God used this two-year delay of Felix and the bungling of Festus to bring Paul to the point where he would appeal to Caesar. The solar date of the day of atonement in A.D. 59 thus accords well with Lukes implication that the Fast took place while they waited at Fair Havens. Bruce, p. 481. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately (Acts 18:26). The stern of the ship began to break up. Airline pilots must constantly monitor weather conditions, and make decisions as to the route they will take, their altitude, and even their destination. Whether by divine revelation, intuition, or by learning of their plans from some human source, Paul became aware of their intentions. Your Bible study. He was courageous as indicated by the spy scenario in Numbers 13:31. Look at what was necessary for these men to be qualified to carry out this task. Vision Statements of 12 Great Leaders in the Bible Paul was told by the angel not to be afraid, because he was going to stand before Caesar. Here is another example of Godly leadership in the Bible that sometimes gets overlooked. I do not agree. While there are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible, there are some you are probably more familiar with than others. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? The centurion found an Alexandrian ship,547 laden with wheat that was headed for Italy. 548 This harbour is named Kalus Limeonas, a small bay two miles east of Cape Matala. Looking at leadership honestly means looking at the best and the worst. If the relative safety of the passengers was in being on board ship, with Paul, our certain safety is in being in Christ. He has weathered the storm of Gods wrath on the sinner. An elder must live a blameless life. Mordecais words influenced Esther to take an action that she would have otherwise not taken. Where is your God, he asked. The bottom line is that everyone leads in some fashion, be it great or small. The assassination conspiracy was still the main hope of the Sanhedrin as Paul was imprisoned for two years by Felix, but God kept Paul from Jerusalem. She had entered the election the previous year following the death of her husband, the incumbent governor who was campaigning for a second term. What the ships crew intended to do was a cowardly thing. However, there is no story of Esther without Mordecai. Several days before, Paul had told the passengers, who had lost all hope, that they would all be saved, although the ship would run aground (verses 21-26). A true leader has to be brutally honest with all those he comes in contact with. Engage group members: The leader involves members and encourages them to involve others. in 1971. Pauls influence was not the result of his political maneuverings, but mens response to his personal competence. You can look at the qualities and simply see how you measure up. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. {I have been} on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from {my} countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren (2 Corinthians 11:25-26). 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. He portrays Paul in many roles throughout Acts, but here he shows him standing out as the practical man in a critical emergency--keeping his head when all about him are losing theirs. The dangerous season for sailing began about September 14 and lasted until November 11; after the latter date all navigation on the open sea came to an end until winter was over. The safety of the passengers, involved their actions, in eating a good meal, in lightening the ship, and in swimming to shore or in clinging to some wreckage and floating to shore. The cultural expectations on pastors are mostly unbiblical, entirely impractical, and generally downright unrealistic. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. True leaders aren't afraid to call a spade a spade. If Paul was completely right in his previous warning, then many were about to die. I do not believe that Lukes central purpose in Acts 27 is to teach us about leadership, but I do think that Pauls leadership is very apparent in our text. He believed in himself, but he believed in something bigger than himself, namely, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Cor. With difficulty, they finally arrived off Cnidus, but were then forced by the winds to sail under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone. Paul did not seek to sanctify his words by giving them any spiritual flavor. And He has come forth from death and the grave, to give us new life. 552 A south wind having blown gently, in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. The ship ran aground on a reef, where it would be broken up by the action of the still raging waves. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. This may have been the case, and if so the calculations upon which the shipmaster (not owner as AV and RV, according to Ramsay) based his rash advice are less apparent. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. Here is one passage that talks about the qualifications of a leader. In Matthew 16, Peter was both a "rock" and a "stumbling block." Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. Brooks Faulkner previously served as the senior pastoral ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources. The prisoners (at least the dangerous or violent ones) may have been in chains. They took down the sail, which would have been ripped to shreds by the winds, and lashed down the rudders, which would have been broken up as they were smashed against the ship by the waves. Time would prove Paul right. As time went on, as Paul was better known, and as the crises on board the ship became more pronounced, Paul stepped forward, giving both direction and hope to all the others on ship. Examples of democratic leaders A few specific examples of leaders who have demonstrated this style of leadership include: Former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, demonstrated how much she valued her team members by writing personalized letters to their parents. (1 Kings 18:27). The angry mob, which the Asian Jews had incited in Jerusalem, were trying to kill Paul, but God used Claudius Lysias and his soldiers to save his life. No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. 1. The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. Let us, like Paul, have a word from God for such needy times as ours. Paul was a prisoner, on his way to stand trial before Caesar in Rome. On the third day, some of the unnecessary tackle on board the ship was thrown overboard. The gospel sustains men in the greatest storms of life. Looking back on these words would demonstrate that this was indeed prophecy. For our examples, I want to look at leaders that may be a little more obscure. Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969) - The 34th President of the U.S. Eisenhower was the Supreme Command of NATO before he served two terms as the U.S. President. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. This was probably due to seasickness, and perhaps to the difficulty of cooking under such circumstances. He would later, on the island, work signs and wonders. Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable. All in all, it would be best to wait out the storm at sea. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. Because of one prisoner on board that ship, all the other passengers were spared. Because of his special blessing, he was appointed as one with judicial powers and responsibilities in Joshua 14:6-15. 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. How does Pauls safety relate to you? The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . Their actions revealed that they did not believe Pauls words of assurance, that all would be saved, though the ship would be grounded and destroyed. Romans 13:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votesNot Helpful. It is as certain as the salvation of His own. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. These are examples of democratic leadership: All opinions are brought forward in team meetings. Those who could swim should jump first, and make their way to shore. Hence the battle to maintain a westerly course, aided, it appears, by a veering of the wind to the east, as the cyclonic disturbance shifted its centre. Blaiklock p. 190. Far to the south, off the African coast, lay the notorious Syrtes (17), the graveyard of many ships, as underwater archaeology has vividly revealed in recent years. To Paul, the sovereignty of God was not an excuse to avoid his human obligations or his personal responsibility; it was the motivation for him to live responsibly. Here are some examples of their leadership. 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose. It will, however, come eventually. Bureaucratic leadership is defined as a form of leadership in which there is a hierarchy of authority that creates rules for management and decision making. 558 The fourteenth night is reckoned from the time they left Fair Havens. He must live a devout and disciplined life. Thankfully if God has called you to leadership, he will take the time to help you grow into it. When the ship is grounded and the passengers must swim for their lives, the soldiers plan to kill Paul, along with the other prisoners, to prevent any from escaping. They planned to slip away, on the pretext of laying out anchors, but they were going to take the lifeboat (as it were) and leave the people to fend for themselves in the ravaging storm, in a ship drifting ever near the rocks of the approaching shore. How often, I wonder, are others benefited by the presence of a believer? Julius and the others did not seem to look upon Paul in religious or spiritual terms, but only in terms of practical and proven ability and knowledge. His leadership was built not so much on ancestry from the Jewish lineage as by faithfulness. They all waited for the morning light. He was not the captain of the ship, nor one of the soldiers. Gods mission for Paul was to go to Rome and there to preach the gospel. There was some level of favoritism going on. A democratic leader encourages open conversation and helps their employees set goals, evaluate their own performance and motivates them to grow. The hour is hopeless. 4 The United States is one. God used the centurion, who had come to deeply respect and admire Paul, to spare him, along with the rest. The short version is that there was a plot to destroy the Jews, and Mordecai got wind of the plot. Unsaved men do not have the answers. Not the Adriatic Sea as we now call the sea between Italy and the mainland of Illyricum, but all the lower Mediterranean between Italy and Greece. Robertson, p. 469. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. But Moses brought him to the table of leadership because he was the best person for the job. Several factors contributed to the decision to sail on. Related articlesHow and Why Should I Pray for Leaders?An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others, Photo credit: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages. What are some examples of democratic leadership? I believe leadership must be positive influence . 