When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.
Acts 27:20
Our story today revolves around the trip Paul made as a prisoner to Rome. The ship Paul is on encounters a storm [G5189.typhōnikós; from τυφῶν tuphōn (a hurricane)] and all hope of being saved is, KJV ‘taken away’ ESV, “abandoned” [4014periairéō (from 4012/perí, "all-around, encompassing" and 138/hairéomai, "to take, separate") – properly, completely separate, remove totally (inclusively, comprehensively); leave behind entirely.
The sun and stars, used for light and navigation, are completely gone. The sailors have no sense of where they are or where to go. They are at the mercy of the wind and waves that are carrying the ship. They’ve been violently tossed, nobody’s eating, cargo and ships tackle have been thrown overboard in an effort to simply save their lives. The darkness has continued for days, the storm has not let up and all hope of being saved is abandoned.
I want us to grasp the vividness Luke paints of this scenario. All hope of being saved is abandoned. It is hopeless. There was absolutely nothing in the circumstances to draw encouragement from and into hopeless, the God of Hope steps.
Abraham, when human reason for hope was gone, hoped on. Romans 4:18
Why so downcast on my soul, put your hope in God. Psalm 43:5
For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:37
Many times we try to simply hold our confidence in the things we can manufacture, without God. We speak about our hopes and dreams and when they fall apart, somehow we blame the failure on God. Please examine with me today, from the Helps Word Studies notes, this greek word translated hope. I believe it will provide us much insight into the “hoping” we do.
1680 elpís (from elpō, "to anticipate, welcome") – properly, expectation of something sure (certain); hope.
For believers, 1680/elpís ("hope, an activeexpectation") is always based on receiving the title-deed of faith, His inbirthed persuasion about what to expect (wait, hope for). See Heb 11:1 (cf. Ro 10:6-8, 17 with 1 Jn 5:4). Faith is always something received (generated by the Lord, never people), so biblical hope (1680/elpís) is always from God(about what He has spoken), i.e. it is not mere human optimism ("wishful thinking”).
Hope (1680/elpís) is built on the persuasion God gives about His will, inbirthed through faith (4102/pístis). Hope then embodies faith (4102/pístis), and faith-hoping consummates "through love" (cf. Gal 5:6, Gk text).
Working it out . . .
(Heb 11:1) Hope begins with receiving faith from God, and endures as faith-hoping through an "interim" (waiting) period, i.e. from when faith is imparted to its full outworking "through love" (Gal 5:6). Accordingly, hope (1680/elpís) is placed "between" faith and love in 1 Cor 13:13. Hope takes the progression of the Lord first inworking faith, and then developing this faith-hoping to consummation "through (divine) love" (Gal 5:6).
Reflection: Why is love "the greatest"? Because love includes faith and hope (by definition), not because faith or hope are "inferior." As "3" is "greater" than "1" or "2" because it includes them……”
So when Paul stands in the midst of the adversity and declares that there will be no loss of life among the men, he does so because the word God has brought him has filled him with faith and hope. Faith comes by hearing the word of God and strengthens Paul who is then able to stand and encourage others, ‘take heart’. Paul had to face the same thoughts and fears they all experienced but the God to whom He belonged and to whom He worshipped said… and now He has confidence all will be well.
‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.’ Verses 24/25.
Did the circumstance changed in the moment Paul had the word delivered to him? No, but I’ll leave it with you to read the rest of the story. This is just a reminder today that when all hope is gone, we are to continue trusting and hoping in the God we belong to and worship knowing the God of Hope is filling you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
So… don’t throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.