During Lent, our confirmation students met with mentors to talk about faith and life—growing in identity, belonging, and purpose through caring relationships. Together they also co-wrote reflections on a Bible verse, and we’ll be sharing these devotionals throughout the Easter season as an invitation to embrace thoughtful dialogue and respond to God’s grace with love in the world.
Today's Reflection was written by 6th Grader Solomon Preisinger and his mentor Scott Zimmerman
Acts 27 Outline (verse-range headings)
1) Departure under Roman guard (27:1–8)
2) Decision point: warning ignored (27:9–12)
3) The storm escalates: loss of control (27:13–20)
4) Paul’s message: reassurance and promise of survival (27:21–26)
5) Near shipwreck: sabotage attempt and prevention (27:27–32)
6) Final preparation: bread, encouragement, and God’s providence (27:33–38)
7) Shipwreck and deliverance (27:39–44)
At first, the centurion in charge doesn’t listen to Paul’s warning and follows the ship’s owner/pilot instead.
I think that the centurion listened to the pilot just because he did not want to listen to Paul and probably thought that a prisoner like Paul would give him false information or other things like that. I also think that the centurion cared more about what resources were on board and not as much the people on board.
Gradually, Paul built credibility and trust with all the people on board the ship; he gave them encouraging words, spoke with authority when hearing God’s word, and advised them to eat some bread before finally running the ship aground.
When the ship first saw trouble, and Paul encouraged everyone, I would have felt scared but also angry at everyone on the ship for not listening the first time.
I think that the people felt scared but also felt a sense of hope. So his words made them feel hopeful and also helped them prepare for what's next.
Invoking God’s name helped his overall point and helped convince people who believed in God while also helping his point by saying that God told him these things.
By strengthening their bodies with bread, Paul gained additional credibility because he knew that not everyone on the ship believed in God so he probably didn't want to anger anyone.
I think the soldiers are feeling annoyed with Paul now because he threw all of their extra food off the ship just to lighten it but I think they also feel happy because Paul gave them food to eat.
Finally, the centurion went from not listening to Paul to now going against his soldiers’ plan just to save Paul’s life. I think that the centurion knew that this was a life-or-death situation so he probably went out of the way so he could save his, and everyone else’s life.
I think that most of it was necessary but if I think about having to get the ship so light that you couldn't even have scraps of bread on board, that is when i think they start taking drastic measures. I think God acted by talking to Paul so he could lead them all to safety and even warning him so they were not caught by surprise.
In a team sport there is always that one kid who inspires the team and is also our best player, and in a team sport you grow to trust that kid just like the centurion and soldiers trusted Paul.
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