545 This seems to be the same Aristarchus mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. I would like to have heard that prayer, but Lukes silence here requires us to wait till heaven to find out what was said. Some call it a tough mind and a tender heart. Here, Julius, the centurion in charge of Paul and the other prisoners, allowed Paul to go to his friends and be cared for by them (verse 3). (3) The Sovereignty of God and the Ultimate Peril of the Lost. But we can still have hope, even when we are afraid. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. Democratic leaders: Encourage group members to share their ideas: The leader asks for and considers employee input. Examples have not been reviewed. Thus, the sailors continually took soundings, measuring the depth below them, so that they could discern, far in advance, their approach to land (which would be indicated by progressively diminishing depths). Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. The storms of your life may not have been sent your way to destroy you, but to turn you to Gods salvation. 1 Timothy 3:5. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to {obtain} an inheritance {which is} imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. Pauls leadership emerged in a time of crisis, in an hour of need, when no one else seemed to have any answers.565 Functional leadership (as opposed to formal leadership) emerges in times of need. 551 Although there almost certainly would have been some loss of life, apart from divine intervention. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. I see leadership held out to men and women as a prize, rather than as a humbling responsibility. Too often, I hear leadership spoken of as a place of status, rather than a place of service. Paul is one of a number of prisoners, on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. This proposal pleased the whole group. The image of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples in John 13 is a striking one. Beyond this, God is free to act or not to act in any way that He chooses. When you study closely, you will discover these examples of leadership in the Bible can help you address all of lifes situations. [1] It is important to note that he learned leadership principles and faith from his parents (Hebrew 11:23 . Bruce writes. They had to move quickly now to get off the ship and to swim to shore. In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. While it is great to learn from others, you dont have to try to be like others. Second, the majority of those who voted on this issue favored going further. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. 36 Just as it is written, For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. A theophany had taken place in Joshua 5:15: "The commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." Myra lies due north from Alexandria, and its bay is well calculated to shelter a windbound ship. Bruce quoting J. Smith, Voyage, pp. nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). If Paul had been right before, and his words had come to pass, he had even more important words to speak now, not from his own perception or judgment, but from the God whom he served. Paul tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. Handling the ship in this storm was almost impossible, and any attempt would require an expert crew. But it is here, in our text, that I see Paul as a very wise man in practical matters, a man who is a leader of men, and whose counsel is taken seriously because he knows what he is doing. 542 The ship in which they embarked belonged to Adramyttium (modern Edremit), a seaport of Mysia in northwest Asia Minor, opposite the island of Lesbos. Thus, the safety of the ship, according to Pauls words, required the presence of the crew. The following post is adapted from my personal academic coursework. What are we to make of this dramatic change in Pauls standing before his fellow-shipmates? Moses was seen as the patient leader of a people with little faith (Ex. Their troubles to this point would seem insignificant compared to what was soon to come. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. Simply put, Paul warned those making the decision about whether or not to press on that continuing on was not wise. But more than this, God had already assured Paul that he would reach Rome. The reason this type of leadership was necessary is because they were not just passing out food; they were solving a potentially bigger problem. He would build the walls on faith. Some are not as visible; all are useful. He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. If you want to know what type of leader God wants you to be, there is your answer. . Third, the port where they were anchored was not as ideal for wintering as some other ports, which were not that far away. They intended to put all the prisoners to death,563 thus eliminating the risk of an escape. The smaller boat, was much more easily handled, and would have been the logical choice when trying to make shore, especially in such circumstances. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Tim Cook, for example, hires people who challenge and inspire him. In all of this God protected Paul. This journey began on an Adramyttian ship, which took them as far as Myra, where they boarded an Alexandrian ship, headed for Italy. 15:24; 16: 2-3). 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, {being} more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:3-9). He had had enough. