Matt. 24:20; Mk. 13:18; Jn. 10:23; Acts 27:20; 2 Tim. 4:21. 3x in Septuagint - Ezr. 10:9; Job 37:6; Song2:11 From then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned - This is one of the few times where the word hope (elpis) is used in the sense of "hope so," most of the 54 uses of this work speaking of a "hope sure," of an absolute assurance that God would do good in the future. But even in this context even though Luke includes himself among those who are beginning to lose hope, there is one man on board who while human and still concerned was not about to abandon the hope (absolute assurance of future good) which Jesus had given him in Acts 23:11+! THOUGHT - In a similar way, often when people go through severe storms of life, they are tempted to jettison all hope. Are you going through a storm? Don't lose hope. Fix your eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2+), fix your hope on the "future grace" to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pe 1:13+), Who Paul describes as the Personification of "our hope"(1 Ti 1:1), the One Who shines forth as the Bright Morning Star (Rev 22:16+) even in the darkest circumstances, even in the dark night of the soul, for the will dawn and the Morning Star will arise in your heart." (2 Pe 1:19+) Being saved (4982)(sozo) means rescued, preserved from harm in this case physical harm, although many were also in danger of eternal destruction because they had not believed in Jesus. Used again with the same sense in Acts 27:31. (Although not using sozo, we see the same idea in Acts 27:34, 43, 44; Acts 28:1, 4) Sozo in Acts - Acts 2:21; Acts 2:40; Acts 2:47; Acts 4:9; Acts 4:12; Acts 11:14; Acts 14:9; Acts 15:1; Acts 15:11; Acts 16:30; Acts 16:31; Acts 27:20; Acts 27:31
Atos 27
Vernon McGee - Do you remember another instance back in the Gospels when the Lord Jesus put His own disciples into a boat one night and sent them across the Sea of Galilee? He told them to go to the other side, and on the way over a storm arose on the sea. He sent them right into a storm. Now don't say that Jesus didn't know the storm was coming. He deliberately sent them into the storm! He is God. He knew about the storm, and He knew what He was doing. I personally believe that oftentimes the Lord deliberately sends us into a storm. We need to remember that we can be in the storm and still be in the will of God. He has never said we will miss the storms of life, but He has promised us that we will make the harbor. And He will be right there with us through the storm. That is the comfort that should come to the child of God in the time of the storm. (Ibid) ILLUSTRATION - In late 1735, a ship made it’s way to the New World from England. On board was a young Anglican minister, John Wesley, who had been invited to serve as a pastor to British colonists in Savannah, Georgia. A storm hit and the ship found itself in serious trouble. Wesley, who was chaplain of the vessel, feared for his life. But he noticed that the group of German Moravians, who were on their way to preach to American Indians, were not afraid at all. In fact, throughout the storm, they sang calmly. When the trip ended, he asked the Moravian leader about his serenity, and the Moravian responded with a question: Did he, Wesley, have faith in Christ? Wesley said he did, but later reflected, “I fear they were vain words.” Wesley’s experience in Georgia was a failure, both personally and ministry-wise. A bitter Wesley returned to England. After speaking with another Moravian, Peter Boehler,