In Acts 27, Paul sets sail as a prisoner bound for Rome. Though falsely accused, he is the only one on the ship who hears from God. When a violent storm overtakes them, the crew desperately ties down equipment, throws cargo overboard, and eventually even discards the ship’s tackle. “Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was slowly abandoned” (Acts 27:20 NASB 2020).

Paul reminds the sailors that survival requires staying with the ship. “Unless these men remain on the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved” (Acts 27:31 NASB 2020). Faith means remaining faithful when it seems safer to jump. On Malta, after surviving the wreck, Paul is bitten by a snake but shakes it into the fire and suffers no harm. What should have destroyed him became a testimony.