Acts 27:13-44; 1 Samuel 3; Psalms 51

Acts 27:13-44

13 When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought they had achieved their purpose; they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.

14 But not long afterwards, a fierce wind called the "northeaster" rushed down from the island.

15 Since the ship was caught and was unable to head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.

16 After running under the shelter of a little island called Cauda, we were barely able to get control of the skiff.

17 After hoisting it up, they used ropes and tackle and girded the ship. Then, fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the drift-anchor, and in this way they were driven along.

18 Because we were being severely battered by the storm, they began to jettison the cargo the next day.

19 On the third day, they threw the ship's gear overboard with their own hands.

20 For many days neither sun nor stars appeared, and the severe storm kept raging; finally all hope that we would be saved was disappearing.

21 Since many were going without food, Paul stood up among them and said, "You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss.

22 Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship.

23 For this night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me,

24 saying, 'Don't be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And, look! God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.'

25 Therefore, take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me.

26 However, we must run aground on a certain island."

27 When the fourteenth night came, we were drifting in the Adriatic Sea, and in the middle of the night the sailors thought they were approaching land.

28 They took a sounding and found it to be 120 feet deep; when they had sailed a little farther and sounded again, they found it to be 90 feet deep.

29 Then, fearing we might run aground in some rocky place, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.

30 Some sailors tried to escape from the ship; they had let down the skiff into the sea, pretending that they were going to put out anchors from the bow.

31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."

32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the skiff and let it drop away.

33 When it was just about daylight, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, having eaten nothing.

34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For this has to do with your survival, since not a hair will be lost from the head of any of you."

35 After he said these things and had taken some bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of them all, and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

36 They all became encouraged and took food themselves.

37 In all there were 276 of us on the ship.

38 And having eaten enough food, they began to lighten the ship by throwing the grain overboard into the sea.

39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could.

40 After casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach.

41 But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up with the pounding of the waves.

42 The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim off and escape.

43 But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

44 The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, all got safely to land.

1 Samuel 3

1 The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli's presence. In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread.

2 One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his room.

3 Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was located.

4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, "Here I am."

5 He ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "I didn't call," Eli replied. "Go and lie down." So he went and lay down.

6 Once again the Lord called, "Samuel!" Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, "Here I am; you called me." "I didn't call, my son," he replied. "Go and lie down."

7 Now Samuel had not yet experienced the Lord, because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

8 Once again, for the third time, the Lord called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy.

9 He told Samuel, "Go and lie down. If He calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came, stood there, and called as before, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel responded, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."

11 The Lord said to Samuel, "I am about to do something in Israel that everyone who hears about it will shudder.

12 On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I said about his family, from beginning to end.

13 I told him that I am going to judge his family forever because of the iniquity he knows about: his sons are defiling the sanctuary, and he has not stopped them.

14 Therefore, I have sworn to Eli's family: The iniquity of Eli's family will never be wiped out by either sacrifice or offering."

15 Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the Lord's house. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,

16 but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son." "Here I am," answered Samuel.

17 "What was the message He gave you?" Eli asked. "Don't hide it from me. May God punish you and do so severely if you hide anything from me that He told you."

18 So Samuel told him everything and did not hide anything from him. Eli responded, "He is the Lord. He will do what He thinks is good."

19 Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let nothing he said prove false.

20 All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a confirmed prophet of the Lord.

21 The Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word.

Psalms 51

1 Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.

2 Wash away my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.

4 Against You-You alone-I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge.

5 Indeed, I was guilty [when I] was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

6 Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within.

7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

9 Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt.

10 God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways, and sinners will return to You.

14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.

16 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt offering.

17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

18 In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.