The sailors didn’t like the idea of spending the winter at Fair Havens and wanted to go to Crete instead (12); perhaps the night life was better. When they saw their opportunity, they set out, but they were set upon by hurricane winds. The ship was battered and blown, and the storm endured so many days, all aboard began to give up hope (20).

At the time, Paul stood up to address them with a mild rebuke, followed by a strong encouragement not to give up. How could he be so calm? An angel of the Lord appeared to him to remind him of the purpose of his journey: to stand trial before Caesar (24; 23:11). Paul was just a prisoner, but in God’s eyes, he was the key person on this ship, and all the others were his sheep, whom God would graciously protect and spare.

Paul received comfort from God in his troubles. He understood one reason for this was so that “we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2Co 1:4).
Application: Father, thank you for comforting me in my dire moments, often through the love of others. Please help me to comfort others in their dire moments as a shepherd like Paul and like Jesus.
One Word: Do not be afraid; God is with us