#BibleStudy. Who’s Your Advisor - Acts 27

So Paul warned them, ¹⁰ “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” ¹¹ But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 

Acts 27:9b-11 

·       It's late fall AD 59.

§  Paul is headed for Rome.

§  Julius, the centurion assigned to Paul and other prisoners heading for Rome, allows Paul to meet with friends.

§  Paul's friends provide needed supplies for his journey.

·       Even now, in the 21st Century, sailors know the perils of navigating the Mediterranean Sea between October and April. 

§  The boat hugs the coast as long as possible.

§  Winds blow them south, but they make it to Fair Havens, a "fair weather port" on the isle of Crete.

·       Paul warns the centurion and the others of disaster if they continue.

·       Sailors and the ship's owner want to sail to a safe harbor for the winter. 

·       The centurion sides with the sailors.

§  Advice is easy to give and be given.

§  The quality of the advice depends on the source.

·       It's hard to fault the centurion's decision

. . . from a human perspective.

·       Paul's advice was straight from God.

·       As we'll see in the next devotional, God knew more than the sailors.

·       The event presents an important lesson.

When you pray and know God's answer, don't let what sounds like good advice from a worldly perspective lead you astray.