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. {For I am} confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. What was required for this situation was Godly leadership. Pauls Bay is sheltered on the northwest by the island of Salmonetta, which is separated from the Maltese mainland by a narrow channel about a hundred yards wide. There is no place safer than the place of obedience to the Word of God. So, says Luke, they lowered the instrument, not being more specific perhaps because he did not know, or did not remember, the technical name for whatever it was that was lowered. Until now, they had been trying to save the ships cargo, but now some of it555 was thrown overboard, lightening the ship and reducing the stress on the hull. Joshua had been in the presence of God. When they set sail from Fair Havens, fifty or sixty miles brought them under the lee of Cauda (v. 16); on the fourteenth night from Cauda they drew near the coast of Malta (v. 27), and the next day (v. 39) they landed on that island, where they spent three months (28:11). Paul was a leader here because people followed him. There will come a time, however, when God will take His own to the full and final safety of heaven. They were not going to get to Rome until after winter was over anyway, and they could stay right where they were, with no real problems. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company [photolithoprinted], 1966), p. 191, quoting Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen, p. 319. (1) A look at leadership. They just happened to run aground at the place where two seas met.562 It seems that the action of the water created some kind of sandbar or shallows, on which the ship stuck fast. Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). If you want to be a godly leader, I encourage you to focus on the qualities that God identifies as necessary in a leader. I do not think that Pauls words were meant as a typical I told you so so much as they were spoken to motivate his peers to listen to him now. Now they were ready for the days activities. 555 From verse 38 we know that all the cargo was not thrown overboard at this time. God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? The final verses (42-44) tell of the plan of the soldiers to kill the prisoners, of the intervention of the centurion, and the safe arrival on land of all 276 passengers. Paul once again stepped forward, speaking out to all aboard, so as to assure and encourage them, as well as to persuade them to prepare themselves for the rigors and physical demands of the hours that were to follow. He . There are also plenty of real-life examples of leadership in action. The angel of God told Paul not to be afraid, which would indicate that he was afraid. (The term Augustan, i.e., His Imperial Majestys, was a title of honor bestowed on several cohorts of auxiliary troops.) A friend of mine, Jonathan Leath, wrote a book he titled You Only Lead One (YOLO). Here are some examples of their leadership. Progress was slow, due to wind conditions. These people saw first hand the hope of the gospel in Paul, when all hope was lost. They may have the power, but they do not have the trust. It was simpler, it seems, to forbid them from killing any of them. Leadership Styles in 1 & 2 Kings Merida introduced his Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings by touting the relevance of the biblical text to the modern world. 4. He loved God. The grounding of the ship, some distance from shore, and then its breaking up poses another threat, which all survive. When Daniel was living in captivity in Babylon, he was obedient to the point of losing his life if necessary. He was right in that a great storm had swept down on this ship, and that both the ship and its cargo would be lost. The otherstwo hundred and seventy-six in allfollowed his example. 550 As they waited for a change of wind at Fair Havens, it soon became clear that they could not complete the voyage to Italy before the onset of winter. This inside information was, I think, a factor in their plan to abandon ship. It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. The name of this leadership style is derived from the word "democracy," which means "run by the people." Democratic leaders welcome and value others' input, rely heavily on team participation, and facilitate discussions that enable multiple members of their group to weigh in on decisions. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. As the song goes, More secure is no one ever, than the loved ones of the Savior. Some Christians are inclined to live their lives sloppily, believing that because God is sovereign He will, on demand, produce a miracle to deliver us from the fruits of our own foolishness. I would say that is a great example of Godly leadership. You are the devil's advocate. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. Paul assured them that not a hair from their head would perish (verse 34). I think not. Everyone speaks their minds in team meetings. In a democracy leaders. Not one soul was lost. 556 The following day, a more drastic measure was necessary: the spare gear had to go if the ship was to have any chance of surviving. Did he do anything? 1 Peter 5:3. As the journey to Rome continues, there are yet to be more signs and wonders accomplished through the hands of Paul (see 28:3-10). For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy (1 Corinthians 7:13-14). Misconceptions about "Real" Leadership vs. Servant Leaders. I am not certain that anyone ever thought of Paul as the leader, but he did lead and they followed. He had the courage to speak to the evils of his day. Inclusive Meetings A weekly meeting provides the best illustrations of the democratic ideology. A church leader is a manager of Gods household, so he must live a blameless life.