Acts 21:1-9 

¹ After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. ² We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. ³ After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. ⁴ We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. ⁵ When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. ⁶ After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.  ⁷ We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. ⁸ Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. ⁹ He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

Manitoba Highway

Do you enjoy travelling or driving through Manitoba Highways? Provincial roads passing through small towns require slower driving speeds. And road constructions along the highways are welcome inconveniences that may awake sleepy drivers.

Even with wide, straight, and less traffic highways, accidents are not absent. Actually, drivers become more complacent, unaware, or unmindful of probable disasters. Warning signs, speed limits, or highway patrols are useful in keeping motorists drive safely but there are still accidents, why? Smooth sailing cannot assure perfect life. Everyone makes mistakes.

Paul sailed on a ship in the hope of reaching Jerusalem before the day of Pentecost. At that time sailing was very smooth and convenient. There was no storm whatsoever. When life is smooth sailing, many would claim: it’s God’s grace.

1.  Ship

¹ After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. ² We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. ³ After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo.

At that time, there was no ministry commitment. Paul preferred to sail on board a ship. He might not wish to have extra activity. Luke included the places they passed by but no significant activity has been recorded. That’s a reality in life or in the ministry. Some times, life is smooth sailing but life in the ministry is worth remembering.

But when Paul and his team had sailed smoothly, Luke didn’t bother to write what they did. Did they have exciting events like: eating lobster, sipping cool aid, watching whale, or playing board games while they sailed? Aren’t those things and the likes flooded the social media accounts of many, even Christians?

Many people even believers become complacent when life is smooth sailing. While waiting for the coming of the Lord again, many Christians live as if they are relaxing on board a ship. And that’s what many people consider as abundant life. Believers’ life on earth is like a marathon. By God’s grace, we need to keep pushing until we reach the finish line. At the finish line, will you be rewarded?

Ben Payne

American athlete Ben Payne was rejoicing near the finish line, and missed his chance to win the 10-km race. He was just a few yards from winning the race in Georgia, considering that he competed with several Olympians.

But what Payne didn’t realize, the British Olympic marathoner Scott Overall was next to him. Both Ben Payne and Scott Overall pumped their fist at the finish line. After the photo finish was double-checked, Overall was declared the winner.

That story is not exclusive. There were many instances when runners would celebrate before they reach the finish line then feel sorry for not wining the prize.

When life seems smooth sailing, it is when we are most unprepared of untoward incidents. We don’t control our life. We need to be prayerful always.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17-19, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit.

Rejoicing or not, pray continually. We don’t know what’s ahead of us. Accident may occur anytime. Paul and his team might be sailing smoothly but Luke never recorded that they just relaxed while travelling. Relaxing life is never intended to be rewarded. Praying helps us not to quench the Holy Spirit.

2.  Spirit

⁴ We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. ⁵ When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. ⁶ After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

The disciples might have heard some Jewish people spreading bad reports about Paul. From Kos to Rhodes to Patara to Phoenicia and passing through the south of Cyprus to Syria until they landed at Tyre, there was no significant event recorded. But when they met the disciples when they stayed in Tyre for seven days, there was a warning from the Holy Spirit and time of prayer.

⁷ We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. ⁸ Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. ⁹ He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

Paul stayed with the disciples when they came to Tyre and at Ptolemais. That might be one reason Paul chose to sail on board a ship. He could have spent extended time with the disciples in Asia if he travelled by land.

Caesarea is nearer to Jerusalem than Tyre, and Paul and his mission team stayed at the house of Philip. Philip was the evangelist who baptized the Ethiopian Eunuch, and he had 4 daughters who were prophetess. Philip was an evangelist and he might have trained his daughter to preach the word of the Lord.

Many Christian groups consider this passage as biblical support for training evangelist or witnesses while others use it to justify lady preachers. Nothing of that sort was mentioned. It’s more of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Philip the evangelist and his daughters. Nobody can stop when the Holy Spirit is at work.

In 1 Samuel 10:9-12, ⁹ As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. ¹⁰ When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. ¹¹ When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

¹² A man who lived there answered, “And who is their father?” So it became a saying: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 

In the Old Testament, prophets are understood as messengers of God’s word, may it be a warning or a vision of God’s plan. In the New Testament, prophets have similarities to the Old Testament prophets. Prophets would give a warning from God for a possible disaster in the near future or in the next life. But not all people can recognize when a prophet of God is talking. One feature of God’s prophets is that, when they speak it is not easily accepted.

In Ephesians 4:11-13, ¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Did Jesus give prophets to churches? Can you recognize a prophet? Are those preachers expositing divine truth God’s Prophets? New Testament prophets are gifted in expositing divine truth.

><((‘> … ><(((‘> tmec\2021 <‘)))>< … <‘))><