August 17, 2020 CAC Living Water Devotional :- A FIGUREHEAD SHIP WITH TWIN GODS
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LIVING WATER🌊 CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday, August 17, 2020
A FIGUREHEAD SHIP WITH TWIN GODS
Read: Acts 28:11-16
Acts 28:11-16 It was after three months’ stay there that we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers [Castor and Pollux] as its figurehead.
We landed at Syracuse and remained there three days,
And from there we made a circuit [following the coast] and reached Rhegium; and one day later a south wind sprang up, and the next day we arrived at Puteoli.
There we found some [Christian] brethren and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.
And the [Christian] brethren there, having had news of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and received new courage.
When we arrived at Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was permitted to live by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
MEMORISE: It was after three months’ stay there that we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers [Castor and Pollux] as its figurehead. (Acts 28:11).
EXPOSITION
As Paul and his companions were being led to Rome, on account of the gospel, the crew and the passengers left Crete around October, or November (“after the Fast,” 27:9), having been caught by the storm for two weeks, and stayed in Malta for the three months, until February or March, seeing a ship of Alexandrian origin, suggested to be a grain ship (cf. 27:6 38) from Egypt, which had also spent three months of winter in Malta since it was too dangerous to sail on, they boarded the Ship. The twin gods Castor and Pollux (“twin brothers”) on the ship’s figurehead were they heavenly twin sons of Zeus and Leda according to Greek mythology; which the mariners superstitiously believed that they bring good fortune to them. Gemini was their constellation, and if this was seen during a storm, the mariners take it as an omen of good luck.
We may ask: Why did Luke include this detail to his account? Perhaps, to contrast The superstition of the people of Malta, Rome, Greece, and Egypt With Christianity. Paul and his companions cannot say they won’t sail with this ship because of it twin gods figurehead on it, since there was no ship with cross of Christ on it! Likewise there are things we do and places we go because there’s no alternative.
As a young boy, I use to see on the steering wheels of the passenger lorries that tour our village’s route, some juju or voodoo/magical elements tie to them. It was believe that they will prevent the lorries from getting involved in motor accidents!
It’s pretty easy to confess that ‘In God we trust’, but it is common to see in what people put their trust instead of God; for instance, while ‘crucifix’ might be good for the purpose of identification, but to trust in it for salvation or protection is unscriptural. It is equally superstitious to trust putting the Bible under the pillow rather than treasuring it in our hearts and claim that “In God we trust!” David says: It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. (Psa. 118:8-9). Luke revealed that though Paul and his companions boarded and journeyed with a heathen vessel, it was clear in the end that his trust was solely in the Lord as he gave thanks to Him at the end of his voyage: And the [Christian] brethren there, having had news of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and received new courage. (Acts 28:15).
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, help me to understand and practice what it really means to trust in You.
2. Thank the Lord for His revelation of Himself to you.
3. Pray against the Spirit that causes the heart to wander away from the true God.