Acts 28:11–16 (ESV)
Paul Arrives at Rome
11
After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. 12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after
one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of
Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. 16 And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
Today’s
reading is back to travel log status. Paul tells the path they took to Rome. The ship they were sailing on had “twin gods as a figurehead.” These twin gods would be Castor and Pollux, sons of the Greek god Zeus. They were
believed to be the patrons to sailors. What do we take from today’s reading? Paul gave thanks to God and we see that God did protect Paul as he said he would. What lies ahead for Paul?
I
pray: O Lord, we are quick to turn to you when things don’t seem to go our way, yet slow to give thanks when they do go our way. I give thanks for your protection and I give thanks for all the times I forgot to thank you. I especially
thank you for your Son’s life, death, and resurrection for the forgiveness of my sins. Amen.