Acts 27:1-5 - We boarded a ship

27:1,2

So Paul is finally on his way to Rome. Getting to this point has followed a very tortuous route and taken a long time, numbered in years. Along the way Paul has witnessed to various rulers. The next stage of the journey will be no less eventful. Paul, and a number of other prisoners are put in the charge of a centurion named Julius. The “we” indicates that Luke went along with Paul. Aristarchus was also with Paul, he was previously mentioned in Acts 19:29, coming from Ephesus. The journey would be completed in several stages.

27:3-5

Julius, the centurion, was mentioned by name because he showed kindness to Paul. When they landed at Sidon, Paul was allowed to go and see his friends. The friends would provide food and other things for Paul’s journey. Sidon was about seventy miles north of Caesarea. After setting sail again they passed the lee of Cyprus, this provided protection against the winds. Once again we receive a lot of detailed information about the journey, much of which we might think we could do without. However, all these details add to the authenticity of the account. The gospels and Acts were not made up stories, but things which actually happened.

1 Samuel 2:4,5 - The bows of the warrior are broken

2:4

Hannah has been broadening out the lessons learned from her own experience to the wider context. Enemies threaten, but their “bows are broken”. The weapons they had are rendered useless. In contrast, “those who stumbled are armed with strength”. Peninnah had mocked Hannah for she could have children, but Hannah could not. It seemed that Hannah had no hope. Yet now Hannah had a child from the Lord. When we feel overwhelmed we should turn to the Lord.

2:5

This verse continues with the reversal of fortunes theme. Those who were full suddenly have to hire themselves out for food, but the hungry are hungry no more. The one who was barren now has lots of children, but the one who had many is in sorrow. We find a similar sentiment expressed at the beginning of Isaiah 54.

Acts 26:24-32 - You are out of your mind!

26:24-27

As in Athens, it is Paul’s preaching of the resurrection that seems to incite Festus’ outburst that Paul is out of his mind. Paul, of course, refutes this, maintaining that what he says is reasonable and true. He then refers to the king, who being familiar with Jewish teaching could confirm this. Paul then challenges king Agrippa directly, asking him if he believes the prophets, expecting the answer yes.

26:28-32

Agrippa, like most politicians, does not want to give a straight answer. Instead he asks Paul if he thinks he can convert Agrippa in such a short time. Paul simply responds that he prays to God that Agrippa will believe, along with all people. Agrippa and Festus then discuss the matter privately, admitting that there is no real charge against Paul, but because Paul had appealed to Caesar they had to send him to Rome. One does think that surely they could have given Paul the option of withdrawing his appeal, and being set free. However, Paul was heading for Rome.

1 Samuel 2:2,3 - There is no one like the Lord

2:2

“There is no one holy like the Lord”. Holy means set apart. God is completely different from all others. He is different morally, we see this demonstrated most clearly in Jesus. He is different in all respects. So when we consider a situation to be impossible, that is because we base our deduction on what man can or cannot do. The Lord is different, so the possibilities are different. 

“There is no one besides you”. The Lord is unique, no one is like Him, He is the only Rock on which we should stand.

2:3

It is not clear who verse 3 is addressed to, probably Hannah is thinking of Peninnah, but we can apply it to anyone, or the devil, when they mock us, speaking arrogantly over us. People do this with pride, thinking that they are beyond rebuke. But the Lord knows all that people do, and He is the one who makes the final judgement.

Acts 26:19-23 - I preached that they should repent

26:19,20

Paul then tells Agrippa that he was obedient to the vision. He started work immediately preaching first in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and Judea. After that he went to the Gentiles. He preached repentance, and that repentance should be demonstrated by actions. Repentance is a key part of gospel preaching, and true faith shows itself by actions. There are some who think that the letter of James is somehow offering a view that is opposed to Paul. This is utter nonsense. Paul could not conceive of faith without actions.

26:21-23

Paul was attacked by the Jews because of his preaching of the gospel, not because of any insurrection against Rome, or general trouble making. Paul was rescued by God, and he reiterates that the gospel is entirely consistent with the prophets and Moses, i.e. all of the Old Testament. Indeed the gospel is what they prophesied would happen. In particular, the Messiah would suffer, Isaiah 53 is the best example of this, but a number of Psalms foretell this as well. He would rise from the dead, and the message of salvation would go out to Jews and Gentiles. 

1 Samuel 2:1 - My heart rejoices in the Lord

2:1

The account in chapter one immediately moves to Hannah’s prayer. When God helps us in a situation there is a tendency to just breathe a sigh of relief, or to accept it gratefully and move on. Here Hannah adopts a different approach. She looks at what she can learn from the situation, based on her immediate circumstances, and then draws wider implications about who God is. It is interesting that a number of women in the Bible have sung songs or made prayers on the basis of what God has done. I think of Miriam, Deborah, Hannah and Mary.

First Hannah rejoices in the Lord. She does not rejoice merely because of the blessing she has received, but rejoices in the Lord. 

“In the Lord my horn is lifted high”. Horn usually signifies strength in the Bible. Our strength is exalted in the Lord.

“My mouth boasts over my enemies”. There are those who at one time boasted over us, mocked or derided us, claiming victory. But in the Lord we will triumph over them.

“I delight in your deliverance”. We should all delight in the Lord’s deliverance of us from the dominion of darkness, from sin and death.

Acts 26:12-18 - To turn them from darkness to light

26:12-14

Then on one of his murderous journeys everything changed. He was off to Damascus to persecute a few more Christians, but on the way he saw a bright light, brighter even than the sun. He and his companions all fell to the ground, and Paul heard a voice saying “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads”. Paul was working against the purposes of God, against what God was doing. The Jewish leaders were doing the very same thing now. To work against God is indeed a hard thing to do!

26:15-18

Paul did not know who the voice was, though he refers to him as “Lord”. The voice then identifies himself as Jesus. Jesus tells Paul to get up, and tells him that Jesus has appointed him to be His witness and servant. Paul was not given a choice in the matter! He also assures Paul that He will rescue him from the Jews (his own people) and the Gentiles, Paul was persecuted by both groups. Paul’s task was “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”. And that is still the task of the church, and of you and me. The world is living in darkness and is under the power of Satan.