How I Read Acts 28 + “Should Have”
Yesterday, as I read Acts 28, the phrase “SHOULD HAVE” jumped off the page at me. Chapters 27-28 detail the perilous journey of Paul and his shipmates from Jerusalem to Rome, Port to Port, the ship slowly sails toward it’s destination encountering several severe weather situations. They endure a tempestuous wind so strong, it’s named: Euroclydon. This storm was so tumultuous that it evoked phrases like: “and we, being exceedingly tossed with a tempest,” “no small tempest lay on us,” “all hope that we should be saved was then taken away,” and “fearing we should fall upon the rocks,….wished for the day.” (vv. 27:18,20,29) In spite of the severity of the storm, Paul is assured he will make it all the way to the intended destination: Rome.
He encourages his fellow shipmates: “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. FOR THERE STOOD BY ME THIS NIGHT AND ANGEL OF GOD, WHOSE I AM AND WHOM I SERVE, saying, Fear not Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God, that IT SHALL BE EVEN AS IT WAS TOLD ME.” (27:21-26)
After 14 days in the storm (v.33) the ship ran aground. (v.41), but, just as Paul had said, all 276 sailors & prisoners (v.37) aboard the ship escaped safely to land. n(v.44) (I have always loved v.44/45 “…and the rest, some on boards, and some on BROKEN PIECES of the ship. And so it came to pass: that they escaped ALL safe to land.”)
“And, when they were escaped,” (28:1) they landed on an island named Melita. The islanders shew them kindness, make them a fire and receive them because of the rain and the cold.” (28:2). Paul, in an effort to help, gathers a bundle of sticks, places it on the fire, and a viper comes out of the heat, and fastens itself on Paul’s hand. (v.3) The islanders see the “venomous beast” hanging on his hand, they talk amongst themselves, conclude he’s a murderer, and though he’s escaped the sea, this is the way “fate” will take him. (28:4) But Paul SHAKES OFF the viper into the fire and feels no harm. (28:5)
And THIS is the line that struck me to my core: “Howbeit they looked when he SHOULD HAVE swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.” (28:6)
The “barbarous people” knew this snake and they knew what was inevitable from this snake bite. Paul should have swollen up; or should have fallen down dead suddenly. Instead, he shook it off back to where it came from and felt no harm.
There are so many things in life, seasons that I can look back on and say, “I should have…”. I should have given up on people…” “I should have walked away from God entirely…” “Others should have given up on me…God should have given up on me…” “…my future should have been destroyed…” “I should have lost my mind and my sanity…” “ I should have probably been dead…” “ I should have never recovered from that heart-break…” The list could go on….
And everyone else would probably have their own.
You should have given up your faith when God didn’t answer your prayer. You should have grown bitter because of your parents divorce or your divorce. You should have never recovered from your failure. You should have never been restored to a sound mind and overcome the years of mental and emotional challenge. You should have ended up in prison or a halfway house or an institution because of your battle with sin and addiction.
You should have….I should have….but the power of the Holy Ghost intervened. For Paul, the Holy Ghost was anti-venom. What should have killed him, had no power over him. (In the previous chapter, Paul had been told he’d make it to Rome and that promise prompted him to shake that viper right off; back into the fire.)
And those looking on observed and KNEW that Paul should have been dead. But he wasn’t. He was very much alive, and the thing that should have taken his life opened the door for the miraculous. The islanders decide Paul is not a murderer, but a god, and offered him lodging. A miracle of healing unfolds as he lays his hand on and prays for the father-in-law of his host. The survivors of the shipwreck are honored with many honors, and are given things that are necessary for their journey. (ALL: vv.28:1-10)
The unfortunate event that should have ended Paul’s life…the venom that should have closed out his ministry, did not, but instead became a doorway to more ministry and perfectly timed provision. The “barbarous” people of the island “show them kindness, (v.2) receive them, lodge them courteously, (v.7), and lade them with such things as are necessary.” (v.10)
The NLT says, “as a result, we were showered with honors, and when the time came for us to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.”
From this perspective, the storm, the shipwreck, the snakebite, were fortuitous, not unfortunate. The providence of God scripted provision in a most unconventional way.
What should have taken Paul out, provided for his promise. The promise that he’d make it to Rome was funded by a “venomous beast.”
So don’t be surprised if the thing that should have killed you…crippled you…destroyed you…finished you off….becomes the very thing God uses to open doors to the miraculous, unfold callings and ministry, and fulfill promises.
You should have, but you didn’t.
Shake off the snake, and keep going.
Thank you for joining me for this journey!
Go grab your Bible and your journal!
I look forward to the power of this habit in your life. This is Unedited.