PERCEPTION
10 SAYING, “MEN, I PERCEIVE THAT THIS VOYAGE WILL END WITH DISASTER AND MUCH LOSS, not only of the cargo and ship, BUT ALSO OUR LIVES.”
11 NEVERTHELESS THE CENTURION WAS MORE PERSUADED BY THE HELMSMAN AND THE OWNER OF THE SHIP THAN BY THE THINGS SPOKEN BY PAUL."
Acts 27:10–11 (NKJV)
The centurion was persuaded or inclined to believe the helmsman and the owner of the ship than the things said or spoken by Paul. Being an expert does not mean the person knows it all. What Paul perceived was a prompt or an urge from the Holy Spirit on the inside of him (Acts 27:10). The helmsman and the owner of the ship could not see the danger ahead in their
journey, because it was not what could be seen with the physical eyes; It was revealed to Paul by the Holy Spirit (Acts 27:10).
Being an expert does not mean the person knows all things, only God knows all things, from the beginning to the end, and from the end to the beginning.
Some who are having medical challenges tend to believe the words of a medical doctor than what is revealed or spoken by God. A medical doctor can only care, but they cannot cure or heal. The helmsman might have been on the Sea for many years, but he does not know everything (Acts 27:11).
The centurion and others on board did not receive Paul's warning because they thought he could not be right and could not have known more than the helmsman and the owner of the ship;
because it was their profession (Acts 27:10,11). Unfortunately, they had to pay dearly for their despise and contempt (Acts 27:13-24). The ship and the cargo were all lost, and they nearly lost their lives as well (Acts 27:18,19,22).
Being led by the Spirit of God should not be despised or trivialized at all. Thus, if you are privileged to have a servant of God—a prophet or whoever is sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit around you—do not despise or play down whatever is being revealed to the person (Acts 27:21).
When you are led as a believer (Romans 8:14), or you are told the mind of God about what to happen (Acts 27:10), you however despised It and heeded not (Acts 27:21); know that it would be to
your detriment, and you bear the consequences.
The disaster that happened to the people on board with Paul was an avoidable one, but the despise caused them to experience sorrow.
Peace.