The Irish author Derek Landy said that “plans are invitation to disappointment.” That’s more than true concerning the plans that most of Paul’s shipmates made to sail onto Phoenix (v.12).

At first the wind blew gently and the journey progressed as planned (v13).

If one reads the story of the storm and shipwreck with spiritual understanding, the activity of the Lord is plain to see. God’s in charge of everything. There are no coincidences in life. God presides over every circumstance. There’s no twist of fate or stroke of good fortune that randomly strikes.

There was little time for Paul to catch his breath. No doubt exhausted after having swum or paddled ashore through the pounding surf (vv.43-44), he immediately assisted in gathering wood for a fire (vv.2-3). Here’s a cold wet old man (about 60 years old) whose first thought in the midst of a traumatic event isn’t to look out for himself, but to help others.

Christianity is not a break with Judaism, but its fulfillment. Christ is the “hope of Israel” (v.20 NIV).

The Roman Jews viewed Christianity as a sect of Judaism (v.22). But Christianity isn’t a heretical form of Judaism. Rather, concerning the hope of Judaism that the Messiah will come, Christianity is the realization that the Messiah has come.

Christ alone is all-sufficient, all powerful, and complete. He alone is preeminent. He alone is over all, for all, and our all in all. And as such, Christ alone is the One you can live and die for.

Chapter one is a magnificent declaration of the pre-eminence of Christ.

Being homeless is a great challenge! King David felt strongly that he should build a temple home for God in which his Spirit could dwell. This psalm was possibly written by King Solomon after he dedicated the temple having overseen its construction.

It’s settled – give your tithe (10% as determined elsewhere), do that first and you will have more than you’ll ever need (prosperity, wealth, success etc.).

Well, maybe.

The Pharisees at the time of Jesus had defined every possible aspect of life.